Pilots Confused About Dates, No Charges Filed

It's a simple mistake, but one that won't be forgotten any time soon by a couple of pilots in the northeast.

A pilot in New Hampshire, whom police are refusing to identify, took off from the Laconia Municipal Airport in Laconia, NH Friday afternoon to get his plane inspected at Skyhaven Airport in Rochester.

During his flight, the pilot got a bit too close to a restricted area put in place due to the summit in Kennebunkport, ME between President Bush and Russian President Vladmir Putin this weekend.

Federal Aviation Administration and the US Secret Service officials ordered the pilot to land at Skyhaven Airport where he was detained by local police for questioning.

The pilot reportedly thought the temporary flight restrictions had expired, according to the Dover Democrat. The TFR, NOTAM FDC 7/6031, was in effect from Thursday through Monday.

"He was flying into Skyhaven and didn't remember that Bush and Putin were in Kennebunkport," Capt. Paul Callaghan said. "This happens at least once a year, pilots forget it's restricted airspace. Last year we had two cases where planes were flying over and the FAA asked them to land."

As the pilot landed, a military helicopter flew over the airfield, but did not land. After questioning, the pilot was allowed to fly back to Laconia.

But that wasn't the first TFR breach that day in that particular area.

Earlier that morning, in Sanford, ME, the pilot of another small aircraft also got the TFR dates confused when he and a passenger took off for a pleasure flight.

About 9 am, Boston FAA officials notified the Sanford Police Department a single engine aircraft had flown into restricted airspace.

Military aircraft, including a Black Hawk helicopter, approached the aircraft, but officials at Sanford Regional Airport, were able to communicate with the pilot and advise him to land.

"These are just a couple of guys who made a mistake," Sanford Police Major Gordon Littlefield said. "I'm sure this has been a day they'll remember for a long time

SFM Airport Manager, Evan McDougal, said such mistakes are frequent when a TFR is issued.

"It happens every time there's a temporary flight restriction," he said. "There's always a pilot or two. That pilot should not have been in that air space."

The names of the pilots or the lone passenger have not been released and no charges have been filed.

FMI: http://ossipeeaviation.com/sac.html, www.laconiaairport.com, http://gc.kls2.com/airport/SFM