Agency Grants One-Time Permission While Larger Issue Is Resolved

Operation Migration (OM) has caught a break from the FAA, which yesterday afternoon announced it will allow this year's migration of young whooping cranes to continue behind an LSA trike flown by paid employees of the charity. But it's a one-time waiver due to the circumstance, not a precedent-setting ruling which might have created precedent for the use of Light Sport Aircraft in the future.

As the organization explained on its website last week, "The issue in question is whether or not OM’s pilots are flying 'for hire,' or, for the furtherance of a non-profit...The FAA has begun the process of evaluating a waiver to OM, exempting its pilots and aircraft from that rule.

"OM has always maintained that its pilots are hired for a wide range of non-flying skills and duties, and that they volunteer their time as pilots. In 2010, the FAA Flight Service District Office (FSDO) in Milwaukee investigated the status of OM’s flight operations and accepted OM’s explanation. We were told by the FSDO director that no further action would be taken.' Based on that ruling, we began the 2011 season.

"In November a Letter of Investigation was sent to each pilot. After discussions with the FAA in December, Operation Migration voluntarily ceased any flying while the matter is resolved. We hoped that would happen during the Christmas break, but it is taking longer than anticipated."

Whooping Cranes nearly became extinct in the 20th century, with only 15 thought to exist in 1941. Chicks were bred in captivity, but there were not enough adult birds to show them the annual migration route. The flyway OM is trying to reestablish runs from central Wisconsin to central Florida. During the stand-down, the young migrating cranes have been sheltered in northern Alabama. The Washington Post reports more than 1,400 people added their names to an online petition in support of OM. The species is still endangered, with just over 100 known to exist.

Regarding the delay's effects on the imprinting of the flyway on the chicks, OM's Joe Duff says, "The only problem is getting them to follow us again but so far that has not been an issue."

OM Director David Sakrison says of the FAA's decision, "We appreciate the agency’s efforts on our behalf, and we thank everyone...for the overwhelming outpouring of support on behalf of Whooping cranes and Operation Migration."

FMI: www.operationmigration.org