Overboard by Chip Dunham for April 13, 2010

Here is a little note on the use of power and why you don’t piss off rich people.

Here in my Humble home town we just had a rather well known Golf event in which a recently troubled Golfer was appearing. The venu where the event is held is world famous and claimes some of the nations richest bigwigs as members… they are conservative, stuffy and not easily amused.

During the events first day our troubled golfer was making his tee shot when a small airplane buzzed overhead trailing a banner making light of his recent troubles (note the air space over the tournament is not restricted airspace as long as you meet altitude and speed requirements as set by the FAA.

The plane made a few passes and then headed home to a small rural airport. before the Pilot could get there two FAA inspectors had been dispatched and were on the scene when he landed. They went over the aircraft with a fine fine tooth comb and finally issued a citation for a problem with the seat belt and what were termed minor items that needed repair. The pilot who was an employee of an outdoor advertising company was issued a one way ferry permit to fly the plane home to Ohio for repair of those “Minor” items.(In other words get out of town ..now) The company he worked for was threatened with an investigation into who paid for the banner.

In today’s paper (two days after the tournament end) the FAA announced that it was dropping its investigation of the incident and that the plane owner was asked but not required to submit information on the repairs to the aircraft.

It must be nice to be able to pick up a phone and get this kind of service from the Government.