I thought this was cool. Maybe this tech will eventually be developed into a viable way for special op's troops to be airdropped into hostile territory!
http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2011/05/10/jetman-quietly-makes-historic-grand-canyon-flight/?test=faces

It would appear that he used the permission of the Native American tribe involved to possibly trump the FAA? Pretty funny if so, and good for him.
I have some experience with res landings, and you BETTER have permission! I got one 7 miles away I fly over all the time, as in OVER.

It will be interesting to see what enforcement action the FAA takes, if any.

Even though it's so small it straps onto his back, it goes too fast to qualify as an ultralight. So, it's an airplane, and more noteworthy, it's unregistered.

The FAA has rules up the ying yang for that special use airspace around the canyon, and rumor has it that pilots get busted there all of the time for fairly small violations. It would set an interesting precedent if "JetMan" can avoid any repercussions. I don't think this story is over yet.

I thought he had been working with the FAA the whole time leading up to this?

Imagine a fleet of those rented out to the tourists.

I read somewhere that the FAA gave their approval; complete with an N number, etc.

The above article DOES make mention of waiting for the FAA approval. Stating that he had previously demonstrated safe flight and it was classified as an airplane, as opposed to a motor-glider. Neat stuff.

Good thing he got the indians on his side, not like that poor dude a couple of years ago: http://www.generalaviationnews.com/2009/03/16/hualapai-trespass-pilot-reluctantly-enters-plea/

You can fly outside the SFRA west of the Pearce Ferry Sector, over Grand Canyon West airport, but you might have somebody else after your butt for airspace violation.

Yellowbelly wrote:Good thing he got the indians on his side, not like that poor dude a couple of years ago: http://www.generalaviationnews.com/2009/03/16/hualapai-trespass-pilot-reluctantly-enters-plea/

You can fly outside the SFRA west of the Pearce Ferry Sector, over Grand Canyon West airport, but you might have somebody else after your butt for airspace violation.

Hmnnn, Tribal police confiscated his motor home, equipment and aircraft after he departed from National park service land and returned to NPS land. Sure he would have had a legal battle on his hands, but no way in hell I am letting some Tribal police come and take my things away. we all know the FAA claims airspace jurisdiction. Not sure about the exact location to the Indian reservation of this guy, but if it were me. There probably wouldn't be any tribal police left who could testify in this case. They would have been already shot, trying to take away my property, with no jurisdiction, no legality.

Almost on the numbers...

http://www.aopa.org/aircraft/articles/2 ... uZZEHLbuz6

lownslow79 wrote:

Yellowbelly wrote:Good thing he got the indians on his side, not like that poor dude a couple of years ago: http://www.generalaviationnews.com/2009/03/16/hualapai-trespass-pilot-reluctantly-enters-plea/

You can fly outside the SFRA west of the Pearce Ferry Sector, over Grand Canyon West airport, but you might have somebody else after your butt for airspace violation.

Hmnnn, Tribal police confiscated his motor home, equipment and aircraft after he departed from National park service land and returned to NPS land. Sure he would have had a legal battle on his hands, but no way in hell I am letting some Tribal police come and take my things away. we all know the FAA claims airspace jurisdiction. Not sure about the exact location to the Indian reservation of this guy, but if it were me. There probably wouldn't be any tribal police left who could testify in this case. They would have been already shot, trying to take away my property, with no jurisdiction, no legality.

I met this "nut case " at ghost ranch airstrip .He wanted "ride" to St. George ,Utah to get some grub. When I told him it' would be $100 bucks for trip he said he was scientist-photographer and I should "donate" my airplane-time-fuel to his scientific "researche" .He parked in the middle of airstrip with his "support vehicular " and powered parachute. Ghost Ranch is on private property(gun range)outside of National Park .Keep talking were reloading ---CLEAR