JAC Posted August 18, 2007 Report Share Posted August 18, 2007 (edited) Pilot Ticketed After Landing Chopper for Steakhouse LunchFriday , August 17, 2007 MIDLAND, Mich. — Lunch on terra firma apparently proved too tempting for a helicopter pilot and his passenger, police said. The pilot was ticketed for an illegal landing Tuesday after he touched down on a grassy area on a busy commercial corridor in Midland, about 100 miles northwest of Detroit. The man and the female passenger then crossed the road to eat lunch at Logan's Roadhouse, police said. Employees at the store next to the parked chopper called police. Police said the pilot first claimed to have had permission to land there, then said the helicopter was having mechanical problems. Police then told him he would be required to hire a mechanic to ensure the helicopter was flight-ready. "They changed their tune and admitted they were on their way to Traverse City and stopped for lunch," Midland Deputy Police Chief Robert Lane said. He wouldn't release the pilot's name. The misdemeanor charge against the pilot, a 54-year-old man from Metamora Township, carries a fine of up to $500 and maximum 90 days in jail. The landing site was about a quarter-mile from Midland's airport. -Courtesy Foxnews.comhttp://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,293650,00.html Edited August 18, 2007 by JAC Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bqmassey Posted August 18, 2007 Report Share Posted August 18, 2007 Interesting. What the hell is an "illegal landing"? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ADRidge Posted August 18, 2007 Report Share Posted August 18, 2007 I'm guessing noise abatement issues. If you're going to do something like that, make sure you have the land owner's permission and you make nice with everyone around the area you're touching down. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marc D Posted August 19, 2007 Report Share Posted August 19, 2007 Interesting. What the hell is an "illegal landing"? An illegal landing would be trespassing on private property and on most public property you will find a law on the books somewhere prohibiting the landing without permits/EMS/Police/emergency/etc. I remember in Connecticut it is illegal to land a helicopter on any public land that is not designated for landings of helicopters. Marc D. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bqmassey Posted August 19, 2007 Report Share Posted August 19, 2007 sounds like trespassing to me... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gft Posted August 19, 2007 Report Share Posted August 19, 2007 The article doen't say why the people in the store had a problem with the chopper landing next door.I wouldn't lie to the cops. Just tell them straight up why your there.They probably could have cared less except for the fact that somebody complained.Oh well, pay the $500 and say you're sorry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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