Air space restrictions for president upsetting pilots

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Post a comment | E-mail this story | Print

(Bay News 9) -- Anytime the president is in town security is tight -- that includes air space restrictions.

Pilots from all over the country claim the rules are getting out of hand.

Pilot Jack Tunstill's pilot training business is grounded when President Obama flies over Florida.

"We cannot fly. We cannot make a living," Tunstill said. "It makes it very difficult for people who need airplanes for their businesses to operate."

Tunstill thinks regulators are going overboard with airspace restrictions for general aviation. General aviation includes everything that flies except the airlines and military.

"It's been frustrating for eight years," Tunstill said.

Tunstill says since Sept. 11 general aviation pilots have been targets.

"Of course it's under attack. Yes there's people that want to limit everything," said Dave Thompson, who has been flying for 30 years.

Hundreds of pilots from all over the country will land in the Tampa Bay area Nov. 5 for an aviation summit.

Pilots are hoping to talk with aviation leaders about their concerns. They want aviation leaders to change their course of action.

"They need to think about what they're doing to the economic engine that is general aviation," Tunstill said.

The aviation summit is scheduled for Nov. 5 - Nov. 7. Most of the events will be at the Tampa Convention Center. They're geared toward general aviation education.