How can you tell that a government agency is over staffed? Because they're staffed enough to send two agents chasing after a 79 year old inventor. Note to FAA: this man is not selling his blimp, so could you please point to the section of the Constitution that gives you jurisdiction?ARDMORE, OK -- The pilot who landed his homemade blimp near Interstate 35 Wednesday evening could be grounded by the FAA after it was discovered he hasn't fulfilled some vital requirements to take off. Austin Wright has more.
Marvin Polzien says he does not have a current pilot's license, nor does he have a valid medical certificate. While representatives with the FAA wouldn't speak on camera today, they did tell us both of those things are required to fly.
On Wednesday evening hundreds watched as a blimp piloted by a local man flip flopped across the sky over Ardmore.
Its pilot, 79-year-old Marvin Polzien, says he brought the blimp down near the freeway last night because a motor that helps steer the blimp failed.
No? Then kindly sit down and shut the heck up.
There's video ot the link.
3 comments:
"'I know myself. I'll get back on it again. I'll make the corrections, and we'll try it again.'
But that decision is up to the FAA, and is the one part of this flight that's still up in the air."
I don't see how they can stop him.
Eseell, it would be interesting to see them try to stop him. I mean, they have no jurisdiction if he just build it (i.e. doesn't fly it). The 4th Amendment would seem to prevent them from seizing it.
Actually, on this one the FAA does have legitimate constitutional authority, under the interstate commerce clause.
The FAA is chartered by congress to maintain safety in the airways; which are defined as any spot in the air over united states territories (and other places as specified by international treaty) more than 500 feet above ground level (over most of the area of the U.S. Special classes of airspace around airports, major cities, restricted areas etc... is from 0 agl).
This includes regulating who may fly in those areas, and in what equipment; as much as the DOT has the right to regulate minimum standards for cars, tires etc... operated on public highways.
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