FAA suspends Bruno Vassel's Pilot Certificate

On Sunday, June 28, 2020 at 6:05:27 PM UTC-7, Roy B. wrote:

So motoring down a ridge is infraction if hikers are there ?????


That is correct. read FAR 91.119 (c):

"Except when necessary for takeoff or landing, no person may operate an aircraft below the following altitudes:

(c) Over other than congested areas. An altitude of 500 feet above the surface, except over open water or sparsely populated areas. In those cases, the aircraft may not be operated closer than 500 feet to any person, vessel, vehicle, or structure.

Like I said, everyone who has ever been down a ridge with a "structure" or a "person" on it has violated this section. Most don't get caught . . . Some do.

ROY

I believe that for Gliders, down a ridge with structure or people is legal if it is your only legitimate source of lift, because according to FAR 91.3 B: In an in-flight emergency requiring immediate action, the pilot in command may deviate from any rule of this part to the extent required to meet that emergency. But per part C, you may have to defend it.

Dated info now, but 30ish years ago at Torrey Pines a friend did a wingover directly in front of the windows of the Cal Fisheries building (which is built on the edge of the cliff providing lift). I can't imagine a better seat for an airshow, and yes, it generated a visit from the FAA. The pilot stated that the wingover was necessary to keep the glider within the narrow band of lift offered by the steep ridge and that it was the only way to maintain enough altitude to affect a safe landing. No enforcement action followed.

And as others have said, Bruno, thanks for all the great videos, and for bringing this to everyone's attention. Glad your back up in the air!
-Greg

On Sunday, June 28, 2020 at 7:43:12 PM UTC-5, Delta8 wrote:
Roy B.;t policy ended a few years ago.

To restate what KS said, the only difference between us and Bruno is that Bruno got caught. I got caught too (low level flying in a J3 Cub within 500' of a Park Ranger I never saw). s.

ROY[/QUOTE Wrote:


So motoring down a ridge is infraction if hikers are there ?????




--
Delta8

Gotta watch out for those "pesky park rangers, Yogi".

"Have I missed something.... I notice on yesterday's OLC that he posted a flight on OLC in his 27."

A suspension usually begins 30 days from the date of the order.
Roy

Gotta watch out for those "pesky park rangers, Yogi".


Well BooBoo, that's one answer. But smaller registration numbers on the Cub would have helped, too.
ROY

On Monday, June 29, 2020 at 9:31:51 AM UTC-4, Roy B. wrote:
Gotta watch out for those "pesky park rangers, Yogi".


Well BooBoo, that's one answer. But smaller registration numbers on the Cub would have helped, too.
ROY

Or a faster airplane :-).

T8

On Friday, June 26, 2020 at 9:46:20 PM UTC-4, son_of_flubber wrote:
I searched and did not find that this topic was already posted on RAS.

Here's the video that documents the infraction https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_c...ure=emb_lo go

Here's Bruno's recent comment:

2 weeks ago
Update 10 months later: I uploaded this video and 4 days later had over 200k views. The video got reported and the FAA had serious concerns with this performance/flight. Lesson learned: Don't fly any kind of performance for any group or crowd (even if asked by the airshow management and cleared through the airboss) if you are NOT an approved airshow performer (have something called a SAC card)!!! The FAA will surely come after you with violations. The end result for me: $$ thousands spent on legal fees and I will soon be taking a 7 month break from flying. I was told I was very luck to not lose my license over this. Yikes! Why am I sharing all this? I only had good intentions of showing what a glider is capable of doing, but I am not a trained airshow performer and I didn't know the rules for airshow performances. If in doubt - don't do it! I hope this will help other pilots to not have to go through what I have over the last 10 months. Cheers and stay safe! Bruno - B4

I'm a bit confused.... I recently read a post from a performer at that airshow who stated that the airshow was over and that Bruno was asked to take a tow, fly around and then land and that no aerobatics was even discussed.

Listen to the audio again. Note the radio call when he's encouraged to keep going by the airshow boss.

On Wednesday, July 1, 2020 at 1:59:14 PM UTC-6, Paul Agnew wrote:
Listen to the audio again. Note the radio call when he's encouraged to keep going by the airshow boss.

Perhaps the 'legal' issue was that the airshow NOTAM had expired. I believe Bruno was aware of this prior to his flight.

In the video he asked "Why not?"
I guess he's got his answer.

On Friday, June 26, 2020 at 9:46:20 PM UTC-4, son_of_flubber wrote:
I searched and did not find that this topic was already posted on RAS.

Here's the video that documents the infraction https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_c...ure=emb_lo go

Here's Bruno's recent comment:

2 weeks ago
Update 10 months later: I uploaded this video and 4 days later had over 200k views. The video got reported and the FAA had serious concerns with this performance/flight. Lesson learned: Don't fly any kind of performance for any group or crowd (even if asked by the airshow management and cleared through the airboss) if you are NOT an approved airshow performer (have something called a SAC card)!!! The FAA will surely come after you with violations. The end result for me: $$ thousands spent on legal fees and I will soon be taking a 7 month break from flying. I was told I was very luck to not lose my license over this. Yikes! Why am I sharing all this? I only had good intentions of showing what a glider is capable of doing, but I am not a trained airshow performer and I didn't know the rules for airshow performances. If in doubt - don't do it! I hope this will help other pilots to not have to go through what I have over the last 10 months. Cheers and stay safe! Bruno - B4

Bruno, that is a bummer, Sorry to hear about this. Always enjoy your videos. Hope to see you back in the air ASAP. Rich Smith ZD