Drunk Pilot found Guilty of Risking Catastrophe

It's good to know that flying drunk is OK because our air traffic
controllers are "good" (according to defense counsel).
----

NORRISTOWN, PENN. - Judge Bernard A. Moore Wednesday convicted John V.
Salamone, 44, on charges of recklessly endangering others and risking a
catastrophe in connection with that flight that had air traffic
controllers diverting regional commuter jets and other pilots taking
evasive action to avoid crashing into Salamone=92s plane.

"John is a human being and he has made some mistakes, but I am surprised
that the judge concluded he is a felon," said defense lawyer Joseph
Green. "This is not the end of the case. We=92ll see where it goes from
here."

During the trial, Green never challenged the recklessly endangering
charge, which is a misdemeanor. However, Green maintained that his
client=92s erratic flying that night did not rise to the level of the mor=
e
serious felony charge of risking a catastrophe.

"There was never any risk because we have good air traffic controllers
and they were not going to let anything happen," Green argued in his
closing remarks to the judge.

full article:
http://tinyurl.com/66ntk
- or -
http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?n...674&PAG=3D461=
&dept_id=3D18041&rfi=3D8

Tammy Rogers wrote in
:

http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?n...74&PAG=461&dep
t_id=18041&rfi=8

Thank goodness for smart judges... at least there's a few left out there
:-)

"There was never any risk because we have good air traffic controllers
and they were not going to let anything happen," Green argued in his
closing remarks to the judge.


Then I hold ATC directly responsible for not immediately making the plane
land. How dare they let a catastrophe almost happen?

In a previous article, "John Harlow" said:
"There was never any risk because we have good air traffic controllers
and they were not going to let anything happen," Green argued in his
closing remarks to the judge.


Then I hold ATC directly responsible for not immediately making the plane
land. How dare they let a catastrophe almost happen?

Yeah, they should have just pushed the "land the plane" button on their
remote control and it would have all been over.


--
Paul Tomblin http://xcski.com/blogs/pt/
If I have pinged farther than others, it is because I routed upon
the T3s of giants.
-- Greg Andrews

"John Harlow" wrote in message
...
"There was never any risk because we have good air traffic controllers
and they were not going to let anything happen," Green argued in his
closing remarks to the judge.


Then I hold ATC directly responsible for not immediately making the plane
land. How dare they let a catastrophe almost happen?

Reminds me of an item from one of those e-mail jokes...

"The concept of "controlling" airspace with radar is just a form of FAA
sarcasm directed at pilots to see if they're gullible enough to swallow it.
Or to put it another way, when's the last time the FAA ever shot anyone
down?"

Now if we could just get the system to treat drunk drivers with the
same level of seriousness, we'd all be much better off.