Homeowner threatening pilots, report?

D

dude

Guest
I and others legally fly by a house on a cliff and that triggers the homeowner something fierce. Said homeowner has threatened pilots in the past Today he told me he was going to take me out. My response was **** you, not very diplomatic but I think appropriate. Anyway should I report this guy and if so to who?
 
Like most threats of this nature it's probably extremely unlikely he'd follow through with any actual attempt... That being said, HELL yeah I'd report it. My gut says to start with local law enforcement but it might be more appropriate to report directly to FAA??? Someone on here will know for sure.

The best thing that could happen here is for some very unpleasant people to give this guy a visit before he does anything stupid.

It's like living on the ocean and hating water, living on a cliff and hating things in the sky.
 
if his threat makes you fear for your life and your families life, then yes. It is a crime to threaten the life of others. And if he has threatened to destroy airplanes, even better.
'
Oh boy, the anti everything folks and the pro "I have the right to do whatever I want" folks will be here soon to tell you how he has the right to threaten your life....:popcorn: :rollercoaster:
 
I feel your response is appropriate and would have mirrored mine. The fact that he's known to make threats and not follow-through I'm not sure I'd go any further unless he takes it further. But I have a question - if you fly by his house - how does he contact you? Is he close enough to the airport that he runs down to make the threat? If so then that may change how I would handle it.
 
EminiTrader said:
But I have a question - if you fly by his house - how does he contact you?
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Yea really, how is he contacting you?

If you feel like these are legitimate threats I would be making some phone calls. I wouldn't put anything past a person like that, especially these days...
 
Does he have the ability and balls to follow through on this threat?

I'd probably just talk with the man, see if I could smooth it out, maybe give him a little more space if that works for the flight, if not I'd just tell him sorry we couldn't work it out.
 
What exactly would the charge/punishment be for threatening civil aircraft in the US? Would threats against a little bugsmasher get the same kind of attention as say a Delta flight?
 
Threats against aircraft probably should be taken seriously these days. As others have asked, how have those threats been made?

The airport manager that's closest probably should hear about it if he/she hasn't already.

Now and then our local FBO gets a phone call or letter from a nearby resident complaining about noise or low flying aircraft. I've seen those letters posted as a reminder to pilots to be good neighbors. I've also seen the responses to the homeowners that mention the aircraft and airport normal operations and altitudes.
 
dude said:
I and others legally fly by a house on a cliff and that triggers the homeowner something fierce. Said homeowner has threatened pilots in the past Today he told me he was going to take me out. My response was **** you, not very diplomatic but I think appropriate. Anyway should I report this guy and if so to who?
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I'd be worried this guy would start shooting at planes. definitely report him to the local constabulary and the FAA.
 
How about towing a banner past his castle with appropriate verbiage?

I would definitely report this tin hatter.

Cheers
 
Avoid the guy's house when flying, I'm amazed at the number of people who don' t like the noise from little planes. I've seen the results from pilots deciding it was a good idea to antagonize someone who was complaining about AC doing aerobatics over his house. The rocket scientist pilot and a few of his buddies decided to buzz this guy on a regular basis. The guy was a lawyer and could easily afford a lens for his camera that could capture tail numbers. It ended up in court and the rocket scientist pilot isn't flying any more. It all could have been avoided by a little accomodation.
 
Matthew said:
Threats against aircraft probably should be taken seriously these days. ...
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Why?

I havenot heard of any plane getting shot down, paranoia and being a busy body isn't good for anyone other than government officials who use it to justify their expensive parasitic existence.
 
Is there any way to safely draw his fire?
What are the rules about defending yourself from a threat to your life, while airborne, in your state? I'm thinking 30mm, wing-mounted cannons would be an appropriate and measured response.
 
James331 said:
Why?

I havenot heard of any plane getting shot down, paranoia and being a busy body isn't good for anyone other than government officials who use it to justify their expensive parasitic existence.
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I dunno, airplanes have been shot at in other locations, haven't they? People these days seem crazier than ever. Some guy that continually threatens aircraft and doesn't see the pilots making any attempt to change might just snap some day. A letter from the airport management letting him know they are aware of his threats and letting him know the regulations the pilots must follow might calm him down...or blow him up.
 
Matthew said:
I dunno, airplanes have been shot at in other locations, haven't they? People these days seem crazier than ever. Some guy that continually threatens aircraft and doesn't see the pilots making any attempt to change might just snap some day. A letter from the airport management letting him know they are aware of his threats and letting him know the regulations the pilots must follow might calm him down...or blow him up.
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Or just talk with him or avoid him of possible. I'd wager if he was the doing type he'd be shooting off projectiles, instead of his mouth.

Also if you're staying a standard legal distance, doubt the average dude is going to be able to land a shot. Only folks I've heard about loosing paint were low level AG pilots working fields with angry neighbors.

Man, if it's not the drones, it's some home owner, or the 100LL shortage, or....

Chances are you're going to live a very boring and far too long of a life, if you biff it, you'll probably be the one who does yourself in, or you'll eat yourself to death, MAYBE you'll cream a deer in your plane/car/bike.

Relax folks.
 
How did you even end up in a conversation with him anyway? I'm not even buying that part - this is another troll thread.
 
dude said:
I and others legally fly by a house on a cliff and that triggers the homeowner something fierce. Said homeowner has threatened pilots in the past Today he told me he was going to take me out. My response was **** you, not very diplomatic but I think appropriate. Anyway should I report this guy and if so to who?
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When you think about why the homeowner purchased that location, you may understand his dislike of being buzzed by aircraft. Grow the **** up.
 
Troll, troll, troll your boat
gently up the stream
(come on, hum along with me)
 
PaulS said:
Avoid the guy's house when flying, I'm amazed at the number of people who don' t like the noise from little planes. I've seen the results from pilots deciding it was a good idea to antagonize someone who was complaining about AC doing aerobatics over his house. The rocket scientist pilot and a few of his buddies decided to buzz this guy on a regular basis. The guy was a lawyer and could easily afford a lens for his camera that could capture tail numbers. It ended up in court and the rocket scientist pilot isn't flying any more. It all could have been avoided by a little accomodation.
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if this guy is complaining about aircraft legally flying by his house there is no way in hell i would do anything to avoid him. you are right about doing stupid and illegal things, but, if you are flying by the rules F... him. call the cops and file a report that you were threatened with harm.

i live under the final to the GA airport here in town. in our neighborhood newspaper one of the old grouches wrote a letter complaining about the airplanes flying over, the increase in noise, the increase in frequency ect and said that people should write down the N number and call the airport an FAA and complain. I wrote a nice letter to the paper quoting the latest noise regs, the decrease in operations in the last 10 years, all supported by the numbers from the airport manager. I also stated that as I and everybody that I know at the airport operates as per regulations, that any reports to the FAA and law enforcement about me would be considered as harassment and would be forwarded to my lawyer. I have never seen another letter from him again.

bob
 
unsafervguy said:
if this guy is complaining about aircraft legally flying by his house there is no way in hell i would do anything to avoid him. you are right about doing stupid and illegal things, but, if you are flying by the rules F... him. call the cops and file a report that you were threatened with harm.
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Agree with calling the police, but depending on who this guy is, your first sentence might not be the best advice. Parlin Field (2B3) in Newport NH was nearly closed due to pressure for many years from a gun magnate who lives in the hills along the departure path of rwy 30. I believe the town voted last year to keep the airport open, but the standing advice from local pilots was to practice noise abatement procedures and give his place a wide berth when departing. He is one of those folks with plenty of money and influence, and the outcome of the proposal to close was very much in doubt.

Sometimes avoiding the nimby types is the wisest move.
 
Prudence dictates turning the other cheek most of the time. I'd try to avoid antagonizing the guy.
 
Can post google map of this house so I can be sure to avoid him, otherwise how would I know unless he painted a sign on his roof...
 
Wow this thread is still active... "DUDE" hasn't been back to post since he started his troll. I guess we all fell for it. As my question still has yet to be answered - how does a guy contact you? Smoke signals when you fly over? Does he run down to the FBO to find you? If so, how DOES he find you?

Damn trolls...... Seem to be an abundance here..
 
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A picture to explain things. We fly close cause that is where the lift is. Altitude rules per Part 103.
 
Not as cut and dried as you make it out to be.

14 CFR 103.15 prohibits operating over a "settlement." While you might not want one house to be a settlement, the FAA may not agree with you.

And a couple hundred feet over someone's house with a noisy two-stroke engine is damn rude.
 
EminiTrader said:
Wow this thread is still active... "DUDE" hasn't been back to post since he started his troll. I guess we all fell for it. As my question still has yet to be answered - how does a guy contact you? Smoke signals when you fly over? Does he run down to the FBO to find you? If so, how DOES he find you?

Damn trolls...... Seem to be an abundance here..
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Looks like your troll detector is out of calibration.
 
No motors, pure, quiet magic wind flying. Part 103(Part 91 does) doesn't define lateral limits of 'over.' 'Settlement' in 103.15 is in the same sentence as 'congested' if they wanted Part 91 altitude rules they would have just copied them. Suffice to say if this guy had the legal standing to stop us he would have. Back to the original question; Ignore, mock, or report the guy? If report, to whom?

MAKG1 said:
Not as cut and dried as you make it out to be.

14 CFR 103.15 prohibits operating over a "settlement." While you might not want one house to be a settlement, the FAA may not agree with you.

And a couple hundred feet over someone's house with a noisy two-stroke engine is damn rude.
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