tgbcvr Wrote:
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> I wonder if the
> pilot got their knuckles rapped, or worse. This
> was one of the first excursions with the engine,
> and it sure ruined a lot of people’s photos as
> well.
>
> Cheers,
> Ralph
The 70s were a little before my flying career got started, but I can tell you that today, if an FAA Operations Inspector became aware of a situation in which someone flew recklessly close to an assembled mass of people (such as a crowded train), and there was video evidence of the deed, they would likely pursue a certificate action against the pilot, and if there was a commercial operator involved, they'd go after the parent organization as well. NTSB Law Judges look very unfavorably upon this kind of thing. Revocation of certificates and substantial civil penalties....even jail time, could be the result. A certificate revocation is a big deal. Unlike a suspension, you don't get your certificate back. If you ever want to fly again, you have to retake all of the exams and flight tests for every certificate and rating you once had. Of course, in some cases, the FAA doesn't need to pursue actions against people who do this sort of thing. They just have to clean up the wreckage and scrape up the remains.
/Kevin Madore