Helicopter battle kicks up dust in West Hollywood

vienna · 04-01-11, 01:39 PM

The arrogance of power, perhaps?

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la...,3903488.story

For those not familiar with the Los Angeles area, this person's home in Malibu is about a 45 minute drive away from his offices. There is a major hospital (Cedars-Sinai Medical Center) less than one block from the hotel helipad. I doubt the hospital would appreciate increased air traffic so close to their faclilities and possibly interferring with their own medivac emergency flights. I pass the hospital on a regular basis and even they don't have very much helicopter traffic; in fact it is very rare.

The one part of the story that really got my attention was this:

Kavanaugh got his pilot's license last year. He has a collection of luxury cars and has been convicted of reckless driving and driving under the influence, court records show. Keen said Kavanaugh has full driving privileges.

Is this the sort of person who should be flying over populated, urban areas, much less flying at all? Doesn't the FAA do background checks on persons applying for a pilot's license? If he must seek solace flying his toy, let him fly it over the ocean next to his home where the only real damage he might do is to himself.

04-01-11, 01:39 PM	#1
vienna Navy Seal Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Anywhere but the here & now... Posts: 7,711 Downloads: 85 Uploads: 0	Helicopter battle kicks up dust in West Hollywood The arrogance of power, perhaps? http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la...,3903488.story For those not familiar with the Los Angeles area, this person's home in Malibu is about a 45 minute drive away from his offices. There is a major hospital (Cedars-Sinai Medical Center) less than one block from the hotel helipad. I doubt the hospital would appreciate increased air traffic so close to their faclilities and possibly interferring with their own medivac emergency flights. I pass the hospital on a regular basis and even they don't have very much helicopter traffic; in fact it is very rare. The one part of the story that really got my attention was this: Kavanaugh got his pilot's license last year. He has a collection of luxury cars and has been convicted of reckless driving and driving under the influence, court records show. Keen said Kavanaugh has full driving privileges. Is this the sort of person who should be flying over populated, urban areas, much less flying at all? Doesn't the FAA do background checks on persons applying for a pilot's license? If he must seek solace flying his toy, let him fly it over the ocean next to his home where the only real damage he might do is to himself.