Should Pilots Fear the Police?

Stephen Pope

Thursday, January 17, 2013 at 05:45 AM ET

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bk117 Flying

Key Takeaways:

A medevac helicopter pilot, on a critical mission to transport a newborn, was issued a summons by Stamford police for landing in violation of a new city ordinance prohibiting helicopter operations.
The ordinance, intended for private flights, was broadly applied despite the pilot performing an emergency, life-saving service, leading to a potential fine in the thousands of dollars.
Extensive media coverage and legal action by the pilot's company prompted Stamford city officials to quickly amend the law to exempt emergency medical helicopters, drop the charge, and issue a public apology.
The incident underscores how overzealous law enforcement can impede essential emergency services, even when a pilot is acting correctly, raising questions about how ordinary citizens would navigate similar situations.

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The plight of the glider pilot who was arrested for overflying a nuclear powerplant in violation of zero federal or local laws reminds me of another instance in which overzealous police overstepped their bounds after a pilot did exactly what he was supposed to be doing.

It happened on New Year’s Eve in 2003. My dad, Bill Pope, a medevac helicopter pilot for the Westchester County Medical Center outside New York City, had gotten the call to pick up a critically ill newborn from Stamford Hospital in Connecticut. Along with a flight nurse and paramedic, he boarded his BK117 and took off into the dark for the short flight across the state border.