NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman (fifth from left) stands with NASA personnel and F-5 pilots following an employee incentive flight on his personal aircraft in February. [Credit: NASA/John Kraus]
Key Takeaways:
The FAA initially rejected NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman's request to fly his personal F-5 Tiger II fighter jets over the National Mall due to safety concerns, classifying them as high-risk, privately-owned "experimental" aircraft.
To circumvent the denial, Isaacman transferred control of the F-5s from his company to NASA, reclassifying them as "public use" (government) aircraft.
This reclassification shifted operational responsibility from the FAA to NASA, allowing the flyover to proceed despite the FAA's original safety objections regarding potential crashes and risks in densely populated areas.
The FAA rejected a request on behalf of NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman to fly his personal, Cold War-era F-5 Tiger II fighter jets over the National Mall in Washington, D.C., as part of celebrations for America’s 250th anniversary.
The regulator cited safety concerns. But the space agency found a workaround to the FAA’s objections.
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Jack is a staff writer covering advanced air mobility, including everything from drones to unmanned aircraft systems to space travel—and a whole lot more. He spent close to two years reporting on drone delivery for FreightWaves, covering the biggest news and developments in the space and connecting with industry executives and experts. Jack is also a basketball aficionado, a frequent traveler and a lover of all things logistics.
