Does the FAA Need New Regulations for the Social Media Age?

Friday, April 29, 2022 at 10:21 AM ET

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Pilot Luke Aikins is seen successfully entering the silver airplane, during Plane Swap in Eloy, Arizona, on April 24, 2022. [Photo: Predrag Vuckovic / Red Bull Content Pool]

Key Takeaways:

Modern aviation stunt pilots seeking social media fame mirror early 20th-century pioneers like Lincoln Beachey, but now operate under vastly different and stricter regulatory environments.
The FAA is actively investigating recent high-profile stunts (e.g., Red Bull Plane Swap, Trevor Jacob's intentional crash), demonstrating increased enforcement and a commitment to safety.
Challenges exist in enforcing aviation regulations, as current fines may not be a sufficient deterrent for pilots who monetize dangerous stunts through social media views.
The FAA explicitly denied the Red Bull Plane Swap exemption request, citing a lack of public interest and the stunt's violation of essential safety regulations requiring pilots to remain at their controls.

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A pilot in his 20s climbs into an airplane and takes off to perform a record-setting stunt that is sure to impress his millions of followers. The plot so far might bear a current-day familiarity, but in this case, the year is 1914 and the pilot is Lincoln Beachey.

Beachey was a pioneer of aerial demonstrations and aerobatics during aviation’s first decade and became wealthy by testing his aircraft’s limits while thrilling airshow audiences.