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 fighter jets over the National Mall due to safety concerns, classifying the aircraft as "very high-risk" for densely populated areas.
Isaacman circumvented the FAA's denial by transferring ownership of the F-5s from his company to NASA, which reclassified them as "public use" (government) aircraft and exempted them from FAA oversight.
This reclassification shifted the responsibility for the jets' operation to NASA, allowing the flyover to proceed for America's 250th-anniversary celebrations despite the FAA's initial safety objections.
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.
