Trent Palmer Says His FAA Penalty Could Pressure Pilots

YouTube personality and backcountry pilot says if his certificate suspension is upheld, people may be forced to make dangerous landings.

Trent Palmer told his side of the story on his YouTube channel -- and to FLYING. [YouTube Screengrab]

Key Takeaways:

YouTube pilot Trent Palmer faces a 60-day FAA certificate suspension for alleged hazardous low-altitude flying during an "inspection pass" for an off-airport landing in 2019.
Palmer argues that his low passes were a necessary and standard safety procedure for assessing unfamiliar landing sites, as advised by FAA guidelines for backcountry operations.
He contends that the ruling, if upheld, could compel pilots to perform potentially unsafe landings to avoid regulatory violations, sparking broader concerns among aviation groups about the future of off-airport flying.

See a mistake? Contact us.

The FAA’s short-term certificate suspension of YouTube pilot Trent Palmer has prompted discussion about federal aviation regulations governing backcountry flight operations and could, according to Palmer, pressure pilots to perform risky landings to avoid potential penalties.

Sitting in a hangar in front of his red Kitfox, Palmer took to his popular aviation YouTube channel Thursday, outlining his version of events that has spanned more than two years and has left him a step closer to temporary grounding by the FAA.