Bob CollinsSherburne County authorities have arrested a pilot who crashed his ultralight into Elk Lake in Zimmerman. He was detained on suspicion of drunk, ummm, flying.
I know what you’re thinking. How often does this happen?
Not often. The Federal Aviation Administration takes the issue much more seriously than your typical state motor vehicle department. Penalties for drinking and flying are much more severe.
FAA rules prohibit a blood-alcohol reading of .04 (compared to .08 for driving a car). Pilots are also not allowed to fly if they’ve had any alcoholic beverage within the previous 8 hours.
In addition, any action involving driving under the influence on a boat, snowmobile or car requires the pilot to notify the FAA of the offense and a pilot could lose his certificate.
It does happen, as this August 2009 News Cut post showed.
