|
Harbour
Bridge stunt lands pilot in deep water, by Natalie
Gregg
- 5th May 2004
(Credit:
The Courier Mail)
A former flight instructor and
Griffith University graduate is being investigated
after flying a plane under the Sydney Harbour
Bridge on Saturday.
Authorities
were baffled as to why Louise Campbell, 23, of
Geebung on Brisbane's north side, carried out
the brazen stunt – which could result in
a two-year jail term.
Two
investigators were interviewing Ms Campbell yesterday
in the first stage of a joint inquiry with the
Civil Aviation Safety Authority.
CASA
spokesman Peter Gibson said Ms Campbell faced
serious charges and could lose her licence.
"If
she was found guilty of reckless and dangerous
flying – that carries a maximum two-year
jail penalty," Mr Gibson said.
Ms
Campbell was believed to be flying the single-engined
Gazelle with the plane's owner, Sunshine Coast
aerial photographer Peter Bellingham, as a passenger.
Mr
Gibson said it was illegal to fly under the bridge
where the carriageway is 59m above the water.
He
said only police and emergency aircraft were allowed
to fly under the bridge.
Ms
Campbell took off from Bankstown airport and followed
a scenic flight route that was supposed to end
at the Opera House.
Pilots
must contact air traffic control to gain permission
to fly the route, and can request to do a circle
over the water before they return to the airport.
Ms
Campbell told police she did not know flying under
the bridge was illegal.
Mr
Gibson said Ms Campbell was a commercial pilot
as well as an ultralight pilot and should have
known better.
"She
must have understood the reasons why she shouldn't
have flown under the bridge," Mr Gibson said.
Ms
Campbell drove back from Sydney on Monday.
She
refused to comment when approached yesterday.
Her boyfriend said she was seeking legal advice
from a specialist aviation lawyer.
Ms
Campbell obtained her commercial pilot licence
in June 2001 through Griffith's School of Aviation
and Arena Aviation. She was awarded Arena Student
of the Year Award in 2001.
As
an instructor she worked at Redcliffe's Australian
Air Flying School until February this year.
Since
then she has worked as a charter pilot for Mr
Bellingham's aerial photography company.
Mr
Bellingham did not wish to comment.
The
Federal Government had previously identified the
Sydney Harbour Bridge as a top terrorist target
and NSW police have employed 24-hour security
guards for the bridge since November last year.
A
spokesman for federal Transport Minister John
Anderson said it was impossible to prevent aircraft
from flying near the Harbour Bridge. Instead the
Federal Government was controlling aircraft licences.
"By
July 1 all pilots will be issued photographic
licences, to replace paper licences," he
said.
"All
current and future licences will involve background
checking by a number of intelligence agencies
including ASIO."
A
spokesman for Attorney-General Philip Ruddock
said the Government was concerned with any breach
of security, but this incident was a breach of
regulations.
Links:
Media
websites
The
Courier Mail
The
Sydney Morning Herald
Government
websites
Civil
Aviation Safety Authority
Sydney
Harbour Foreshore Authority
Photography
websites
Airview
Aerial Photography
Articles
Photography
- Different things to different people, by Greg
Tingle
Movies
The
California Kid
Profiles
Stunt
Pilots
Aviation
|
