So it looks like Donald Trump — to the delight of his fans — just buzzed his rally at Ladd-Peebles Stadium in Mobile, Ala. in his 757:
This is the wildest campaign I've ever seen. pic.twitter.com/jCnHTBRFU1
— Robert Costa (@costareports) August 21, 2015
The plane circled the stadium, dipping its wing twd bleachers, as people roared and the Stones played. 757 with TRUMP across its navy side.
— Robert Costa (@costareports) August 21, 2015
As the plane leaves, they played Van Halen's "Jump" — only with people yelling "Trump" at the "Jump" part.
— Robert Costa (@costareports) August 21, 2015
Tailgates. A live house band on the 5-yard line. A 757 fly by. American flags. Confederate flags. Homemade posters. Shrimp. Beer. #Mobile
— Robert Costa (@costareports) August 21, 2015
The FAA, however, was not so delighted:
#FAA telling me they did not grant any special permission for this flyover – @Rene_MarshCNN on #DonaldTrump pic.twitter.com/87gC5aKE6H
— OutFrontCNN (@OutFrontCNN) August 21, 2015
We’ll keep an eye out for confirmation of this because if Trump didn’t have permission to do this, we assume there will be consequences for his pilot. Stay tuned…
Update. @DrewMTips weighs in:
Our @Rene_MarshCNN reporting that the FAA did not give @realDonaldTrump any special permission for his flight over Alabama stadium
— Maeve Reston (@MaeveReston) August 21, 2015
Because you don't need any. https://t.co/mFvhCDau5L
— Drew McCoy (@_Drew_McCoy_) August 21, 2015
People tend to assume you need more permission from air traffic control than you do almost all the time.
— Drew McCoy (@_Drew_McCoy_) August 21, 2015
The stadium is about 10 miles away from Mobile, which is Class C. As long as Trump was VFR below 1,500 feet, he was fine.
— Drew McCoy (@_Drew_McCoy_) August 21, 2015
There's a small downtown airport that looks closer to stadium but it's Class D. No permission required to be in there just "radio contact"
— Drew McCoy (@_Drew_McCoy_) August 21, 2015
Trump's jet could also have been above 1,500 feet. The technically didn't need permission to do the fly by. As long as they were VFR…
— Drew McCoy (@_Drew_McCoy_) August 21, 2015
and in contact with MOB approach, you can tool around class c til your heart's content.
— Drew McCoy (@_Drew_McCoy_) August 21, 2015
That's probably enough on the finer points of where you can fly your private 757 with and without "permission".
— Drew McCoy (@_Drew_McCoy_) August 21, 2015
***
Join the conversation as a VIP Member