Aero Vodochody L-39C jet aircraft - K/W Regional Airport (CYKF) CARS infractions

[kea001]

Audio wasn't that interesting and didn't reveal any clues as to the infractions so I won't post it.

Sounds like he took it out for a spin for about 10 minutes, and then landed.


CADORS Number: 2009O1046; Occurrence Date: 2009/06/08; Damage: No Damage

The American, corporately-registered Scope Leasing Inc. Aero Vodochody L-39C jet aircraft (N399RR)* was on a local VFR flight from Kitchener/Waterloo Regional Airport (CYKF). When the aircraft was returning, the pilot's first call to the tower occurred when the aircraft was four (4) miles from the airport. The pilot requested a low and over and was cleared for a low and over.

 The aircraft was observed grounding 340 knots while on the downwind.

*should read N339RR

<a href="http://cdn-www.airliners.net/aviation-photos/photos/4/9/1/1157194.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">http://cdn-www.airliners.net/aviation-photos/photos/4/9/1/1157194.jpg</a>


Couple questions:

1. 'was observed grounding 340 knots' means exactly what?
     I'm assuming the controller read the ground speed off his radar and it was 340 knots, which is
     almost 100 knots too fast for the airspace.
    

2. How does a private individual get to own one of these?
    Are there any government regulations, apart from pilot ratings,
    that govern the ownership and operation of a military jet?
    What are the 'barriers to entry' other than skill and economics?

3. Alleged Canadian Aviation Regulations (CARs) infraction
    

• Communication navigation surveillance/air traffic
• Conflict - potential
• Controlled airspace violation
• Other operational incident

    Can you hazard a guess as to what was done wrong to warrant each infraction?

    What kind of punishment will the pilot/owners be facing?

CADORS:
http://www.tc.gc.ca/aviation/applications/cadors/English/main.asp

[atcman23]

Not sure on the third question but for the first two:

1)  The controller probably observed 340 kts on the radar as you suggested.  The phrasing used ("grounding") is awkward.

2)  You can do it if you have lots of money, patience and love paperwork.  There's nothing that bars private individuals from owning retired military jets.  Usually, most U.S. citizens get them from overseas and have to get several clearances.  And the U.S. will not lat just an aircraft from entering the country (there are several Russian aircraft that are prohibited).  If it's a military fighter jet, then it has to be disarmed and the defense systems in the aircraft must be removed.

Also of note, the aircraft is considered "experimental" in the U.S.

[sykocus]

Couple questions:

1. 'was observed grounding 340 knots' means exactly what?
     I'm assuming the controller read the ground speed off his radar and it was 340 knots, which is
     almost 100 knots too fast for the airspace.
     

2. How does a private individual get to own one of these?
    Are there any government regulations, apart from pilot ratings,
    that govern the ownership and operation of a military jet?
    What are the 'barriers to entry' other than skill and economics?

3. Alleged Canadian Aviation Regulations (CARs) infraction
   

• Communication navigation surveillance/air traffic
• Conflict - potential
• Controlled airspace violation
• Other operational incident

    Can you hazard a guess as to what was done wrong to warrant each infraction?

    What kind of punishment will the pilot/owners be facing?

CADORS:
http://www.tc.gc.ca/aviation/applications/cadors/English/main.asp

1. Sounds like they meant his ground speed was showing 340 kts. Many places have a rule that you can't exceed 250kts IAS (indicated airspeed) below 10k feet or similar altitude. Ground speed and IAS will differ, but the pilot is going have a tough time convincing anyone his airspeed indicator was showing 250. At least in the US, some A/C do have a waiver for the rule. One that I know of that did at one point, was the T-38. It's has very short wings so the idea was it wasn't safe to fly below 250kts while in a clean configuration.

2. There's lots of fighter type jet in private hands. Most are old trainer a/c used by one country or another. If you have the money there's a government out there willing to sell. I've even read there's even an AV-8 in the hands of a private owner. You can even find places that will take you for a ride and mock dogfight if you have the cash. http://www.incredible-adventures.com/hollywood-top-gun.html There are government regulations for everything. Other then piloting I would think the regulations mainly deal with ensuring you properly keep up with the maintenance.

3. Not sure about that. They are kind of vague though the 3rd one could be for busting 250 below 10k is probably for calling up the tower late. Most Class D airspace (most common type around controlled airports) that I'm familiar with extends 4.3 nm (5 sm) around the field. . The summery you posted didn't have a lot of details to describe those infractions.

[kea001]

Thanks for your responses.

More photos of this plane from a previous flight from CYKF.net.
Click on the Aero Vodochody L-39C  link to see:

http://cykf.net/Liveatc/Banana/JAlbumIndex.htm

I agree. There is not enough info. I've also had a look at the glossary on the CADORS site to familiarize myself with the terms.

Communication navigation surveillance/air traffic	Failures or errors in the air traffic control communications system, air traffic management, which may have either an adverse impact on flight safety or a major operational impact.
Conflict - potential	An event in which a potential loss of separation involving two or more aircraft could/may occur.
Controlled airspace violation	An incident in which an aircraft enters controlled airspace without authorization.
Other operational incident	Any incident that is not adequately covered by any other event description.

 
Glossary:
http://www.tc.gc.ca/aviation/applications/cadors/english/Glossary/eventdefinitions.asp


I wonder if the guy flying a military jet, which, as you point out, is an experimental, gets the same fine as a guy in a Cessna?

[sykocus]

One of the pictures on the site you linked to shows what is supposed to be controller riding in the backseat. Maybe the controller that violated him was unhappy about not getting invited for a ride.