Nigerian student pilot who landed helicopter without notifying... | www.palmbeachpost.com

He may have been given a warning for trespassing - but I think this student did the right thing in the end.

I would agree that he did the right thing. If anything, he demonstrated the ability to think quick and follow through with the decision. While it was not necessarily an emergency by nature; to notice that fuel was low (though I do not know what 5 gallons would get in an R22), identify a suitable landing strip, and follow through with the approach shows he can make a decision to keep the situation manageable.

Though it is questionable that he was not carrying his US airmen certificate or presumably charts / GPS, he kept the situation safe. According to the article at the time, the airspace was not restricted, so I also don't see fault there. I am confused by that statement though. How is an airfield only restricted sometimes..?

Either way, if I need to land, I will land my aircraft wherever is suitable and not blatantly obvious to be restricted i/e area 51 with guns all about the perimeter.

I agree land first, then answer questions later.

Typical student situation, sen it before (with both happy and not-happy endings).

Hopefully they won't get to carried away just because he's Nigerian.

If they do get carried away, expect an email from the Prince of Nigeria.

I think it's the Sikorsky test facility. Looking at the map, R2936 (PWC facility) is actually 2-3 nm west of the runway. I think this is where the Comanche was tested.

FYI, according to Robinson, the average fuel burn is 8 gal/hr, so about 40 minutes of fuel remaining.

I'd still say it was a good call then if he was disoriented.

A full decade prior to 9/11/01, my good friend and CFI had just signed off a Middle-eastern student pilot for his first solo cross-country flight, departing KRCM for KLBO. In far less time than the flight should have taken, the student saw a great big airport, and became unsure of his position. Thinking it would be best to land and ask, he put down at Whiteman Air Force Base (evidently didn’t see the light signals), and was met on the taxiway with three Military Police vehicles and a squad of about a dozen troops pointing their rifles at him. Undeterred, the student hopped out of the aircraft and cheerfully announced (sorry, I have forgotten his real name) “I am Hazeeck Rafsanjani, and I am flying to Lebanon.”

My friend Brian got a call from the MPs, and had to drive over there and retrieve the airplane, as the student was detained overnight for questioning.

The story was merely amusing at the time. Of course today America is even less friendly to pilots of any type from anywhere.

Certainly a funny story, and glad all ended well & I'm willing to bet he didn't get into any further trouble than questioning.

But... Unless his fuel situation was critical, why land at a large airport in general ? I would personally stay away from a large airport if I am unfamiliar with the territory flying a single engine.