Kit plane pilot fined

Kit plane pilot fined

The pilot decided to fly along the coast because it was a sunny day

A pilot who flew his kit-built light aircraft into a no-fly zone set up for Eastbourne's air show last summer has been fined.

Alexander Stevenson, of College Road, Ringwood, Hampshire, admitted flying below 5,000 feet in a Civil Aviation Authority restricted area.

He was fined £250 and ordered to pay £350 costs at Eastbourne Magistrates' Court on Tuesday.

The court heard he had been on a flight between Wiltshire and Kent on 18 August 2002 in a Pridal Pulsar aircraft.

He had his father on board as their craft was seen by the air show controller flying between 1,000 and 2,000 feet through the offshore display area closed to air traffic by the CAA.

Military pilot warned

He had to warn a military pilot from RAF Cranwell who was preparing to begin an aerobatics display.

The pilot flew his plane alongside Stevenson's aircraft and rocked his wings - a warning sign to indicate that he should clear out of the zone.

Stevenson had originally planned a cross-country flight path which he had checked for flying restrictions.

He diverted along the coast simply because it was a sunny day, the court heard.

He had made no checks for the route and had no idea the air show was taking place.

His radio was faulty - only receiving incoming messages - so he could not use it to check.

The court heard that although there was never any danger to the public or other aircraft Stevenson should have checked for flying restrictions.

He accepted his actions had posed a real risk and said he would be still be flying, but had learned a useful lesson.