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U.S. revisits policy on errant planes

Mimi Hall and Alan Levin USA Today

WASHINGTON – Federal officials are discussing ways to refine procedures on dealing with confused pilots who violate restricted airspace.

The talks come after recent radio and equipment problems exposed flaws in security around the nation’s capital.

Among the proposed options is a large sign to be carried by U.S. helicopters that intercept errant planes flying too close to the capital. The sign would say “Follow Me” – a stern notice that pilots of stray planes need to change course and follow the helicopter away from Washington.

Homeland Security officials also are considering whether to use more heavily armed Coast Guard helicopters to patrol restricted airspace.

The discussions come two weeks after the pilot of a small plane failed to respond to a Black Hawk helicopter that tried to veer the plane away from Washington. The pilot, Hayden “Jim” Sheaffer, 69, of Lititz, Pa., caused mass evacuations when he flew over the vice president’s residence and within three miles of the White House.

Agents on the helicopter flashed a sign that read “121.5” to get him to tune in to the 121.5 radio frequency officials were monitoring. Sheaffer said his attempts to use the frequency failed because it was jammed by an emergency beacon on the ground that interfered with the radio.

Sheaffer told NBC’s “Today” show last week that he thought he was going to be “shot out of the sky.”

Because of the confusion – Hayden didn’t turn away from the White House until F-16 fighter jets fired flares – discussions are under way to have Black Hawk pilots also carry the “Follow Me” signs, according to a Homeland Security official.

Black Hawks used by Customs and Border Protection, part of Homeland Security, patrol skies over Washington. The Defense Department can scramble fighter jets. But in 75 percent of cases, CBP helicopters get there first. CBP pilots are authorized only to shoot under “law enforcement” rules and don’t have the weapons needed to take down a plane. That means they can shoot only at the people in the planes.