The FAA suspended indefinitely a Deaf pilot license after flying through restricted airspace over Washington, DC. The incident occurred when he decided to diverted from the original flight plan previously filed. His impulsive decision to visit a friend in North Carolina, along the way to the EAA in Oshkosh, Wisconsin almost costs his life, F-16 fighter planes scrambled into the air when a blip of unknown origin appears on the radar screen heading toward the nation's capital. Patriot defense system also have been tracking the unidentified aircraft, locking its target. Area tower controllers alerted Homeland Security after the Deaf pilot, apparently not knowing what he's getting himself into, failed to respond to radio contact, obviously. F-16s escorted him to a nearby military base for interrogations. The order to fire was reversed when a F-16 pilot, a CODA, with gut feelings was able to make visual identification of the
Cessna 172, which reveals that it is owned by a Deaf pilot from Boston, satisfied that he's not a threat. The Deaf pilot, who wishes to remain anonymous, apologized to the Washington Post, that he "was trying to impress a friend, who was with him in the ROTC program at Gallaudet." The air force put a reprimand in his personnel folder. This Deaf pilot nearly cause havoc, evacuation of the White House and the Capitol. President Obama was at MSSD diversity program, as a role model that we can achieve anything. While the case is still under investigation, the Deaf pilot would at least have something to 
brag about at bars. He's hoping that he'll get his license back before next year's Deaf Fly-In Convention. The FAA is considering a proposal, that have been on the back-burner, to grant a research on the feasibility of allowing text communication between Deaf pilots and air traffic controllers. Meanwhile, the father have grounded him, literally. We Deaf enjoy our freedoms to fly like a bird, climb like a monkey, the roar the countryside like a lion, and to dive deep like a dolphin, but it all come with a responsibility. Revised 3/11/09
This is Smokey (Vroom, Vroom...), stay tuned for the next episode of Deaf Anthology. Good night, Deaf America!
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