Tampabay: FAA: Watch young pilots more closely

WASHINGTON -- The federal government has some new advice for flight schools and companies that rent airplanes: Keep a close eye on student pilots and be careful with the keys.

In response to a crash that killed a 15-year-old student pilot in Tampa, the Federal Aviation Administration on Wednesday directed its flight standards inspectors to give the recommendations to flight schools and companies known as "fixed base operators," which provide fuel, maintenance and rental planes.

The advisory does not have the power of a regulation, but officials said they were taking that approach so they would not have to go through the time-consuming process of approving a new rule.

"This is much faster," said William Shumann, an FAA spokesman. He said that the agency might take further action but that these measures would enhance security immediately.

Charles Bishop, a 15-year-old from Palm Harbor, died Saturday afternoon after he flew a Cessna 172 into the 28th floor of Bank of America Plaza in downtown Tampa. Authorities found a suicide note in the wreckage.

He had been taking flight lessons at St. Petersburg-Clearwater International Airport, where he stole the plane and took off without permission.

Among the FAA recommendations:

Have an instructor unlock a plane's door and keep the key while a student pilot conducts a preflight inspection.

Use different keys for the door and ignition.

Restrict access to keys until the student has completed a written examination.

Closely supervise student pilots before they qualify to fly solo.

Check a student's photo ID before each lesson.

Make sure parents or legal guardians have authorized a young student to take flying lessons.

Require students to pass a medical exam before they begin lessons.

Train employees to watch for suspicious activity, and place prominent signs warning people not to tamper with planes or use them without authorization.

A spokesman for a group that represents general aviation pilots says it is rare for someone to use a plane to commit suicide but that government and flight schools cannot eliminate that risk.

After Saturday's crash, many people around the nation called for additional restrictions for small planes, which fall in a broad category known as general aviation. Other critics, noting that the boy flew over Central Command headquarters at MacDill Air Force Base, said the government needs to do more to protect sensitive military installations.

Officials say additional measures are possible. But Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta is regarded a strong supporter of general aviation and will be reluctant to approve restrictions that might be burdensome on pilots.

Warren Morningstar, a spokesman for the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, which represents general aviation pilots, said his organization supports the FAA's suggestions. Several of the recommendations were included in a proposal that AOPA and other groups made last month, he said.

However, AOPA opposes broader measures that would require all pilots to file flight plans and fly under instrument flight rules. "It's unrealistic," he said. "We don't have the system capacity."

Morningstar says it is extremely rare for someone to use a plane to commit suicide but that government and flight schools cannot completely eliminate that risk.

"No matter how many aviation regulations you write," he said, "I don't know how you prevent that sort of thing."

-- Times staff writer Bill Adair can be reached at (202) 463-0575 or adair@sptimes.com

FAA: Watch young pilots more closely

Responding to the Tampa crash, the aviation agency urges flight instructors to keep better tabs on keys to airplanes.

Related stories: