The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating a pilot arrested for flying while intoxicated at last weekend's Suffolk's Peanut Fest.
The pilot, Ronald John Davis Jr., 50, is the operator of Good Time Helicopters from Naples, Fla. He was operating a Bell 206 L1 helicopter Sunday when he was spotted flying erratically. Police arrested him for flying under the influence.
Davis was authorized by the FAA to conduct air rides anywhere in the country, said Jim Peters, spokesman for the FAA's eastern region, which includes Virginia.
The FAA recently changed its policy to require air operators to have drug and alcohol prevention programs in place, and Davis was issued a new letter of authorization Oct. 12 reflecting that he met the new requirements, Peters said.
The FAA requires its pilots not to drink eight hours before flying. Also, their blood-alcohol level must be below .04 to fly legally, Peters said. That compares to .08 for Virginia motorists.Police said that at 1:30 p.m., Davis was observed flying erratically, and according to WAVY TV-10, a family that had just finished a flight on the helicopter said the pilot had cursed as they landed. That's when they said they noticed the smell of alcohol and reported it to officials.
The rides were halted by Suffolk police officers who were working at the festival site. Davis is being held at Western Tidewater Regional Jail with no bond.
"We'll be sending him a letter of investigation," Peters said. "It could be one or more violations."
At the end of the investigation, the Richmond office has several options. The office could take no action. The matter could be handled administratively by sending Davis a letter of warning outlining conditions he must abide by. The office could impose a fine, or it could suspend or revoke his pilot's certificate, Peters said.
Calls to the FAA office that could provide information on Davis' accident or enforcement history were not returned.
