FAA Exemption Allows Whooping Crane Migration to Resume

January 10, 2012 – Finally, the only thing keeping Operation Migration grounded on their whooping crane migration from Wisconsin to Florida will again be the weather. The group has been grounded in northwest Alabama since December while the FAA tried to resolve whether or not OM’s pilots are flying their certificated, N-numbered weight-shift trikes outside the sport pilot/light-sport aircraft regulations. Since their aircraft are experimental light-sport aircraft (E-LSA) and the pilots are sport pilots, they are subject to the sport pilot/LSA regulations. One provision prohibits a sport pilot from flying for hire or as part of business activities. David Sakrison, a member of the Operation Migration board of directors, said late Monday that the FAA has granted the group a temporary exemption from regulations to allow the whooping crane flight to continue. The exemption is good through March 31, 2012, after which time the migration should be complete and FAA and Operation Migration will work together to devise a more permanent solution to the situation. A statement released by the FAA on Monday afternoon said, in part: “Because the operation is in ‘mid-migration,’ the FAA is granting a one-time exemption so the migration can be completed. The FAA will work with Operation Migration to develop a more comprehensive, long-term solution.” OM has always maintained that its pilots are hired for a wide range of non-flying skills and duties and that they volunteer their flying time. In fact, in 2010 the FAA Flight Safety District Office in Milwaukee investigated the status of OM’s flight operations and accepted OM’s explanation, Sakrison explained. “We were told by the FSDO director that no further action would be taken.” Late Monday night, the birds were still in pens in Franklin County, Alabama. Joe Duff reported on their January 9 In the Field blog that the birds were doing fine. However, the FAA decision means that on the next good flying day, the birds can again be following the E-LSA toward their wintering grounds in the Florida Panhandle and the Chassahowitzka National Wildlife Refuge. The cranes are about 500 miles away from their destination. Sakrison told the Tampa Bay Times that Monday would not have been a day for flying with downpours of rain. "Weather has always been our biggest challenge,'' Sakrison said. "Maybe we could get a hold of the weather service and get a waiver from them, too.'' Operation Migration has played a leading role in the reintroduction of endangered whooping cranes into eastern North America, teaching them the migratory route since 2001.

The young whooping cranes kept busy inside their pen in northern Alabama on January 9. The migration was on hold until late Monday when the FAA granted the group a temporary exemption from its regulations. Photo credit: Operation Migration CraneCam Richard van Heuvelen leads the Class of 2011 into Franklin County, Alabama on December 11. It was the 69th day of the migration. Photo credit: Walt Sturgeon

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