If you thought OHVs on closed roads were bad, check this out.

[Woodrow F Call]

Not likely but coming soon to alaska.......

Sara Schwerin (Montana) | LadiesLoveTaildraggers

Sara Schwerin is based at KBZN, Bozeman Yellowstone Intl Airport, Bozeman, Montana. I got my private pilot’s license about 20 years ago but took a long break from flying to focus on my career in NYC, working in Mergers & Acquisitions. I stopped working in 2014, got...

ladieslovetaildraggers.com

You might be right. I've gotten to where I think people are just often ignorant of the dumb stuff they do, but this might be blatant.

 

[fmyth]

If she has a million dollar helicopter that costs $400 an hour to operate I am sure she could care less about any fine she might receive.

 

[Poser]

There’s a piece of private property in the middle of the Weminuche (old mining claim) where the property owners occasionally show up via helicopter to picnic.

 

[bsnedeker]

Man, that's just awful. I've run into douchebags running dirt bikes through Wilderness a few times and it always chaps my ass.

 

[OXN939]

Forest Service investigating helicopter incident in Bob Marshall Wilderness

By Chris Peterson
Editor | May 28, 2020 7:50 AM
Two horsemen on a recent trip into the Bob Marshall Wilderness said they found something they never expected: A couple fishing on a sandbar of the South Fork of the Flathead after allegedly landing a helicopter there.
Federal law specifically prohibits motorized or mechanical use in the wilderness boundary with the notable exception of the airstrip at Schafer Meadows in the Great Bear Wilderness. Black Bear where the helicopter landed, however, is well over 20 miles from Schafer.
“Landing of aircraft, or dropping or picking up of any material, supplies, or person by means of aircraft, including a helicopter,” are prohibited in a National Forest Wilderness, federal law states.
One of the people part of the party that allegedly landed the helicopter in the Bob declined to comment, and Flathead National Forest officials say the matter is under investigation.
John, a man from Kalispell who asked that his last name not be used for fear of retribution, said he and another man were riding horses near Black Bear May 16. They had been seeing the helicopter buzzing over the South Fork of the Flathead earlier on that day, but about 3:30 p.m. they came upon the craft and a couple fishing. May 16 was the opening day of fishing season.
“We asked this guy if this was his helicopter, his reply was ‘ya nice way to go ha.’ My friend replies with ‘what makes you think that’s OK to park in the wilderness?’ His reply was, ‘we are below the high water line. It’s OK. Please move along. And if there’s any problems you have our tail numbers,’” John said.
At that point, John said, the conversation became heated and the man in the helicopter thought it best to leave.
According to photos provided by the horsemen and a search of public Federal Aviation Administration tail number records, the Bell Rotocraft helicopter is owned by WOS Holdings IV of Belgrade, whose principal owner is Sara Schwerin.
Schwerin is a pilot according to her social media posts and the photos of the couple standing next to the aircraft in the wilderness taken by the horsemen appear to match photos of Schwerin in other Internet posts, including a TV interview. It’s not clear if Schwerin was the pilot in this incident, as she was with another person, the male.
Schwerin is on the board of the Montana State University Advisory Board. She made her career in the banking industry, according to her Linkedin profile.
The horsemen said they turned over the information to Forest Service law enforcement.
The Forest Service said it is investigating the matter.
“We appreciate the reporting parties who came forward with the information and take it very seriously. It’s under investigation and we’ll let the public know as we have updates,” said Flathead National Forest spokeswoman Lauren Alley.
Contacted by phone, Schwerin said she had “no comment.”
The Forest Service also has airstrips at Meadow Creek, Spotted Bear, and Condon near, but not inside, the wilderness boundary.
View attachment 185324

On her website, she has all her FAA ratings listed, and none of them includes anything rotor wing. Hopefully, this was just the result of some lazy flight planning and an oversight on the pilot's part, whoever that was. But, yeah. Vehicles in wilderness areas suck. Do suppose she's learning how many people support that sentiment right about now.

 

[Sccritterkiller]

Willing to bet her husband is the pilot...he probably has everything in her name to get minority benefits on taxes and B&O expenses and what not.

 

[Nickofthewoods]

They probably didn't have fishing licenses either.

 

[S.Clancy]

I wonder if they could petition to get pilot license suspended?

 

[mike stoick]

I would have shot the tail rotar and kept riding

 

[Peaks&Creeks]

This is what happens when Californians buy 2nd homes in our primary residence locales.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[gbflyer]

I wonder if they could petition to get pilot license suspended?

Unless there was some violation of Federal Aviation Regulations, probably not. The FAA is the controlling agency of one’s pilot certificate and generally doesn’t involve itself in BLM, USFS, etc. land designation issues.

Arrogant violation of wilderness area? Most likely but who really knows. I see a few folks here advocating for burning at the stake or shooting at the aircraft? Wow. There are some good riots going on in Minneapolis. Might as well go join in with those sorts of comments.

 

[11boo]

LOL

 

[S.Clancy]

Unless there was some violation of Federal Aviation Regulations, probably not. The FAA is the controlling agency of one’s pilot certificate and generally doesn’t involve itself in BLM, USFS, etc. land designation issues.

Arrogant violation of wilderness area? Most likely but who really knows. I see a few folks here advocating for burning at the stake or shooting at the aircraft? Wow. There are some good riots going on in Minneapolis. Might as well go join in with those sorts of comments.

Couldn't a pilot's license be revoked for egregious breaking of the law? I've seen Dental and MD licenses suspended for violations outside of their respective professions. Just curious.

 

[Scrappy]

Not likely but coming soon to alaska.......

Sara Schwerin (Montana) | LadiesLoveTaildraggers

Sara Schwerin is based at KBZN, Bozeman Yellowstone Intl Airport, Bozeman, Montana. I got my private pilot’s license about 20 years ago but took a long break from flying to focus on my career in NYC, working in Mergers & Acquisitions. I stopped working in 2014, got...

ladieslovetaildraggers.com

The comments on that webpage is crucifying her.

 

[Scrappy]

I would have grabbed the keys and ran away,ha!

And never mentioned that you were ever there.

 

[Mike Islander]

No worse than illegal dirt bike (if that is illegal, just an example). The fact that she's rich isn't relevant. The only important question is whether she gets the same punishment as that illegal dirt bike rider.

Regarding the pilot, if illegal it is now well documented and the pilot WILL very likely get a citation. If not, that would be worth investigating.

 

[gbflyer]

Couldn't a pilot's license be revoked for egregious breaking of the law? I've seen Dental and MD licenses suspended for violations outside of their respective professions. Just curious.

Yes, for things like DUI’s, serious drug related felonies, etc. but there is a road back from all of that as long as one is physically capable. No one is likely to lose their certificate for parking a JetRanger in the Wilderness.

The pilot and passenger were stupid all the way around to engage with the horsemen. All one has to do is say that the chip detector indicator lit up and had to land. File a NASA ASRS form and don’t ever do it again.

 

[Akwoodchuck]

Barf.

 

[S.Clancy]

Yes, for things like DUI’s, serious drug related felonies, etc. but there is a road back from all of that as long as one is physically capable. No one is likely to lose their certificate for parking a JetRanger in the Wilderness.

The pilot and passenger were stupid all the way around to engage with the horsemen. All one has to do is say that the chip detector indicator lit up and had to land. File a NASA ASRS form and don’t ever do it again.

Got ya. It'll be interesting to see what happens.

 

[3forks]

What do you guys consider worse?

1) Someone operating an OHV in a wilderness area and knowing it‘s illegal.

2) Someone landing their helicopter in a wilderness area, but just ignorant of the restrictions.

*just to keep it simple - ignore the issue of wealth.