Just prior to 9/11, I was enjoying a fine flying day at College Park airport, just hanging out and visiting with who ever was there. That was a popular activity then.
A young Arab opened a conversation in fair quality English, introducing himself as new to the Washington area, and a pilot. After discussing the flying that was occurring that day, he pointed out that he wanted to go flying, but there were no rental planes on the field. Could I give him a sightseeing flight over Washington? I did have a Commercial rating, so he could pay me, but I was very aware that the prohibited airspace on the charts grossly understates the actuality of flying over the city.
After I had convinced him that such a flight was impossible (Not really impossible, but not practical without major preparation), we talked further on flying in general, then he left.
Then 9/11 occurred, I remembered the conversation, and called the FBI. I had a conference with an Agent, recalled all I could about the encounter, and he showed me some pictures of Arabic appearing men. Several resembled my Arab closely, and he informed me that one was the pilot who did not see the White House, and hit the Pentagon.
If we had made the flight, he would have been more likely to pick out the White House from the air, and it would have been destroyed. It is not nearly as rugged as the Pentagon, and much smaller.
There were internal restrictions of flight over the city. They could be waived by any controller if it seemed to be appropriate. They rarely were waived, and that saved the White House. I had flown over the city many times, but for my own convenience. Over use closes such waivers, and I might want one later.
One of the 9/11 pilots tried to rent a Cessna at Freeway Airport, but his skills were so bad they would not rent to him, and he was not willing to take enough lessons to rent solo, so that attempt to fly over down town failed. After 9/11 they matched the data from the rental request to one of the Pentagon pilots.
Were they the same man? Or two separate attempts, one by each of the pilots to get the knowledge required for a successful attack?
Small things change history.
A young Arab opened a conversation in fair quality English, introducing himself as new to the Washington area, and a pilot. After discussing the flying that was occurring that day, he pointed out that he wanted to go flying, but there were no rental planes on the field. Could I give him a sightseeing flight over Washington? I did have a Commercial rating, so he could pay me, but I was very aware that the prohibited airspace on the charts grossly understates the actuality of flying over the city.
After I had convinced him that such a flight was impossible (Not really impossible, but not practical without major preparation), we talked further on flying in general, then he left.
Then 9/11 occurred, I remembered the conversation, and called the FBI. I had a conference with an Agent, recalled all I could about the encounter, and he showed me some pictures of Arabic appearing men. Several resembled my Arab closely, and he informed me that one was the pilot who did not see the White House, and hit the Pentagon.
If we had made the flight, he would have been more likely to pick out the White House from the air, and it would have been destroyed. It is not nearly as rugged as the Pentagon, and much smaller.
There were internal restrictions of flight over the city. They could be waived by any controller if it seemed to be appropriate. They rarely were waived, and that saved the White House. I had flown over the city many times, but for my own convenience. Over use closes such waivers, and I might want one later.
One of the 9/11 pilots tried to rent a Cessna at Freeway Airport, but his skills were so bad they would not rent to him, and he was not willing to take enough lessons to rent solo, so that attempt to fly over down town failed. After 9/11 they matched the data from the rental request to one of the Pentagon pilots.
Were they the same man? Or two separate attempts, one by each of the pilots to get the knowledge required for a successful attack?
Small things change history.
