Operation Migration Grounding Lifted

Those of us who have been flying trikes for awhile are familiar with Operation Migration.  This is a non-profit organization dedicated to reintroducing whooping cranes back into eastern North America and a big part of their plan is using trikes to lead young whooping cranes on their first migration from Wisconsin to Florida.  Many of you may have even seen the movie "Fly Away Home" with Jeff Daniels filmed in 1996 inspired by Operation Migration's work.  It was actually this movie that got my wife and myself interested in triking.

Recently Operation Migration ran afoul of the FAA.  Since the foundation uses trikes (Light Sport Aircraft) to guide the birds and since the pilots are paid, the FAA decided they were violating the rules prohibiting Sport Pilots from being compensated for anything other than flight instruction and glider towing and grounded the group.  This occurred on January 5th when the group arrived with birds in tow in Alabama.

Thankfully the FAA issued the group a waiver on January 10th and the migration will soon be again on its way.  It looks like the FAA worked very diligently with Operation Migration to come up with a way of allowing the group to continue to do their work without being in violation.  For those of you in the FAA who worked to find a way to get the birds back into the air and on their way -- thanks :-).