Pilot pleads guilty to flying low over people at Ballinasloe Fair
Galway Bay fm newsroom - A pilot will be sentenced in May for breaching aviation safety regulations by flying at low altitude over crowds of people attending Ballinasloe Horse fair two years ago.
39 year old Michael Mannion of Castlesampson, Bealnamulla, Athlone appeared before Galway Circuit Criminal Court where he pleaded guilty to five breaches of the Irish Aviation Authority Act 2004.Mannion pleaded guilty to operating a helicopter in a public place at a height less than 450m, above the ground or water, over a congested area of Ballinasloe town on October 2, 2011.He pleaded guilty also to flying the helicopter in the vicinity of the town centre, at such a height which would not have permitted, in the event of engine failure, for a safe, forced landing to be carried out.Mannion also pleaded guilty to flying the helicopter within 150m of the radio mast at Ballinasloe Garda Station and to flying it closer than 150m to a Ferris wheel in the town where people had congregated on the same date.The pilot further pleaded guilty to flying the helicopter over the centre of the town where a large crowd of people had assembled for the Horse Fair that day, without the consent of the Irish Aviation Authority.Defence barrister, John Kiely said the court would benefit from a probation report before passing sentence.Judge Rory McCabe agreed and he adjourned sentence to May 8 next, directing the preparation of a probation report for that date.