So they "relieved the pilot" of his duties, they know who "requested" the fly over AND THEY HAVE TO INVESTIGATE!!! INVESTIGATE WHAT? We know who the kid is, we ALSO KNOW WHO THE PERSON WORKING FOR HOMELAND SECURITY IS AND THE RELATIONSHIP, WHAT DO WE NEED TO INVESTIGATE? I know what should be done, the person responsible for ORDERING THE PILOT to perform this act SHOULD BE FIRED, the person ORDERING the flight plan, SHOULD BE FIRED, the person allowing the school drop SHOULD BE FIRED, the pilot should get a raise for doing what he was told, and then that money should be taken away BECAUSE HE DID NOT TURN THE ASS*OLE IN FOR WASTING GOVERNMENT MONEY. No "investigation" is needed, any 3rd grader could handle this job.

Devils son -- are you serious??? He got the schools permission to hover the helicopter and that makes it ok. Little or no taxpayer $$$???? You're either out of touch or you're part of the 49% that don't pay taxes therefore you are clueless about where us WORKING TAXPAYER's $$$ goes. That is government (read TAXPAYER) property and it doesn't run on air. So who paid for the fuel and their paychecks? Please don't comment when you REALLY don't know what you're talking about.

I am retired Navy aircrew myself. I know that flight crews are scheduled for certain amount of flight time for training. If you take off at home base at 10 AM and have to fly navigation trainers for two hours and land back at home plate at noon, does it really hurt anything if the rout for the training flight goes over your families house and you tell you wife to take the kids outside at 11 to wave to Daddy? You can fly for two hours someplace else, or you can fly over a preferred route and do some good for morale.

And the tax payer is not out any more money if a flight crew gets to let his kids see "daddy's airplane". For the extra time the pilot of this helo hovered, well, hovering is part of the flight proficiency training. Doing 20 minutes of hover to drop the bear, or hover over the practice field is still 20 minutes of hover practice.

If people understand that these little side trips or "Fam Flights" are already covered under the exisiting training budgets, all it is doing is boostign morale a bit. If that bothers you that somebody could actually do their jobs AND smile a bit, then you are a bloody-minded ass.

I have over 3,600 flight hours in EC-130s and spent 21 years in naval aviation. Such flights are a small pittance in compensation for those 2 AM preflights and missing your kids dance recital. So, Ray4ausa, I just showed you how this could occur and NOT COST THE TAXPAYER a penny more than was already scheduled for the day's pilot proficiency training. You are right - NO investigation is needed.

The pilot and anyone else involved in this incident should be fired. The unauthorized use of government equipment is not a minor matter, particularly when you are talking about something like a helicopter. They should also be forced to reimbursed the government for the costs fuel and use of the aircraft. Government employees need to be put on notice that government vehicles and aircraft are not their personal toys. In the DC area, the use of government vehicles for personal use is rampant, with the taxpayer footing the bill for the gas and additional maintenance on the vehicle. There should also be an FAA investigation to see if the pilot violated and flight rules to determine if his license should be revoked. Normally, flying below 500 feet over a residential area is illegal unless it is part of official business. It sounds like this pilot may have violated this rule, whether he had permission from the high school principal or not does not matter, the principal has no authority to waive flight rules. There really does not need to be any investigation on the CBP side, they know full well who was flying the helicopter and they know who the senior official was who was involved in setting this up. There is no need to continue to pay these people while they spend six months to a year investigating, they should just fire the pilot and the boys father. The reason for the "investigation" is so they can wait for the furor to die down and then just sweep it under the rug. These people need to be fired immediately the same way they would be in private industry for such blatant misuse of property.

...the boy’s father is a senior official in air operations at the U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

In a statement, Michael Friel of U.S. Customs and Border Protection said, “CBP management is looking into the matter and the pilot in command of the aircraft has been relieved and reassigned to administrative duties pending completion of the review of the incident.”

Is the pilot and senior official one and the same? From the way it's written I'm assuming not. So I'm totally with you Ray4ausa. The pilot was probably ordered (even doing it as a for you boss/supervisor) to do it. Blame the jerk that ordered the pilot to misappropriate government funds. Fire him AFTER deducting the cost of the flight from his final paycheck.

Shouldn't DHS be busy figuring out new ways to invade Americans' privacy and liberty?

Jim Burrill -

Thank you for your post - and your service!!!

So what! If any one of us had the ability to make their child feel like a VIP I know that I would have done exactly the same thing. With ALL the money the government wastes on silly things like the thousands of dollars on toilet seats etc. As long as no one was hurt BIG DEAL!

If what Jim Burrill is saying is true, then why can't the officials be quoted in this article at least throw that little scenario that Jim is touting out there so that the rest of us have some sort of clue as to what goes on in our own damn country?! I would have no problem with it if it were part of the route during training or whatever. This at first look, does not appear to be the case. Will we ever know? If it turns out that Daddy just wanted to make sure that his boy looked macho in front of a girl and the rest of the school, then Daddy should be fired and all costs for this little adventure taken out of his final pay.

JMS, Why don't you contact the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol and tell them you'll pay the bill for this no "BIG DEAL" "wastes on silly things?"

I'm sure they would accept the money. :-)

Another one voting with Jim B. Those of you condemning the act should chill.

If the helo took off just for operation "bear drop", then maybe a violation.

If the pilot was flying nearby anyway, then I say go ahead make the kids day. Maybe one of them decides to become a pilot one day.

Thank you for your service, Jim.

The primary reason this is not stated publicly AlaskaGirl is that if something were to go wrong (pilot or mechanical failure and god forbid someone were to be seriously injured) there wouldn't be anyone to blame. Bottom line is this; the Pilot has the final decision to make in this scenario, delivery of a stuffed animal over the safety of the students on the ground !!!! Let's see, I go with safety of the students on the ground. I suppose it would have been too much to ask the Post Office or FedEx to hand deliver the stuffed animal, huh. This is not really about taxpayer's money or taxpayer/government property....it's about using common sense. A serious lack of it occurred today

Don't worry - it's an isolated incident, and they're taking it seriously, so you can all go back to sleep.

I thought the Secret Service was in charge of procuring nocturnal company? Boy it's tough keeping up with government agency progress and responsibilities.

I think that all kids should have the same opportunity! So, even if it really doesn't cost anything for this "hovering", let's do it for all the kids!

/sarcasm

How is this different from all the shenanigans John McCain pulled with taxpayer-owned planes? That would include the one he crashed and then lied about and taking out power lines in Spain playing the 'daredevil' ~ his own term.

rogerstv,

The article stated that this was a previously scheduled transport flight carrying the crew and a highly-placed official of the CBP air operations, in other words the crew's boss. The school was along the flightpath. The only diversion actually taken was the hover over the practice field, which had been cleared by school administration.

I agree that this is trying to make a mountain out of an anthill (does quite rise to the level of a molehill). Remember when Prince Harry actually landed his helicopter, in mid-exercise, to have a spot of tea at a local pub? If anyone deserves "punishment" for this, it would be the truly responsible party, the dad (highly-placed official in the CBP air operations) who should have thought more. Regardless of how innocent, the haters and gripers are out in force during this election season.

Jim B. ~ thank you. Folks that have never been involved don't have a clue and unfortunately the news never posts full details on any of these stories. No harm was done.

You people are missing the point. This boy goes through all this trouble, probably gonna get his parent fired and all he puts in the note is Fall Fest?

Are you kidding me? Creativity fell short here.

What cuts? More Americans than ever are collecting some form of entitlements. In fact, we should be kicking all the lazy moorchers who were collecting long before the recession off in order to clear up funds for honest Americans who are currently down on their luck.

The only cuts I have yet to see is the pay the corrupt or incompetent politicians get plus their perks kickbacks graphs and lobbyist . And lets be honest Most of America is down on its luck. And yet we send billions to foreign governments while our powers that be scream about how broke we are. Understand I'm not looking to change your opinion. I was just exspressing mine as I for one and right fed up with Washington

BigBadBampa,

Well, except for some farm programs, the rest of business benefits seem to be living on as well. In addition to the $billions that many received through the stimulus efforts. And yet today, we read of the huge cash coffers being kept by Exxon-Mobil, health-insurers, pharmaceuticals, and technology (10 companies, who in total hold over $317billion). And yet, they still receive special depreciation allowances, research grants and allowances, and H1b employee visas for foreign workers on-demand.

Yeah, Scooter, go figure that I am sure Czar Napolitano got to approve it because that's what she would do! - bury it and she probably told Friel that's how you cover this up.

Should have been prefaced by

WARNING: RIGHT WING STUPIDITY!

Yeah, Scooter, go figure that I am sure Czar Napolitano got to approve it because that's what she would do! - bury it and she probably told Friel that's how you cover this up.

another comment from the 49% -- afraid all those freebies are coming to an end and you're going to have to EARN your way and pay TAXES?

Why are you such a mean and vile sounding person?

Eh - Dottie - get your figures straight 47%. Jeez - you can't even troll correctly

The pilot may have been doing as ordered.

I agree with your, Dr. Knowalittle. While the pilot should be disciplined for obvious lack of common sense, I do believe that he was acting under orders from the Senior Official. It's the S.O. who should be fired, required to reimburse the cost of fuel and other costs plus 50% (just so he understands his stupidity), lose all pension and other benefits, AND do 250 hours of community service for his poor judgement. It's not worth sending him to jail as that would be a true waste of taxpayer money.

"I was just following orders" - where have we heard that before?

The Angry Guy,

So "follow (special, but otherwise legal) orders" or " "pack your bags for your new assignment in Alaska" means nothing. Not every post demands a blatant to Nazism. You're not angry, you are bitter.

'The Stuffed Bulldog Made Me Do It!' Wise near a school with kids coming out, no. If it was during an officially sancitioned flight ... yeah I still see problems with it ... but ... few.

Lib?

I'm sure you mean democrat, since that is the corporate face of a liberal. Saying "lib logic" is like saying "all republicans support pork" just because some do. Liberals could be you, they could be me. In fact, I bet if you ever have a gay kid, you'll end up a little liberal yourself.

You use the word "Logic," but I do not think it means what you think it means.

opps my bad i didn't catch

While on a routine mission over northern Virginia last Wednesday, a CBP helicopter was allegedly used by a Department of Homeland Security employee to fly over his son’s high school and drop a stuffed animal with the invitation, NBCWashington.com reported.

But tell me what Routine operation was this? .....protecting the boarder of North Virgina?.....from what?

They are protecting us by dropping attack stuffed animals on schools to protect the children.

Scooter,

with the type of response of CBP flying over Northern VA, ya never know where those crafty illegals will head. The farther north of the border, the safer they feel. However, the stuffed toy was only a diversionary tactic - yeah, yeah that their story and they are sticking to it!

Scooter ... are you aware that there are places where items shipped from overseas are received in NOVA and MD? You know... SHIPYARDS? The full name is CUSTOMS and Border Patrol. There are also THREE International airports in the DC metro area ... Ronald Reagan Airport, Dulles and Baltimore-Washington. But I guess the CUSTOMS aspects must have slipped everybody's minds.

1. It was a routine training flight.

2. the boy was the son of the pilot.

Give them a break. This was all part of their NEW undercover operation. Remember Operation Fast and Furious where they were going to put chips in all those automatic weapons and sell them to mexican gangs? Well, this was a training flight for Fast and FURRIEST where they put tracking chips into stuffed animals. It all makes sense when you think about it like a bureaucrat.

IA.ScooterTramp,

Please pay a little more attention to the agency's name "Customs and Border Patrol". This agency not only polices entry of people into the United States, but also the entry of animals, plant products (including food) and material goods; assessing tariffs where appropriate. If you have traveled outside the US; you know that on your return, you first deal with the agents controlling border (Border Patrol or Customs depending on venue) and then with the Customs Agents controlling entry of materials (Customs can search you, your luggage, your vehicles used in crossing the border). Movement of personnel and material, including collected evidence is probably pretty routine and probably more practical with helicopters than fixed wing aircraft or automobiles.

That boy is definitely going to get some action that night.....gitty

If you are a proud American (notice the capital "A") veteran, why don't you do the honorable thing and tell the truth instead of spreading lies, schmucko? THe airport could not accomodate Airforce 1 so they had to fly to gulf streams to haul aids, staff and the O'bama family.

I would question whether you were really in the military.

Since you have neither the courage or foresight to question anything about the obama propaganda machine I doubt you lack the courage for anything.

I would question if you are even capable of independent thought.

However, Maybe you can enlighten us about the Air Force jet that was provided to fly the first daughter and friends to Mexico for Spring Break?

Lets not forget the Nancy Pelosi Fiesta either.

Can't defend your position so you change the subject huh? Sissy.

WOW! You can tell smoot is an Obammy boy supporter,his mommy must have told him who to "support"!

The thing about arguing with Libs is ... you can't The only right way of thinking is there way.They have a magical ability to make logic disappear. If you do manage to make a point they tend to attack and say such things as "Can't defend your position so you change the subject huh? Sissy." and avoid the question. Notice that smoot mahooty did not answer your question ? The true mark of the truly blind. And if you are reading this Smoot You need to think a bit before you respond. as you are the one that changed the subject when proudAmerican ( notice the cap ? ) replied "

Since you have neither the courage or foresight to question anything about the obama propaganda machine I doubt you lack the courage for anything.

I would question if you are even capable of independent thought.

However, Maybe you can enlighten us about the Air Force jet that was provided to fly the first daughter and friends to Mexico for Spring Break? "

Lets not forget the Nancy Pelosi Fiesta either.

Jim Burrell, great to have a post from someone who knows what he's talking about from experience and who makes sense. Since the aircraft was flying a routine mission over Northern Virginia and the school also is in Northern Virginia the detour likely was minor. If the aircraft flew extra miles, charge for the extra fuel unless it was just flying around to satisfy flight time requirements. Those who want blood, get it somewhere else.

proud,

I notice that Mr. Boehner kept the Speaker's jet, even after complaining about it. Just like Texas took all the federal aid, after complaining about it. Some of us really do pay attention.

And since no member of the First Family can travel by public transport due to Secret Service issues, are you suggesting that a President's spouse and children be immediately confined to the White House as a posh prison?

By the way, I also spell the name of our company with a capital "A", America.

I agree. Seriously, what the hell is the 'big deal' here? So the Father did something irresponsible with Federal equipment. At LEAST the son involved has a Father who is involved with his life, and wanted to do something 'out of the norm' for his Son's dance.

Bill the Father and Son for the cost of fuel, dock the Father an hour of two of pay, and be done with it.

These people crying about their tax money be spent on a stupid stunt, are now so eager to have even MORE of their money spent on ridiculous Federal investigations over a Father taking some 'taxpayers time' for doing something special for his Son.

Tony Titan

I understand parenting and doing great things for the children, however,

Look up the word rationalization please. Once you see the meaning, then read your post again.

These people crying about their tax money be spent on a stupid stunt, are now so eager to have even MORE of their money spent on

I know - the amount of money spent here, there and a trillion here and a trillion there. You don't think that adds up when we are in a deficit and it keeps going higher.

Chuck 25 and Tony. look up rationalization then refer to my comments in #17.2

I am being 'rational'....Charge the Dad and his Son for the fuel, dock Dad an hour or two of pay, and be done with the whole thing. It's NOT that big of a deal.

Spending any extra money while in a deficit, for an investigation that concludes that Dad simply did something irresponsible....THAT is being irrational & irresponsible.(for wanting to spend money we don't have)

How do you know the chopper was on a routine mission? It is a big deal.

Tony, I am sorry you do not understand what rationalization means - basically, it means its Okay because "no harm, no foul" and "everybody does it so why can't I" - it is used in the context of defense mechanism in psychology - like if you got caught with your hands in the cookie jar and you told your mom, "I was really hungry and it is at least another hour until supper". I hope this helps you with the understanding rationalization, not the word rational.

Tony, I Googled it and here is the definition of Rationalization - hope it helps

In psychology and logic, rationalization (also known as making excuses^[1]) is an unconscious defense mechanism in which perceived controversial behaviors or feelings are logically justified and explained in a rational or logical manner in order to avoid any true explanation, and are made consciously tolerable – or even admirable and superior – by plausible means.^[2] Rationalization encourages irrational or unacceptable behavior, motives, or feelings and often involves ad hoc hypothesizing. This process ranges from fully conscious (e.g. to present an external defense against ridicule from others) to mostly subconscious (e.g. to create a block against internal feelings of guilt).

People rationalize for various reasons. Rationalization may differentiate the original deterministic explanation of the behavior or feeling in question.^[3][4] Sometimes rationalization occurs when we think we know ourselves better than we do. It is also an informal fallacy of reasoning.^[5]

Ralph, we know that the helicopter and crew were on a routine mission because we read the article. It's detailed in the second sentence. Scroll up and read it again, I'll wait.

I'll save judgment as to how big a deal it was until they release details like the scope of the mission, if the mission was impacted as a result of this action, how far out of the flight path they went, and other such things that weren't mentioned, but are huge factors in determining the impact to standard operations/waste of resources before I speculate on what punishment, if any, I deem appropriate.

rswall,

Our troops did not have the supplies they needed for a number of reasons. The need was not foreseen, delays in production of the goods, interruptions in the transport chain (as when Pakistan shut its borders), failure of contractors to properly complete their work in a timely fashion, or failure of the military chain of command to fulfill its obligations. Often, the chain of command, facing material shortages, had to allocate those materials (meaning not everyone got armor upgrades as quickly). These are always a consequence of war. But not one of the reasons had anything to do with government waste anywhere else in the federal budget. Trust me, the Pentagon wastes enough of its own money to figure how to get what it really needs.

I would think that it's the Atlantic but who knows

you pay for it then!

I was wondering the same thing... "yes" or "no"

I was also wondering this. You'd think they would have said something. I suppose the reason for this article was meant to piss people off.

At our highschool we used to have a helicopter fly in the football field every year for ROTC kids for fun. Until 9/11.