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Boy gets special ride to school -- in a helicopter; FAA alerted
Father was just trying to make the first day of school an occasion to remember for his son
CLERMONT
Bart Sutherin gets big points for trying to make his son's first day of school at East Ridge High a memorable one.
But it probably wasn't a good idea to rent a helicopter and then drop off the boy without first warning the Lake County school district and Sheriff's Office.
Sutherin freaked out school officials when he landed the blue-and-white Hughes 300 helicopter about 7 a.m. Monday behind some portable classrooms on the east side of the campus, according a Lake Sheriff's Office report.
A deputy assigned to work at the high school called the Federal Aviation Administration, which launched an investigation.
Although the FAA still is looking into the matter, an official said Sutherin likely isn't in trouble because he landed the aircraft safely and "in accordance with the Federal Aviation Regulations."
Sutherin, a registered pilot and father of three, told officials he had simply wanted to "make a positive impression on the other students."
His 14-year-old son Joseph, who started the ninth grade this week, said he thought it would be cool to arrive at school via aircraft. It's certainly something he won't forget, he said.
"It wasn't something everyone did every day," said the honors student. "It would be extraordinary, and I could say, 'Yeah, I flew into the school in a helicopter.'"
Ironically, it's doubtful that many students saw the landing, said Principal David E. Cunningham. The aircraft vehicle had to come down in an cleared area away from students.
Cunningham is clearly not as thrilled about the event as the boy and his father were.
"It's not something that needs to happen every day -- or ever," he said.
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