Superman vs. the FAA

[Raguleader]

@Odesio

According to the FAA an Ultralight is “a vehicle.” As Superman is not a vehicle he is not subject to ultralight rules.

Is he a vehicle when carrying Lois Lane?

[GoodOmens]

@Siam_Sam

What does the military do when Superman violates White House air space?

Shits their pants if they’ve read Red Son or played Injustice.

[JustinC]

@Siam_Sam

What does the military do when Superman violates White House air space?

Nervously wave whilst giving him a very wide grin?

He’s a representative/diplomat from another world - I doubt the usual rules would apply.

Although Joss Ackland proclaiming “Dip-Lo-Matic Im-mun-ity” didn’t do him a lot of good…

[Son_of_a_Rich]

@Broomstick

Well, if Supes is under 254 pounds he’d fall under ultralight rules, meaning no license required, but he’d be restricted in what airspace he could fly in and cruising over Metropolis would be a no-no.

I doubt he’d be content with a max airspeed of 63 mph

[Broomstick]

@Siam_Sam

This prompts the question of whether Superman has to file a flight plan with the authorities. If I were a bad guy, I’d find me an FAA employee and lean on him for that info.

Probably not - most flights in the US don’t require a flight plan. Flight by vision, as opposed to flight by instruments, does not require it. Since I’ve never seen Supes bothering with installing flight instruments on his cape or wrist watch or belt or whatever all his flying is VFR so no, no flight plan required. In the US. Other nations have different rules but, um, good luck enforcing them.

@Raguleader

Actually, Superman being from another planet probably wouldn’t factor into it given that the FAA’s authority is derived from the airspace being US territory, not from the pilots being US born.

^ This.

@Odesio

According to the FAA an Ultralight is “a vehicle.” As Superman is not a vehicle he is not subject to ultralight rules.

Correct - that tangent was just if some lawyer-type tried to argue he should fall under some regulation or other.

@Son_of_a_Rich

I doubt he’d be content with a max airspeed of 63 mph

No, I doubt it - but, hey, good luck enforcing that one, too.

There really isn’t a goddamned thing the US, or any other Earth government, can do to impose restraint on Superman. Good thing he’s a nice guy and likes us.

[Leo_Bloom]

@Broomstick

…Either [Superman will… ] ignore [a homing missile] or he might even throw it back at you.

Heh. Less than 30 minutes ago I made a similar warning about messing around attempting radar-directed attacks on Superman. [Post 51].

[Siam_Sam]

Has Superman ever accounted for his whereabouts on 9/11?

[mbh]

@Siam_Sam

What does the military do when Superman violates White House air space?

@Raguleader

They politely ask him to leave. Or they shoot at him, which probably has about the same effect.

Superman has impeccable manners. Asking politely would get much better results.

[cochrane]

@Siam_Sam

What does the military do when Superman violates White House air space?

Assuming the President is not Lex Luthor, Superman has usually had a free pass to visit the White House, standing for truth, justice, and the American way as he does. He has traditionally been welcomed in the Oval Office, especially during times of national crisis.

[engineer_comp_geek]

Moderator Action

This thread has been straddling GQ and CS from the start. Since the factual aspect of this (what exactly are the FAA rules) has been answered probably about as well it can be, I’m going to move this over to CS which will allow folks a bit more freedom of discussion related to the fictional aspects of this.

Moving thread from General Questions to Cafe Society.

[Love_Rhombus]

@GoodOmens

Shits their pants if they’ve read Red Son or played Injustice.

Or the 500 times he’s been mind-controlled. Of course, there is a universe where he’s President already, which has to be a bit harder on the secret identity or making flight plans than being a reporter.