Utah Panel Revokes Aviation Exemption For Santa Clause

[matcom]

<snip>

SALT LAKE CITY (Reuters) - Has Ebenezer Scrooge moved to Utah?



In the minds of some Salt Lake City residents, a proposed change to the city's aviation code conjures up images of the famous curmudgeon from Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol."

The city's airport board recently proposed a change in the part of the aviation code that said small aircraft must maintain an altitude of more than 2,000 feet while flying over Salt Lake City. For years, Santa Claus and his reindeer were granted an exception -- but no more.

Tim Campbell, executive director of the department of airports, said the panel isn't staffed by a bunch of Scrooges, it was just trying to be modern and professional.

"We were updating the ordinance and this provision had not been looked at for a number of years," Campbell said on Friday. "Members of the panel felt it was just not appropriate," said Campbell, who voted to retain the Santa exemption.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=573&ncid=573&e=6&u=/nm/20040913/od_nm/odd_santa_dc

[GOPisEvil]

1. Don't blame me when you find lumps of coal in your stockings.

[rpannier]

2. What A Bunch of Morons...

They're acting like there really is a Santa Claus. It's for the kids. Give the exemption...My God, some people will do anything to get in the news. Mr. Campbell, you got your 15 minutes of fame -- You're a jackass.

[Grins]

3. They don't have jurisdiction anyway.

What a bunch of morans. The FAA has sole regulatory authority on control of airspace in the United States. How in hell can a town even have a "aviation code"? Don't these clowns have something better to do?