WPCNR AIR NEWS. By John F. Bailey. June 22, 2005: At a news conference held by County Executive Andy Spano at Westchester County Airport this afternoon, a media spokesperson for the County Executive told WPCNR that the Cessna alledgedly stolen by a 20 year old man, and flown to Westchester Airport, flying for approximately 3 hours and landing at 4:30 A.M., was undetected by New York TRACON, the supervising air traffic control center in Long Island, charged with regulating New York metropolitan airspace. New York FAA authorities have been contacted by WPCNR for confirmation that the aircraft was, in fact, undetected. She said the aircraft was flying below radar and offered this low level altitude as a reason why the aircraft was not detected.

Philippe Patricio, 20, charged with Driving While Intoxicated, after flying a Cessna into a closed Westchester Airport at 4:30 A.M. Wednesday morning. Photo, Westchester County Department of Communications.

A pilot who flies New York area airspace, told WPCNR that any aircraft not flying with its "transponder" device on, should show up as a "primary target" on TRACON radar, and this aviator theorized that in evenings, the radars "combine sectors" and he also theorized that the controllers work combined sectors and might have been programmed not to show clutter by turning off what he described as the "primary target" mode. This pilot added that, by federal regulation, aircraft operating within 30 nautical miles of the major New York City airports must have a certified transponder turned on to make the airplane easily identifiable on radar , otherwise it is identified by TRACON and air traffic controllers as a primary target, i.e., harder to see on their radar scopes.

The transponder enhances the radar return, includes altidue information. WPCNR awaits the FAA's response to find out an explanation for why the stolen plane was not detected on radar as Westchester County claims.

The Department of Communications spokeswoman said that the first TRACON heard of the Cessna violation was when Westchester County Police called them to report it.

The spokesperson also said that the 20 year old pilot had 7 hours of flight lessons. She said construction crews working at the airport heard the plane early this morning, and the security crews met the plane after it landed on a taxiway. The spokesperson said County Police charged the pilot with Driving While Intoxicated, after he was given a breathalizer test showing a blood alcohol level of .15 or twice the legal limit, she said. She said, to the best of her knowledge, federal authorities were not involved.

WPCNR notes that anyone stealing an airplane and flying under the influence of alcohol and without a pilot's license is likely to have violated other federal regulations other than turning on the airplane's transponder.

The spokesperson said that County Executive Andy Spano expressed anger that Danbury Airport Security measures was not as good as security at Westchester County Airport where aircraft are required to be tied and chained down, and booted.