Small aircraft makes photo flight of blimp while in radio contact.

Attributes
ACN	276572
Time
Date	199407
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : cgx airport : ord
State Reference	IL
Altitude	msl bound lower : 1700 msl bound upper : 1700
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : ord
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	VFR
Aircraft 2
Operator	general aviation : corporate
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 135
Flight Phase	cruise other
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : atp pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 23 flight time total : 3984 flight time type : 200
ASRS Report	276572
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Air Traffic Incident	other other

Narrative:

The family channel lightship was carrying a camera crew from espn for a chicago cubs night game. I came close by to take photos. I was on their company frequency and was in radio contact with them at all times. I had spoken with them in person a few days earlier. There was no problem as far as I know. On the other hand, with so many people on the ground looking up, it wouldn't at all surprise me if someone were to say that I was engaging in acrobatic flight or careless/reckless operation, especially when the FARS are so vague on exactly what constitutes acrobatic flight. I am aware of a case where a pilot had one definition, the FAA inspector had a second one, while the judge had a third. I'm sorry to bother you guys with extra paperwork, but I'm sure you realize the environment in which we pilots find ourselves. As one who has flown F-4's and T-38's in the air force, I'm aware that my interpretation of what's dangerous/acrobatic, etc is far more liberal than that of most people.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMA MAKES PHOTO FLT OF BLIMP WHILE IN RADIO CONTACT.

Narrative: THE FAMILY CHANNEL LIGHTSHIP WAS CARRYING A CAMERA CREW FROM ESPN FOR A CHICAGO CUBS NIGHT GAME. I CAME CLOSE BY TO TAKE PHOTOS. I WAS ON THEIR COMPANY FREQ AND WAS IN RADIO CONTACT WITH THEM AT ALL TIMES. I HAD SPOKEN WITH THEM IN PERSON A FEW DAYS EARLIER. THERE WAS NO PROB AS FAR AS I KNOW. ON THE OTHER HAND, WITH SO MANY PEOPLE ON THE GND LOOKING UP, IT WOULDN'T AT ALL SURPRISE ME IF SOMEONE WERE TO SAY THAT I WAS ENGAGING IN ACROBATIC FLT OR CARELESS/RECKLESS OP, ESPECIALLY WHEN THE FARS ARE SO VAGUE ON EXACTLY WHAT CONSTITUTES ACROBATIC FLT. I AM AWARE OF A CASE WHERE A PLT HAD ONE DEFINITION, THE FAA INSPECTOR HAD A SECOND ONE, WHILE THE JUDGE HAD A THIRD. I'M SORRY TO BOTHER YOU GUYS WITH EXTRA PAPERWORK, BUT I'M SURE YOU REALIZE THE ENVIRONMENT IN WHICH WE PLTS FIND OURSELVES. AS ONE WHO HAS FLOWN F-4'S AND T-38'S IN THE AIR FORCE, I'M AWARE THAT MY INTERP OF WHAT'S DANGEROUS/ACROBATIC, ETC IS FAR MORE LIBERAL THAN THAT OF MOST PEOPLE.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.