Flyover lands Navy pilots in hot water

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) - Two Navy pilots from Naval Air Station Oceana are in hot water because of their performance in a pre-game college football flyover last year.

The flyover occurred at a Georgia Tech vs. Wake Forest football came, Nov. 7, 2009, at Bobby Dodd Stadium in Atlanta, Ga.

The Navy says the minimum safe altitude for a flyover is 1000 feet above ground level.

Video of the event posted online appears to show the jets did not adhere to that requirement.

According to Lt. Cmdr. Phil Rosi, a spokesman for the Norfolk-based Commander Naval Air Force Atlantic, the pilots did violate the minimum established guidelines for this type of event.

The pilots subsequently went through the Field Naval Aviator Evaluation Board (FNAEB) administrative process. LCDR Rosi says the board is "part of the naval aviation's internal checks and balances that ensures strict adherence to safety of flight."

"As with other administrative processes in the Navy, there is an expectation of privacy protections for the individuals involved," LCDR Rosi told WAVY News 10. "As a general rule the Navy does not comment on specific details and results associated with administrative processes."