Aviation Pioneers Return to Chicago Lakefront

Chicago Sun Times Jul 21, 2005

"A plane splashed down on Lake Michigan early Wednesday morning,
prompting a passerby to call 911 and touching off an emergency rescue
operation. But before rescuers responded, the plane took off.

The sea plane touched down around 8:30 a.m.
"It landed and took off before we got there," said Larry Langford, a
spokesman for the Chicago Fire Department.
The plane was spotted in the lake a few blocks south of North Avenue,
but it was not clear from the caller how far from shore the plane was.

The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating to make sure the
pilot -- who is unknown -- followed all safety precautions and
regulations. But because the airspace there is uncontrolled, the
landing was not illegal, said Elizabeth Cory, FAA spokeswoman.

Steve Whitney, president of Friends of Meigs Field and a sea plane
pilot, said lake landings are rare because the water is too choppy.
When Meigs was open, the pilot would have contacted air traffic
controllers there, he said.
"Generally, Lake Michigan is kind of rough for sea plane operations,"
he said. "But if it is smooth, it is perfectly suitable."