Honolulu Star-Advertiser

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Aerial advertising pilot arrested at Dillingham Airfield

Honolulu police arrested the pilot who flew an aerial banner over Oahu on Monday afternoon.

The plane flew a banner that read, “Advertising Isn’t Just For Politicians,” said Michael J. McAllister, an attorney for Aerial Banners North.

The pilot was arrested as he landed at Dillingham Field about 1 p.m., McAllister said. He is being held pending charges. A person found guilty of aerial advertising faces a fine of up to $500 per violation, a maximum of three months in jail, or both.

Both a police spokeswoman and McAllister said the pilot was the same 55-year-old Waianae man who was issued a citation for the same offense on July 4.

Asked why the pilot was arrested on Monday rather than issued a citation, HPD spokeswoman Michelle Yu said: “The law allows for citation or arrest. In this instance, the same individual had been cited for the same infraction earlier.”

McAllister said Aerial Banners North will pay for the pilot’s defense.

The company continues to maintain that municipalities cannot regulate airspace.

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