Federal Aviation Administration revokes Newport, Oregon, pilot’s license

NEWPORT — The Federal Aviation Administration last week issued an unusual “emergency order of revocation,” rescinding the flying credentials of a pilot they claim runs an unauthorized airline at the Newport Municipal Airport. 

Newport pilot Lester “Les” LaCasse is pictured with his 200 mph Cessna 310, which federal aviation regulators say he flew through Newport airspace with an intentionally disabled transponder that kept him off the radar screens of air traffic controllers. 

Last week, the Federal Aviation Administration revoked LaCasse’s pilot’s certificate, claiming he ran an unauthorized airline and hauled passengers in an uninspected airplane.