Idaho Statutes are clear on the issue of who is liable for costs incurred for search and rescue efforts. If the person who is lost has intentionally ignored signs, or has wandered into an area that is posted off limits, such as an out of bounds ski area, that person (18 years or older) is liable for the costs incurred for the search and rescue effort.

http://www3.state.id.us/oasis/2003/H0116.html

There is nothing in Idaho Statutes that even remotely suggests that a lost pilot would be expected to reimburse the state for search and rescue costs. We pay a $12 fee each year into a fund for such efforts.

I think that the whole thing is idiotic.

We pay taxes so that emergency services are available.

He has paid his share of taxes, and probably more than everyone that posts here combined.

The thought of having to pay for the search makes me sick.

-Vic

We had a pilot go down here a few weeks ago.

http://bangornews.com/news/t/midcoas...747&zoneid=179

He was in an aerobatic plane and was last seen over Penobscot Bay doing some aerobatic maneuvers. People on shore heard a loud bang and then saw the plane disappear. He was an experienced pilot and a flight instructor who was very experienced with his plane, a single engine SIAI Marchetti SF 260.

Search crews were out immediately. Staging areas were set up at every harbor in the area. Private pilots were in the air nearby at the time and started searching as soon as the call came in. People with boats came from the mainland and from the nearby islands. The Coast Guard sent boats and helos. An oil slick and some debris was spotted immediately by a private pilot who was a friend of the pilot of the plane. The next day the CG picked up sonar readings indicating where the plane was. The Maine Marine Patrol and State Police divers recovered the body later the next evening.

If it was me, I would certainly hope that a rescue effort would be launched for me and a search and recovery would continue even when all hope was lost. I would also hope that no matter what the cost was, that my government would participate in that search, along with friends and family who would most certainly be out there looking!

I would hope even more that it would be done regardless of what the cost was. My taxes support search and rescue. I was a volunteer for many years and did many S&R ops and I NEVER asked nor did I EVER expect to be paid back for it.

I don't even think S&R should be considered as a for profit operation. While there may come a time when the government HAS to call their ops, due to time and budget constraints, the effort should be made to put a reasonable amount of time in, regardless of who it is, rich or poor. This IS after all America, we don't leave our soldiers or our citizens behind in times of trouble, do we??? What makes searching for someone who is lost any different?

( and yes FG, I immediately thought of you during all this! )

How is this any different than, let's say, a county government billing the family of a murder victim for their investigation? It makes no sense.

Search and rescue teams are government agencies (at least here they are). There are private companies that do this - and if the family so chooses to hire them that's on them - but the government agencies that search and/or investigate are paid for by our tax dollars (please, someone correct me if I am wrong).

Even if the family is mega rich (which I believe the Fossett's are) it makes no difference. If it were your family member out there would you want someone checking to see how much money you had before sending help?

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5g...M6OVAD90D64SO0

By SANDRA CHEREB – 12 hours ago
CARSON CITY, Nev. (AP) — Nevada's governor intends to ask the widow of missing multimillionaire Steve Fossett to help pay the state's $687,000 tab in the unsuccessful search for the famed adventurer last fall, the governor's spokesman said Thursday.

Ben Kieckhefer, press secretary for Gov. Jim Gibbons, said any assistance from the Fossett family would be voluntary.
"We are going to request that they help offset some of these expenses, considering the scope of the search, the overall cost as well as our ongoing budget difficulties,"

Kieckhefer told The Associated Press.
Fossett, 63, took off in a small plane Sept. 3 from a ranch south of Yerington on what was supposed to be a short pleasure flight. The self-made business tycoon gained worldwide fame attempting to set records in high-tech balloons, gliders and jets. In 2002, he became the first person to circle the world solo in a balloon.

During a monthlong search, ground crews, the Nevada National Guard and the Civil Air Patrol scoured a 20,000 square-mile area, but turned up no sign of Fossett or his plane.

He had taken off from Barron Hilton's Flying M Ranch, and the hotel magnate later voluntarily sent the state a check $200,000 to cover some of the search costs.

Kieckhefer said with Hilton's contribution, the state is hoping the Fossett family would help make up the $487,000 difference.

Fossett was declared legally dead Feb. 15 by an Illinois judge. In making that determination, Cook County Circuit Court Judge Jeffery Malak said Fossett left a "vast," eight-figure estate.

Michael LoVallo, a Chicago lawyer for Fossett's widow, Peggy, was out of town and not available for comment, his voice mail message said.

I was referring to his penchant for pursuing world records in dangerous ways. He may not have been involved in setting a record at the time, but he was scouting for a location. I meant no disrespect toward the man or his wife. I just think people should be responsible for their own recreation expenses, especially if they are in a position to afford the cost.

It was a tragic event, and my heart goes out to his widow.

How do you consider his ventures dangerous?

He spent his own money, or was sponsored for each of his world record setting flights and events. Not one taxpayer dollar was spent on his "recreation." This was his business. He was in the business of promoting aviation.

As I remember from the time that this search was going, the Nevada Air Guard was using the SAR effort as a training mission. Other agencies were using equipment that had never been used previous to this as they had not had an opportunity to prior to this.

When someone close to home goes missing, you tend to pay attention to these types of missions. A very close friend of mine was the lead pilot for one of the Search and Rescue Mission crews for over two months.

This is a subject near and dear to my heart and I only hope that people understand that the aviation community is a very close community. We do pay for these efforts through our aviation fuel taxes, fees for our airplanes, and other fees locally. I already told you that here in Idaho all registered pilots pay into a special fund for Aviation Safety.

It's sad when someone like Steve Fossett is being portrayed as a dangerous pilot...he was not.

I read that article RW when it happened and was sad to see that it was Doug.

I'm sorry ((Av8rgirl)). I understand this is close to your heart. I didn't mean to insult you.

Thank you Kathy. It's not me you are insulting. It's the aviation community and Steve Fossett. He has done incredible things for the advancement of aviation and to say he is dangerous, well...it just isn't right.

There are some dangerous pilots out there, and they do not survive long in this community.

But Steve was not one of them. He was a very well respected man. He will be missed.