Straight and Level Flight (video)  

During the 1991 Gulf War Fighter Squadron One's Commanding Officer Ronald E. McElraft admits he and his pilot, Lieutenant Steve Broce, violated the international coalition's authorized lowest flight limit of five thousand feet:

  

"We were about -- 3 or 4000 feet."
"You said 3500."
"You were 3500 feet, straight and level flight."
"Five thousand."
"The limit was 3500."
"Is that right? 3500 feet?"
"3500 feet."
"I said we were at five thousand."
Laughter.

 

Broadband  McElraft unenthusiastically frocks Graham to Second Class Petty Officer  ISDN

The US Navy part of this video clip was recorded by Petty Officer Graham onboard USS Ranger during the 1991 Gulf War, in Ready Room Eight with Fighter Squadron One. 

Stencil of shotdown helicopter on side of F-14ANavy officers are schooled by their Commanding Officer, in this case one commanding the most respected squadron in the American Navy, and the only squadron to score an air-to-air combat shootdown during the war.

The CO's example teaches pilots that violating flight level restrictions are inconsequential, and that lying about policy violation is both acceptable and expected.

Nevertheless, in this video clip you see spokesperson Ken Bacon assuring the Prime Minister of Italy "measures have been taken" to ensure US military pilots will not repeat the accidental killing of 20 people on a ski gondola. Bacon insists, "There is now a clear ceiling" below which pilots are not allowed to fly.