New York City’s ‘Fan Man’ Turns Arrest Into Advocacy Effort

By Yisroel R.

A New York City hobby pilot known as the “Fan Man,” who regularly flies a lightweight fan-powered paraglider over the city’s waterways, especially near the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge, says he did nothing illegal during his recent flight — even though he agreed to plead guilty to a lesser violation to settle the case. Johnathan Warren accepted a disorderly conduct charge this weekend after police arrested him for landing his aircraft in Calvert Vaux Park. The initial felony reckless-endangerment charge was dropped.

Warren maintains that his flights follow federal rules for “ultralight” aircraft, which can operate over uncongested areas. Prosecutors, however, argued that he still violated city laws by taking off or landing inside a park.

Now, Warren is turning the episode into an advocacy mission. He plans to start a nonprofit that would push for designated legal areas where hobby pilots can safely take off and land. He hopes to meet with city agencies over the winter and spring and eventually expand the organization into a national network for ultralight flyers.

For now, Warren is grounded as he waits to retrieve his $12,000 paraglider that was taken from him after the arrest. Despite the incident, he says he has flown more than 30 times between New York and New Jersey in the past two years and hopes he and others can continue the hobby legally in the future.