Narrative:

En route to mbs to pick up freight. As I was looking down, completing in-range approach checklist the captain flew over the city of saginaw, 6 NM southeast of airport and proceeded to do (2) 360 degrees at about 1000 ft AGL, and 30-45 degrees of bank. I was not pleased with this action! I had no warning he was about to do this, and was quite surprised. I felt this was very unprofessional and borderline legal, as we, at times, descended below 1000 ft AGL, over a populated area, 6 NM from an approach control facility. As I quickly reviewed my options, they were severely limited, as I was a new copilot at this company. In addition, I felt it would have been dangerous to try and take over the controls at such a low level. I questioned the PIC as to his actions, at which time he told me his parents lived down there. Later, the tower questioned us, and I found out that there were several complaints from people on the ground about noise. I felt that, at the time, I could not have prevented this. Although, when the company learned of this action, the PIC was disciplined -- 2 weeks off without pay. I try to be as professional as I can at all times and this disturbed me. I made it clear later, that this was not appropriate, and I would hope this would not happen again.

Google
 

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CAPT OF AN ATX LTT JET MADE STEEPED BANK TURNS BELOW 1000 FT OVER A CONGESTED TOWN ON FINAL INSIDE A CLASS E (TRSA) AND ATA AIRSPACE.

Narrative: ENRTE TO MBS TO PICK UP FREIGHT. AS I WAS LOOKING DOWN, COMPLETING IN-RANGE APCH CHKLIST THE CAPT FLEW OVER THE CITY OF SAGINAW, 6 NM SE OF ARPT AND PROCEEDED TO DO (2) 360 DEGS AT ABOUT 1000 FT AGL, AND 30-45 DEGS OF BANK. I WAS NOT PLEASED WITH THIS ACTION! I HAD NO WARNING HE WAS ABOUT TO DO THIS, AND WAS QUITE SURPRISED. I FELT THIS WAS VERY UNPROFESSIONAL AND BORDERLINE LEGAL, AS WE, AT TIMES, DSNDED BELOW 1000 FT AGL, OVER A POPULATED AREA, 6 NM FROM AN APCH CTL FACILITY. AS I QUICKLY REVIEWED MY OPTIONS, THEY WERE SEVERELY LIMITED, AS I WAS A NEW COPLT AT THIS COMPANY. IN ADDITION, I FELT IT WOULD HAVE BEEN DANGEROUS TO TRY AND TAKE OVER THE CTLS AT SUCH A LOW LEVEL. I QUESTIONED THE PIC AS TO HIS ACTIONS, AT WHICH TIME HE TOLD ME HIS PARENTS LIVED DOWN THERE. LATER, THE TWR QUESTIONED US, AND I FOUND OUT THAT THERE WERE SEVERAL COMPLAINTS FROM PEOPLE ON THE GND ABOUT NOISE. I FELT THAT, AT THE TIME, I COULD NOT HAVE PREVENTED THIS. ALTHOUGH, WHEN THE COMPANY LEARNED OF THIS ACTION, THE PIC WAS DISCIPLINED -- 2 WEEKS OFF WITHOUT PAY. I TRY TO BE AS PROFESSIONAL AS I CAN AT ALL TIMES AND THIS DISTURBED ME. I MADE IT CLEAR LATER, THAT THIS WAS NOT APPROPRIATE, AND I WOULD HOPE THIS WOULD NOT HAPPEN AGAIN.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.