Doug Hughes, the Florida mailman who landed a gyrocopter on the lawn of the U.S. Capitol Wednesday is due in federal court this afternoon where he is to face formal charges.

The 61-year-old Hughes was arrested Wednesday after he flew his ultralight gyrocopter through protected airspace and landed on the West Lawn of the Capitol. Prior to his feat, he had announced his plans on the Internet, and even informed his hometown newspaper ahead of time.

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The reason Hughes says he made such a daring  maneuver was to deliver letters to all 535 members of Congress in order to draw attention to campaign finance corruption. However, he seems to have drawn more attention to aviation safety and protected airspace concerns as many wonder how he was able to get so close to the Capitol building.

Michael McCaul, R-Texas , the chairman of the House Homeland Security panel, said that had Hughes gotten much closer to the Capitol, authorities were prepared to shoot the gyrocopter down.

"Had it gotten any closer to the speaker's balcony they have long guns to take it down, but it didn't. It landed right in front," McCaul said.

The Secret Service denied that their field office in Tampa had been alerted to the flight in advance.

"The subject involved in today's incident had come to the attention of the USSS approximately one and a half years ago," said Secret Service spokesman Brian Leary. "On October 4, 2013, the Secret Service obtained information from a concerned citizen about an individual purporting their desire to land a single manned aircraft on the grounds of the United States Capitol or the White House." He said the Secret Service conducted a thorough investigation at the time.

The Federal Aviation Administration said the pilot had not been in contact with air traffic controllers and the FAA didn't authorize him to enter restricted airspace, reports Fox News.

TagsGyrocopter Pilot Expected in Federal Court Today, Doug Hughes, mailman, U.S. capitol, west lawn, Michael McCaul, FAA, Federal Aviation Administration