I used to fly Cessnas from our local air field, don't any more
unfortunately, but for years I have observed small aircraft that I am
convinced are below the 500-foot minimum permissible height "over
unpopulated areas." There have been rare occasions when I have seen them
not more than 50-100' (my estimate, granted) above our treetops, which are
120' (tulip poplars, which can get as tall as 150' and I've seen some of
those within 15 minutes of here, in Maryland) Most, though, I estimate in
the 200-300' range, the lower ones I see, and see quite often. Granted,
maybe my estimate is wrong and they really are 500' or higher, but I have my
doubts. The wingspan of a Cessna 150/152 is 38' as I recall, so I look at
that, and gauge it versus the 36' boom 10M antenna I have at 160', etc, and
ask myself, "What does 38' look like at 200'? At 300'? At 400'?" Etc.
Then there is the ambiguity of "over unpopulated areas." If I live here is
it unpopulated? What density per square mile constitutes "unpopulated?" I
live in a lower density part of a densely populated county, but the argument
could be made that there is nowhere in this county that is "unpopulated."
Or, if he flies over my backyard, 200' behind my house, is that
"unpopulated," but directly over my house is "populated?" I don't know that
this has ever been defined.
Then there's the matter of helicopters. My understanding is that they can
legally skim the treetops but are responsible for missing any objects.
Local ordinances may deal with "nuisances," like when several helicopters
buzz the backyard of celebrities to get "papparazzi" photos of their
wedding. It would be pretty annoying to have a helicopter hovering over my
backyard at a couple hundred feet when I'm trying to relax. Transient
flying is generally acceptable, I suppose. Still, I worry about whether one
of those helicopters is sometime going to run into a tower or antenna of
mine. Likewise, the small fixed wing aircraft that fly low. I am skeptical
that they are above 500' much of the time. If so, they're fine and us ham
tower/antenna owners are fine. I don't perceive any enforcement of the 500'
limit. As I recall, the limit is 1,000' over "populated areas."
On the "sandblowers," I've been in the duck blind when a couple A-10s come
over at 50-100'! They get you attention! Our hunting/fishing club is just
the other side of the Chesapeake Bay from the Patuxent River Naval Air
Station, halfway to Dover AFB if that has a bearing, and in a military
flight training area.
73 - Rich, KE3Q
----- Original Message -----
From: "K4SB" <k4sb@bellsouth.net>
To: "Tower Talk" <towertalk@contesting.com>
Sent: Thursday, April 29, 2004 12:55 PM
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Tower VS aeroplane suit dropped....
> AA6DX wrote:
> > I've been following this story. My query is this; What would happen
> > if a
> > plane flew into your Amateur Radio tower(s),....
> ---------------------------
>
> Well, it's been some time, but the absolute minimum altitude for any
> aircraft except the military is 500 feet above your location.(
> exception for air shows ) The military is allowed to go as low as 200
> feet, but only on clearly established routes. An exception also exists
> for military flights over unpopulated areas in clearly designated
> areas, where they may fly 50 feet off the ground. The Navy calls them
> "Sandblowers" and I have probably several hundred hours flying them.
> Got lost on one of them, but spotted a BIG military airfield which
> appeared abandoned. So, I landed, ate my box lunch, then took off
> south.(needless to say, I parked on the end of a runway, and the
> engine was kept running ) Hard to miss the Med. To this day, I think I
> may have landed in Albania. Incidentally, that flight is the longest
> in my logbook, either military or commercial. Total time was 19 hours
> 57 minutes without refuelling in a single seater.
>
> Of course, in an emergency, all bets are off and the pilot in command
> has the final say.
>
> I seriously doubt any liability would exist for your "100 foot Rohn".
> And if higher, but still below the level of the surrounding trees (
> you guys on the wrong coast have some BIG trees ) you don't even need
> FAA approval.
>
> 73
> Ed
> _______________________________________________
>
> See: http://www.mscomputer.com for "Self Supporting Towers", "Wireless
> Weather Stations", and lot's more. Call Toll Free, 1-800-333-9041 with
> any questions and ask for Sherman, W2FLA.
>
> _______________________________________________
> TowerTalk mailing list
> TowerTalk@contesting.com
> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/towertalk
>
_______________________________________________
See: http://www.mscomputer.com for "Self Supporting Towers", "Wireless Weather
Stations", and lot's more. Call Toll Free, 1-800-333-9041 with any questions
and ask for Sherman, W2FLA.
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