[TowerTalk] Tower VS aeroplane suit dropped....

[K4SB]

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),....
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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