[TowerTalk] Tower VS aeroplane

[Larry Saletzki]

Hi Rich and all,
Rich you are reading the rule wrong. Here is what was posted earlier from
the FAR's:

(c) Over other than congested areas. An altitude of 500 feet above the
surface, except over open water or sparsely populated areas. In those
cases, the aircraft may not be operated closer than 500 feet to any person,
vessel, vehicle, or structure.

What that means is if you are in the boon docks you can fly 10 feet over the
ground as long as you are 500 feet away (either horizontal or vertically)
from any person, vessel, vehicle, or structure. Gives a lot of lattitude but
you better be right!
73 Larry WA9VRH

----- Original Message -----
From: "K4SB" <k4sb at bellsouth.net>
To: "Tower Talk" <towertalk at contesting.com>
Sent: Thursday, April 29, 2004 3:24 PM
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Tower VS aeroplane


>
>
> RICHARD BOYD wrote:
> >
> > 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)
>
> I doubt Rich's estimates are off very much at all. It happens all the
> time. But, it is illegal, and if you can get a tail number, then call
> the FAA, the pilot is in for a citation.
>
> > 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?"
>
> It is well defined by the military. 200" behind your house is not an
> "unpopulated" area.
> 1000 feet behind your house is not an "unpopulated" area. An
> unpopulated area is exactly that. NO population. And if you think they
> don't exist, you should try the canyons of
> West ( by God ) Virginia.
>
> > Then there's the matter of helicopters.  My understanding is that they
can
> > legally skim the treetops but are responsible for missing any objects.
>
> No, they are subject to the same rules, and "tree skimming" is just as
> illegal in a helicopter as a Piper Cub. The thing of it is, no one
> gets the number, or if they do, don't know who to call.
>
> When I was living in Powder Springs, GA, ( about 8 miles west of
> Dobbins AFB ) I had a
> F-15 do a trick like that. ( probably no more than 100' at the most )
> Problem was he was so damn close, I could clearly see the squadron
> insignia, and got the last 2 letters
> of the aircraft. I made a call to the Dobbins Safety Officer, asked
> for an appointment, and 30 mins later, had him filed a complaint under
> the UCMJ. The pilot was identified, given a summary court martial, and
> grounded for 30 days.
>
> And of course, when I was "bright eyed and bushy tailed" at Oceana
> NAS, I was dating a
> YL who worked at a swimming pool in NC as a lifeguard.
> Sooooooooooo...one fine Saturday morning, I made a pass over the pool
> and did a complete 360 degree roll. Then I got the hell out of there.
>
> On Monday morning, my squadron skipper gave an "all pilots" lecture on
> the severe penalties of "flathatting". I fully expected to be executed
> on the spot. But, the timing was coincidental.
>
> ):>
> Ed
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