At 14:30 11 February 2007, John Sinclair wrote:
FAR 91.119 Except when necessary for takeoff or landing,
no person may operate an aircraft.................................

.....
(c)... closer than 500 feet to any person, vessel,
vehicle or structure.

In light of the above regulation, would someone please
tell me how our 50 foot finish line is legal? All the
finish lines I have seen come within 500 feet of a
person (Charlie & his kids) , vehicle (his van).

Aren't we just asking for what happened in the UK?
JJ

If you read the contents of previous discussions on
this subject you would know that I and some others
have questioned the legality of the practice. I have
always known that given the wording of the rules it
was an offence. Now we are in the situation where it
has been confirmed that the procedure is outside the
exemption and the Civil Aviation Authority will now
impose on all glider pilots a requirement which we
probably will not like. Such a blanket restriction
is not necessary for the majority of competition pilots
who fly a low finish perfectly safely having regard
to the presence of people and obstacles on the ground
and other factors. Because of a few irresponsible pilots,
who have complete disregard for sensible behaviour,
the majority will now have to suffer a restriction
which they did not need to be safe. If only we took
measures to weed out the idiots ourselves before they
cause trouble we would be far better off.
In answer too your last question, yes you are unless
you take active measures to curb the excesses of the
minority and prevent those who exhibit unacceptable
practices from doing so. In short, impose bans on those
who deliberately act in an irresponsible fashion.