Minimum Safe Altitude

On Feb 15, 7:00 am, John Sinclair
wrote:
to decide which finish gate to use. Do I choose the
one that violates the FAR's, has had numerous accidents
and several fatalities, OR do I choose the finish cylinder
which violates no rules and has proven to be much safer?

The finish line does not force the pilot to violate FARs, and the
cylinder also allows pilots to violate FARs.

Using the finish line, a pilot must cross no lower than 50' (1000' is
allowed, as is 5000') and within the lateral confines of the gate.

Using the cylinder, the pilot may choose to cross it at 500' and
redline, then dive at the airport and make a pass down the runway at
50'....

So bottom line, there is nothing in the rules that REQUIRES the
organizers or pilots to do anything stupid. But there is plenty of
freedom available for the organizers to set up local field rules. So
set some up! IIRC, you are free to increase the minimum height of the
finish line. There's noting in the rules to prohibit you adding some
limits such as described in another thread about new BGA rules. Just
be sure all pilots are aware of these in a clear an unambiguous way.

For example, at Hobbs, we were to avoid low patterns above the prison
at the far end of the field.

-Tom
Who likes to check for obstructions on the runway up close on the
first approach, then pull up for a normal pattern