Minimum Safe Altitude

On Feb 11, 10:18 am, "
wrote:
On Feb 11, 9:26 am, 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

JJ

First, look up the FAA definitino of a "low pass" in the AIM. Then
find the definition of a landing pattern. You will find that it's
pretty much left up to the pilot to decide what maneuver is necessary
for the landing. My interpretation is that as long as the maneuver is
part of a planned landing (or landing maneuver - which allows go-
arounds and missed approaches), If I want to check out the runway
condition and wind, I can fly down the runway as low as I want. In a
glider, I obviously have to be fast to make it safe (just like a power
plane has to have the fuel to complete a missed approach).

Obviously, overflying people, bldgs, vehicles while low is in
violation - and stupid - which is why I now only do contest finishes
along the runway if I'm going to be low.

But if you are over a runway at 50 ft, there is no regulatory
difference between 50 knots and 150 knots.

Let's not overreact about what happened in England. In the US, even
if the accident hadn't happened, the pilot would have been penalized
for a low finish (below 50'). We have the control in place - the
Brits should copy our rule!

You can go to any FAA towered airport and if it's not too busy,
request and do a low pass in a powered plane - and go as low as you
want and as fast as you want (within the airspeed limits below
10,000') and no-one will complain. As long as it's down the runway.

Well, some old jealous crochety geezers will, of course...

Kirk
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