Helicopter Buzzes Wal-Mart

I had the impression that the helicopter took off from the
construction
site across the street, about 500 feet away, though I did not see it
actually take off. The construction is building a road through a
vacant
field. In fact, most of the land in that direction for several miles
is
farmland or vacant fields.

These are the FAR's regarding minimum safe altitudes as found on AOPA
Online:
http://www.aopa.org/pilot/features/regrvw9701.html#119

See especially part (d) of 91.119:

"Except when necessary for takeoff or landing, no person may operate an
aircraft below the following altitudes:

(a) Anywhere. An altitude allowing, if a power unit fails, an emergency
landing without undue hazard to persons or property on the surface.

(b) Over congested areas. Over any congested area of a city, town, or
settlement, or over any open air assembly of persons, an altitude of
1,000 feet above the highest obstacle within a horizontal radius of
2,000 feet of the aircraft.

(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.

(d) Helicopters. Helicopters may be operated at less than the minimums
prescribed in paragraph (b) or (c) of this section if the operation is
conducted without hazard to persons or property on the surface. In
addition, each person operating a helicopter shall comply with any
routes or altitudes specifically prescribed for helicopters by the
Administrator. "

If the helicopter was taking off then he's legal. Also since you
described the area as mostly vacant fields, I believe that would
qualify as a sparsely populated area. Also since it's a helicopter they
are allowed to operate less than the minimums unless it's hazardous to
people and property on the ground (other than percieved altitude, was
the helicopter doing anything seemingly dangerous?).

IMHO it's nothing to be worried about. On a side note concerning
Walmart, you can't be without your camera for more than an hour or two
while you shop?

Patrick Pohler
PP-SEL (KOSU)

"If the helicopter was taking off then he's legal. Also since you
described the area as mostly vacant fields, I believe that would
qualify as a sparsely populated area."

Just the Wal-Mart parking lot full of cars (a few hundred vehicles just
then).

"Also since it's a helicopter they are allowed to operate less than the
minimums unless it's hazardous to people and property on the ground
(other than percieved altitude, was
the helicopter doing anything seemingly dangerous?)."

Other than apparently flying straight for the front windows of
Wal-Mart, no.

"On a side note concerning Walmart, you can't be without your camera
for more than an hour or two while you shop?"

Bite your tongue, man! My camera is my soul!

Also, my camera cost me $580. I'm not keen on leaving it in my vehicle
in a public parking lot.

wrote:


Bite your tongue, man! My camera is my soul!

Also, my camera cost me $580. I'm not keen on leaving it in my vehicle
in a public parking lot.


Heh, touche my good man. :P

Typical chopper take off from a confined area is straight up vertically
until clear of the obstacles, then a horizontal acceleration to about 50
knots, then a climb out at 50-70 knots. Sounds like the chopper took off
and accelerated over the Wal Mart. The low, horizontal part is what looked
scary to you. Normally we avoid take offs like that for just that reason.

So, there would have to be a reason the chopper took off directly over the
Wal Mart if there was vacant land on three sides of the construction site.
If it was really windy that day, from the direction of the Wal Mart, the
pilot may have decided all things considered that it was safer to depart in
that direction. Downwind take offs are considered dangerous. Or there
might have been wires or other obstacles in the other directions. What I
would do is call the helicopter operation over at Addison, email the owner
the picture, and ask them if they know anything about it. They are the only
really active Schweizer operation around the Dallas area.


wrote in message
ups.com...
"It is well above 70', probably closer to 400-500' AGL. Is there an
airport
or hospital nearby?"

The nearest hospital in the direction from which the helicopter came is
several miles away. I don't know of any airport in that direction.

I had the impression that the helicopter took off from the construction
site across the street, about 500 feet away, though I did not see it
actually take off. The construction is building a road through a vacant
field. In fact, most of the land in that direction for several miles is
farmland or vacant fields.

The Wal-Mart in the photo is near the intersection of Ohio Street and
121 in Plano, Texas. It should not be difficult to find that on a map.

So, there would have to be a reason the chopper took off directly
over the
Wal Mart if there was vacant land on three sides of the construction
site.

Or there might have been wires or other obstacles in the other
directions.

I don't recall that day being very windy, but there are electrical
lines on all the other sides of the property. The pilot was travelling
along the line of greatest distance to an obstacle (other than the
Wal-Mart building).

What I would do is call the helicopter operation over at Addison,
email the owner
the picture, and ask them if they know anything about it. They are
the only
really active Schweizer operation around the Dallas area.

That was a good idea. I just got off the phone with one of the managers
at Summit Helicopters in Addison. He confirmed that is one of his
company's helicopters, and they have frequent operations in the area,
and they are the only operation in the area that flies the Schweizer
300 helicopter. He said that whichever of us bet closest to a height of
125 feet probably won. He also said it was a good picture (I sent him a
full-sized, 2 Meg copy).
He seemed like a really nice man. Maybe I'll take a helicopter flight
with them, sometime ($99 for a half-hour, and they offer Christmas
lights tours).

wrote in message
oups.com...

That was a good idea. I just got off the phone with one of the managers
at Summit Helicopters in Addison. He confirmed that is one of his
company's helicopters, and they have frequent operations in the area,
and they are the only operation in the area that flies the Schweizer
300 helicopter. He said that whichever of us bet closest to a height of
125 feet probably won.

I said it was 150 feet. What do I win?

wrote:
I was shopping at a Wal-Mart on December 17, 2004, when I noticed
outside a helicopter flying just over the tops of the parked vehicles
in front of the store. It was flying towards me, about 20 feet above
the ground and climbing. I got a photograph of it when it was about 50
to 70 feet in the air. It quickly flew up past me and over the top of
the building.

I realize that helicopters have a lot of flight freedom, but it is
still shocking to see one flying directly towards oneself like this.

Coincidentally, an assistant manager at that store told me last week
that I was not allowed to bring my camera inside the store. He cited
security risk, and made a vague reference to the cameras they sell in
the Electronics Department. So, it may be difficult to get photos like
the one I took, at least from that store.
http://members.aol.com/rekgallery/WM_Heli/WM_Heli.html

Helos are used to police major power lines in my area. My guess is
they are less than 50 feet above the lines. Everytime I see them fly
by I just give thanks that I don't have that job.

William W. Plummer wrote:


Helos are used to police major power lines in my area. My guess is
they are less than 50 feet above the lines. Everytime I see them fly
by I just give thanks that I don't have that job.

They don't police the power lines they check them and it's a great job.
My mechanic has the contract for two pipelines that he flies with his
cub. He makes a killing.

"Newps" wrote in message
...
They don't police the power lines they check them

Please describe the difference between "police" and "check". To me, there
is none in this context. You've never "policed" your campground before
leaving? "Police" doesn't necessarily mean you're looking for criminals.

Peter Duniho wrote:
"Newps" wrote in message
...

They don't police the power lines they check them


Please describe the difference between "police" and "check". To me, there
is none in this context. You've never "policed" your campground before
leaving? "Police" doesn't necessarily mean you're looking for criminals.


Always looking for a fight, eh.

tr.v. po·liced, po·lic·ing, po·lic·es

1. To regulate, control, or keep in order with or as if with a law
enforcement agency.
2. To make (a military area, for example) neat in appearance:
policed the barracks.


My guess is they are interested in kids drinking in their trucks in the
power line right of way, brush which is overgrowning the area, and
whatever the abutters might be doing to interfere with operations.