Altitude Restrictions

MrLeisure757

MrLeisure757

New Member
I'm a student pilot with not many hours under my belt, so I am not quite sure of these restrictions...

I was driving downtown today and out of no where, a plane (unmistakeably a MOONEY) came right overhead in a steep turn at about 300-400ft. It was the coolest thing I had seen for a while. After the excitment wore off I started to question why he was so low, then that led to wonder if there are restrictions for this.

My question is, do you need clearance to do this? Or are there restrictions for altitude?

Thanks.

Adam
 
You are supposed to be no lower than 1,000 feet over the highest obstacle and 2,000 feet horizontal from the highest obstacle over populated/congested areas. If the Mooney was at 300- 400 feet over such an area, the pilot was in violation of that rule. That being said, you used the word downtown, so I'm assuming you are refering to a city or populated/congested area.

If the Mooney was over a nonpopulated/noncongested area, the lowest the mooney could fly is 500 feet. Over water, you can fly as low as you want to but you must be no closer than 500 feet from persons, vessels, and bridges.
 
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If the Mooney was over a nonpopulated/noncongested area, the lowest the mooney could fly is 500 feet. Over water, you can fly as low as you want to but you must be no closer than 500 feet from persons, vessels, and bridges.

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As long as you're more than 500 feet away from people, vehicles, buildings... you can still fly as low as you want over land-- not solely water. A lot of instructors will take students down to 100-200 feet AGL (and some instructors will go lower) when practicing engine out maneuvers- and that's perfectly legal.
 
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Over water, you can fly as low as you want to but you must be no closer than 500 feet from persons, vessels, and bridges.

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And as long as you have floatation gear if you are beyond power off gliding range from shore, correct?
 
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And as long as you have floatation gear if you are beyond power off gliding range from shore, correct?

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Close... but not quite correct. A lot of instructors teach that flotation gear is required for all flights beyond gliding distance-- but in the FAR's (91.205 (b) (12)) it's only required on flights for hire . Not only do you need to have approved flotation devices for each person on the airplane, you also need one flare! But, if you're flying an airplane that's not for hire-- you can fly as low as you want over any body of water without any flotation device.
 
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And as long as you have floatation gear if you are beyond power off gliding range from shore, correct?

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Close... but not quite correct. A lot of instructors teach that flotation gear is required for all flights beyond gliding distance-- but in the FAR's (91.205 (b) (12)) it's only required on flights for hire . Not only do you need to have approved flotation devices for each person on the airplane, you also need one flare! But, if you're flying an airplane that's not for hire-- you can fly as low as you want over any body of water without any flotation device.

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Legal, but not smart!
 
Low as you can go... just don't get caught!
smile.gif
 
Thanks.

He sure was LOWER than 500ft. When I say downtown, you should probably know I live in New Hampshire. The town I live in is about 1,500 people. 'Downtown' consists of a store, post office, church, etc. So it wasn't like a city, but it was a populated area.

He had the gear up and was clean so it looked as if he wasn't touching down anywhere. Plus there is no field over where he was. The nearest is about 8 miles away.
 
Unless he took the steeple with him, why worry. Not your ticket. No need to be a rat.

Time to bring it to the right people is when you have all the info and feel safety was compromised. Don't make assumptions based on speculation on what might have been going on.
 
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Thanks.

He sure was LOWER than 500ft. When I say downtown, you should probably know I live in New Hampshire. The town I live in is about 1,500 people. 'Downtown' consists of a store, post office, church, etc. So it wasn't like a city, but it was a populated area.

He had the gear up and was clean so it looked as if he wasn't touching down anywhere. Plus there is no field over where he was. The nearest is about 8 miles away.

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LOL! Sorry. I took "downtown" to mean something akin to "center of Concord."
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Yeah. It doesn't bother me, it was really neat to see.

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LOL! Sorry. I took "downtown" to mean something akin to "center of Concord."

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Atleast you know Concord is a city! I've talked to several people who think New Hampshire is in Canada. I guess once you get up here it's all the same to some.
tongue.gif
 
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Unless he took the steeple with him, why worry. Not your ticket. No need to be a rat.

Time to bring it to the right people is when you have all the info and feel safety was compromised. Don't make assumptions based on speculation on what might have been going on.

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No ratting here, just a student pilot with legit questions. Seems curious, not out to get someone in trouble, See.....

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I'm a student pilot with not many hours under my belt, so I am not quite sure of these restrictions...

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