Low level flying

boondr

boondr

Penalty Vectorer
Is there a rule as to altitude minimum for flight VFR? Reason I ask is I was driving home today and what looked like a Super Cub w/ big tires fly over me @50-75ft and proceeded to weave around a silo and a tree. I thought maybe they were landing in a field but the aircraft continued to fly south at that altitude for a mile or so until out of sight.

This was a very rural area and I only guess at the altitude because the silo and the tree didn't look all that tall and it dodged them.

Don't really care but curious nonetheless.

-nosey controller

Ps weather was clear and a million
 
1000 feet above and 2000 ft away from tallest obstacle in a congested area like a city. 500 ft deck in an uncongested area, and a 500 ft "dome" around craft, vessels, gatherings of people in sparsely populated area. However, a catch all rule is you can't fly so low as to cause a hazard to those on the ground if an engine should fail.
 
yeah. 1000ft vert in congested* areas, 500ft in uncongested*, and 500 from any person or property in sparsely populated areas* or over open water.

now, ive never seen a firm definition for those, but I do enjoy flying low, but I make damn sure not to do it in a way where theres ANY question of me being that close to anyone or anything.

however I have had to weave to miss some parasailers before grrr...

sounds like someone may have been bending the rules a bit....*shrug*

heck, at KFLL if youre transitioning along the beach they instruct you to remain 500AGL or below :-)

love it!!
 
also, our base is under a NAS class D, and they tell us all the time to stay at or below 500AGL, and we would be considered in a congested area.
 
Goldmember said:
1000 feet above and 2000 ft away from tallest obstacle in a congested area like a city. 500 ft deck in an uncongested area, and a 500 ft "dome" around craft, vessels, gatherings of people in sparsely populated area. However, a catch all rule is you can't fly so low as to cause a hazard to those on the ground if an engine should fail.
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I'm guessing Ag guys have a get out of jail free card for that one.
 
TXaviator said:
they dont operate pt 91.
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I understand what you are saying, but actually, everyone operates Part 91. Some operate only Part 91 and some operate Part 105, 121, 133, 135, or 137 and Part 91.

In the case of an agricultural operator, 14 CFR 137.29(c) authorizes the deviation from Part 91.
 
Agreed.......certain activities (military especially) are exempted from the 500 ft min alt rules, though as I understand the regs, only in authorized areas.
 
What if its your property? I've always wondered this. Can you buzz your house if its the only house out in the sticks? Can you fly over your boat at 30' agl? The reg says Persons or Property, but it seems to me that you should be able to operate around your stuff however you choose.
 
ppragman said:
What if its your property? I've always wondered this. Can you buzz your house if its the only house out in the sticks? Can you fly over your boat at 30' agl? The reg says Persons or Property, but it seems to me that you should be able to operate around your stuff however you choose.
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I'd say that more than likely you won't be getting in trouble in any case unless A) someone calls you in to complain, or B) you crash. On your own property, I'd think you would at least be safe from "A".
 
I knew a guy that got busted for flying within 500ft of a vessel over open water. Apparently someone had a really nice camera and snagged a picture of him flying what looked to be 200-300 feet from a sea-doo. The FAA didn't take it so lightly and I think he had to do some sort of remedial counseling.
 
I was at an airport yesterday, there was a Piper Cub going around the pattern on the same runway with no radios. Witnessed some interesting things. He did 2 patterns to our 1, flew the pattern at like 250' AGL. It was awesome to see that
 
Pilot0486 said:
I was at an airport yesterday, there was a Piper Cub going around the pattern on the same runway with no radios. Witnessed some interesting things. He did 2 patterns to our 1, flew the pattern at like 250' AGL. It was awesome to see that
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Nothin' wrong with that. The reg says, "except as required for takeoff or landing"
 
I understand Aerobatics pilots have low level waivers, but when they want to do stunts, like when the motorcycle jumped over skip stewarts airplane, do they have to have special permission from the FAA or is that all covered under their low level waiver.
 
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