HomeMy WebLinkAboutEmail from Brian Condie 4.23.12Molly Orkild-Larson From: Sent: To: Subject: Attachments: Molly Brian Condie Monday, April 23, 2012 12:28 PM Molly Orkild-Larson FRA part 91 042312 14 CFR Sec 91 119.docx Attached is
information regarding minimum safe altitudes for aircraft. It may be a bit confusing when you see the 2000', 1000' and 500 foot requirements. They only apply over cities or towns. The
500' "other area" applies to persons, vessels, vehicles and structures only. Other than that they may fly as close to the ground as they feel safe. I have seen video oflocal pilots who
in flight skip their aircraft tires off of the Colorado River. But wait there is more .... helicopters are exempt from these requirements. Let me know if you have any questions. Brian
Condie C.M. Airport Director Garfield County Regional Airport 970-625-1091 1
14 CFR Sec. 91.119 -Minimum safe altitudes: General. 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, powered parachutes, and weight-shih-control aircraft. If the operation is conducted without hazard to persons or property
on the surface-( 1) A helicopter may be operated' at less than the minimums prescribed in paragraph (b) or (c) of this section, provided each person operating the helicopter complies
with any routes or altitudes specifically prescribed for helicopters by the FAA; and (2) A powered parachute or weight-shift-control aircraft may be operated at less than the minimums
prescribed in paragraph (c) of this section. [Docket No. 18334, 54 FR 34294, Aug. 18, 1989, as amended by Amdl. 91-311, 75 FR 5223, Feb. 1, 20lOJ The FAA has not proposed definitions
for unpopulated, sparsely populated, or densely populated area. The FAA does not have sufficient experience at this time to define these terms. Although proposing precise definitions
may be premature, the FAA offers the following observations as preliminary guidance. The term "unpopulated" would mean no people, period. The term "sparsely populated" suggests an area
with a few scattered people where the risk to those few persons from the over-flight would likely be negligible. The FAA did consider, but does not propose to adopt, the following definitions:
... Unpopulated means devoid of people . ... Sparsely populated means a population density of less than 10 people per square statute mile in an area of at least one square statute mile
. ... Densely populated area means a census designated place, as defined by the United States Census Bureau, with a population in excess of 100,000 people, or any area with a population
density in excess of 1,000 people per square statute mile and an area of at least one square statute mile. Pilots operating in uncontrolled airspace (All of Garfield County) will inevitably
refer back to 14 CFR 91.3 Responsibility and authority of the pilot in command. (a) The pilot in command of an aircraft is directly responsible for, and is the final authority as to,
the operation of that aircraft. (b) In an in-flight emergency requiring immediate action, the pilot in command may deviate from any rule of this part to the extent required to meet that
emergency. (c) Each pilot in command who deviates from a rule under paragraph (b) of this section shall, upon the request of the Administrator, send a written report of that deviation
to the Administrator.