View Full Version : Flying over the runway is illegal?
Owen Hiller
July 27th 06, 04:53 AM
I had no idea that a flyover of the runway was illegal. But here you go:
"After making two flyovers — a common, but illegal maneuver in which the
pilot flies low over the runway — he made the five-minute flight to
Rountree where he normally purchased fuel, said airport employees.
According to an investigator with the Federal Aviation Administration,
before landing, he conducted another flyover, but stalled, crashing
nose-down just beyond the tree line in an open field east of the runway.
The crash was reported at approximately 8 a.m. by a resident who saw the
wreckage as he left for work, according Hartselle Police."
"Veteran-flyer Tom Coggin, 67, of Cullman, died instantly when his RV-6,
two-seater aircraft crashed on private property near Rountree Field,
Hartselle's municipal airstrip."
"Deadly Flight"   - Cullman Times  July 25 2006
http://www.cullmantimes.com/homepage/local_story_206231537.html?keyword=leadpicturestor y
Jim Logajan
July 27th 06, 05:19 AM
Owen Hiller > wrote:
> I had no idea that a flyover of the runway was illegal.
I presume this may be due to 91.119, which would probably require at least 
500 feet AGL if there is no intent to land?
Matt Whiting
July 27th 06, 05:40 AM
Jim Logajan wrote:
> Owen Hiller > wrote:
> 
>>I had no idea that a flyover of the runway was illegal.
> 
> 
> I presume this may be due to 91.119, which would probably require at least 
> 500 feet AGL if there is no intent to land?
That would be my thought, but boy that is splitting hairs.
Matt
cjcampbell
July 27th 06, 05:52 AM
Owen Hiller wrote:
> I had no idea that a flyover of the runway was illegal. But here you go:
>
>
It is not. The reporter also probably thinks that the plane stalled
because the engine quit.
Andrew Sarangan[_1_]
July 27th 06, 07:05 AM
I could see flyovers being illegal under two  FARs - minimum safe
altitude, as well as careless and reckless. Regardless of legality,
they are totally unnecessary and unsafe. The outcome of this flight
demonstrates that point.
Owen Hiller wrote:
> I had no idea that a flyover of the runway was illegal. But here you go:
>
>
>
> "After making two flyovers - a common, but illegal maneuver in which the
> pilot flies low over the runway - he made the five-minute flight to
> Rountree where he normally purchased fuel, said airport employees.
>
> According to an investigator with the Federal Aviation Administration,
> before landing, he conducted another flyover, but stalled, crashing
> nose-down just beyond the tree line in an open field east of the runway.
>
> The crash was reported at approximately 8 a.m. by a resident who saw the
> wreckage as he left for work, according Hartselle Police."
>
>
> "Veteran-flyer Tom Coggin, 67, of Cullman, died instantly when his RV-6,
> two-seater aircraft crashed on private property near Rountree Field,
> Hartselle's municipal airstrip."
>
> "Deadly Flight"   - Cullman Times  July 25 2006
>
> http://www.cullmantimes.com/homepage/local_story_206231537.html?keyword=leadpicturestor y
cjcampbell
July 27th 06, 07:58 AM
Andrew Sarangan wrote:
> I could see flyovers being illegal under two  FARs - minimum safe
> altitude, as well as careless and reckless. Regardless of legality,
> they are totally unnecessary and unsafe. The outcome of this flight
> demonstrates that point.
Minimum safe altitude is that altitude necessary to ensure being able
to glide to a safe landing in the event of a power failure. One may
presume that when over a runway you ought to be able to reach the
thing. The 500' altitude requirement that some have been throwing
around here has nothing to do with minimum safe altitude.
You are required to practice missed approaches as a student pilot,
which is essentially a flyover. You are also required to demonstrate
the ability to glide to a safe landing. ATC may even require you to fly
over the runway at a low altitude. Much of student pilot training is
devoted to teaching students to fly over runways at low altitude
safely. During instrument training or in IMC the pilot may fly a
circling approach as low as 500' over the runway and in fact may fly
almost a whole pattern at that altitude, and he may descend lower than
that under some conditions.
John and Martha King demonstrate in some of their videos a very low
pass over the runway in ground effect as a training device and they
recommend that instructors do this with their students. The Kings are
not notoriously dangerous pilots, nor are they given to recommending
that pilots break the FARs.
The pilot in this case is said to have stalled, but given the
inaccuracies in the news article and the fact that the investigation
had barely begun, let alone come to a conclusion, that really amounts
to speculation. But suppose he did stall. I submit that anyone who
stalls while flying over a runway is likely to do that when taking off.
Dale
July 27th 06, 08:10 AM
In article . com>,
 "Andrew Sarangan" > wrote:
> I could see flyovers being illegal under two  FARs - minimum safe
> altitude, as well as careless and reckless. Regardless of legality,
> they are totally unnecessary and unsafe. The outcome of this flight
> demonstrates that point.
He seemed to have lost control of his airplane.  The flyover had nothing 
to do with that.  The same outcome could have occured during a landing 
or takeoff.
Sometimes flyovers are necessary such as a go-around or to check the 
condition of an intended landing area.  The only reason they may be 
unsafe is because they aren't practiced enough.
Matt Whiting
July 27th 06, 12:16 PM
Andrew Sarangan wrote:
> I could see flyovers being illegal under two  FARs - minimum safe
> altitude, as well as careless and reckless. Regardless of legality,
> they are totally unnecessary and unsafe. The outcome of this flight
> demonstrates that point.
They aren't unsafe any more than any other aspect of flying is unsafe. 
They may or may not be necessary, all depends on the circumstances. 
They are necessary if you are inspecting a field that is short, soft 
and/or unknown to you as part of your pre-landing activities.  Many 
flight instruction guides specifically recommend this in these cases.
Matt
cjcampbell
July 27th 06, 01:12 PM
karl gruber wrote:
> Was he on a flight plan?
>
>
> Karl
>
Exactly. Every reporter "knows" that not filing a flight plan is both
illegal and dangerous.
>
>
> "Owen Hiller" > wrote in message
> ...
> >I had no idea that a flyover of the runway was illegal. But here you go:
> >
> >
> >
> > "After making two flyovers - a common, but illegal maneuver in which the
> > pilot flies low over the runway - he made the five-minute flight to
> > Rountree where he normally purchased fuel, said airport employees.
> >
> > According to an investigator with the Federal Aviation Administration,
> > before landing, he conducted another flyover, but stalled, crashing
> > nose-down just beyond the tree line in an open field east of the runway.
> >
> > The crash was reported at approximately 8 a.m. by a resident who saw the
> > wreckage as he left for work, according Hartselle Police."
> >
> >
> > "Veteran-flyer Tom Coggin, 67, of Cullman, died instantly when his RV-6,
> > two-seater aircraft crashed on private property near Rountree Field,
> > Hartselle's municipal airstrip."
> >
> > "Deadly Flight"   - Cullman Times  July 25 2006
> >
> > http://www.cullmantimes.com/homepage/local_story_206231537.html?keyword=leadpicturestor y
> >
> >
> >
John[_2_]
July 27th 06, 03:12 PM
cjcampbell wrote:
> karl gruber wrote:
> > Was he on a flight plan?
> >
> >
> > Karl
> >
>
> Exactly. Every reporter "knows" that not filing a flight plan is both
> illegal and dangerous.
What reporter has stated that?
Andrew Sarangan[_1_]
July 27th 06, 03:30 PM
Matt Whiting wrote:
> Andrew Sarangan wrote:
> > I could see flyovers being illegal under two  FARs - minimum safe
> > altitude, as well as careless and reckless. Regardless of legality,
> > they are totally unnecessary and unsafe. The outcome of this flight
> > demonstrates that point.
>
> They aren't unsafe any more than any other aspect of flying is unsafe.
> They may or may not be necessary, all depends on the circumstances.
> They are necessary if you are inspecting a field that is short, soft
> and/or unknown to you as part of your pre-landing activities.  Many
> flight instruction guides specifically recommend this in these cases.
>
> Matt
I think we are talking about different things here. Go-arounds,
circling approaches, low pass for inspecting the runway, and slow
flight one foot above the runway are all well-intended useful
maneuvers. I do them, and I teach them. May be I misunderstood the
article, but the phrase "fly over" in the article implied a highspeed
pass over the runway. This is what I was referring to as unnecessary
and unsafe.
Jim Macklin
July 27th 06, 04:01 PM
Mustang requesting fly-by.  Sorry Mustang, the pattern is 
closed.
"Andrew Sarangan" > wrote in message 
 oups.com...
| Matt Whiting wrote:
| > Andrew Sarangan wrote:
| > > I could see flyovers being illegal under two  FARs - 
minimum safe
| > > altitude, as well as careless and reckless. Regardless 
of legality,
| > > they are totally unnecessary and unsafe. The outcome 
of this flight
| > > demonstrates that point.
| >
| > They aren't unsafe any more than any other aspect of 
flying is unsafe.
| > They may or may not be necessary, all depends on the 
circumstances.
| > They are necessary if you are inspecting a field that is 
short, soft
| > and/or unknown to you as part of your pre-landing 
activities.  Many
| > flight instruction guides specifically recommend this in 
these cases.
| >
| > Matt
|
| I think we are talking about different things here. 
Go-arounds,
| circling approaches, low pass for inspecting the runway, 
and slow
| flight one foot above the runway are all well-intended 
useful
| maneuvers. I do them, and I teach them. May be I 
misunderstood the
| article, but the phrase "fly over" in the article implied 
a highspeed
| pass over the runway. This is what I was referring to as 
unnecessary
| and unsafe.
|
Peter R.
July 27th 06, 04:05 PM
Jim Macklin > wrote:
> Mustang requesting fly-by.  Sorry Mustang, the pattern is 
> closed.
Wasn't that Maverick?  :)
-- 
Peter
Jim Macklin
July 27th 06, 04:13 PM
See my email...
Dodge City asked for a fly-by when we brought one of the 
first Beechjets by, something about 200 kts at 50 feet is 
neat.
I feel the need, the need for speed.
"Peter R." > wrote in message 
...
| Jim Macklin > wrote:
|
| > Mustang requesting fly-by.  Sorry Mustang, the pattern 
is
| > closed.
|
| Wasn't that Maverick?  :)
|
| -- 
| Peter
Bob Gardner
July 27th 06, 06:07 PM
Who are you quoting? Who used the word "illegal"?
Bob Gardner
"Owen Hiller" > wrote in message 
...
>I had no idea that a flyover of the runway was illegal. But here you go:
>
>
>
> "After making two flyovers - a common, but illegal maneuver in which the
> pilot flies low over the runway - he made the five-minute flight to
> Rountree where he normally purchased fuel, said airport employees.
>
> According to an investigator with the Federal Aviation Administration,
> before landing, he conducted another flyover, but stalled, crashing
> nose-down just beyond the tree line in an open field east of the runway.
>
> The crash was reported at approximately 8 a.m. by a resident who saw the
> wreckage as he left for work, according Hartselle Police."
>
>
> "Veteran-flyer Tom Coggin, 67, of Cullman, died instantly when his RV-6,
> two-seater aircraft crashed on private property near Rountree Field,
> Hartselle's municipal airstrip."
>
> "Deadly Flight"   - Cullman Times  July 25 2006
>
> http://www.cullmantimes.com/homepage/local_story_206231537.html?keyword=leadpicturestor y
>
>
>
Jim Logajan
July 27th 06, 06:39 PM
"Bob Gardner" > wrote:
> Who are you quoting? Who used the word "illegal"?
Since Owen included the link to the article written by an "Evan 
Belanger" of "The Cullman Times," that appears to be the source of the 
quote.
> 
> Bob Gardner
> 
> "Owen Hiller" > wrote in message 
> ...
>>I had no idea that a flyover of the runway was illegal. But here you
>>go: 
>>
>>
>>
>> "After making two flyovers - a common, but illegal maneuver in which
>> the pilot flies low over the runway - he made the five-minute flight
>> to Rountree where he normally purchased fuel, said airport employees.
>>
>> According to an investigator with the Federal Aviation
>> Administration, before landing, he conducted another flyover, but
>> stalled, crashing nose-down just beyond the tree line in an open
>> field east of the runway. 
>>
>> The crash was reported at approximately 8 a.m. by a resident who saw
>> the wreckage as he left for work, according Hartselle Police."
>>
>>
>> "Veteran-flyer Tom Coggin, 67, of Cullman, died instantly when his
>> RV-6, two-seater aircraft crashed on private property near Rountree
>> Field, Hartselle's municipal airstrip."
>>
>> "Deadly Flight"   - Cullman Times  July 25 2006
>>
>> http://www.cullmantimes.com/homepage/local_story_206231537.html?keywor
>> d=leadpicturestory 
>>
>>
>> 
> 
> 
>
Rob
July 27th 06, 08:03 PM
Peter R. wrote:
> Jim Macklin > wrote:
>
> > Mustang requesting fly-by.  Sorry Mustang, the pattern is
> > closed.
>
> Wasn't that Maverick?  :)
>
> --
> Peter
I think it was "Negative Ghost Rider, the pattern is full."
Interesting article at:
http://www.southern-aviator.com/editorial/articledetail.lasso?-token.key=3645&-token.src=column&-nothing
When are VFR low approaches at uncontrolled airports legal?
Alan Armstrong
8/1/2001
Excerpt from near the end:
Despite the two rulings, pilots should realize that currently there is
nothing in the FARs to warn you that conducting a "low approach" will
only be deemed appropriate if the airport or runway is one upon which
your aircraft can land. Neither is there anything in the Airport
Operations Provisions section of the Aeronautical Information Manual,
which actually sanctions low approaches. Nothing is said, either, in
the Air Traffic Control Handbook.
There is also no consistency between the provisions of the Aeronautical
Information Manual and the FARs, since FAR § 91.119 only permits
descent below a safe altitude if the aircraft is in the process of
takeoff or landing.
Peter Duniho
July 27th 06, 08:33 PM
"Andrew Sarangan" > wrote in message 
 oups.com...
> I think we are talking about different things here. Go-arounds,
> circling approaches, low pass for inspecting the runway, and slow
> flight one foot above the runway are all well-intended useful
> maneuvers. I do them, and I teach them. May be I misunderstood the
> article, but the phrase "fly over" in the article implied a highspeed
> pass over the runway. This is what I was referring to as unnecessary
> and unsafe.
But you also claimed that the minimum safe altitude regulation applies.  I 
don't see how it does, if all the other low-altitude maneuvers are legal 
("low pass for inspecting the runway", "slow flight one foot above the 
runway", and a missed approach as part of a practice IFR approach in which a 
landing was never intended as specific examples...the others you mentioned 
could be argued as part of a landing).
"Careless or reckless" is, as we should all know, the catch-all the FAA uses 
for pretty much any operation they don't like.  It's no surprise that rule 
might be invoked.  When an accident happens as a result of a pilot doing 
something out of the ordinary, the FAA will usually invoke that rule.  But 
that doesn't make a specific operation illegal; it mainly just makes 
crashing during a specific operation illegal.
Given that low-pass approaches are clearly permitted in some situations, I 
don't see how one can read the minimum altitude regulations in a way that 
prohibits what this guy was doing.  It's pretty clear from the FAA's 
handling of operations that low-altitude flight in the vicinity of a runway 
is allowed, even when the pilot never intended to land.
Pete
Jose[_1_]
July 27th 06, 09:19 PM
> Despite the two rulings, pilots should realize that currently there is
> nothing in the FARs to warn you that conducting a "low approach" will
> only be deemed appropriate if the airport or runway is one upon which
> your aircraft can land. 
I wonder how one can legally practice engine-out procedures (trim for 
best glide, find a suitable field...) since part of the practice is to 
see if one can actually =make= the field one has picked out by using the 
procedures one is practicing.
Jose
-- 
The monkey turns the crank and thinks he's making the music.
for Email, make the obvious change in the address.
Peter Duniho
July 27th 06, 09:50 PM
"Jose" > wrote in message 
. com...
> I wonder how one can legally practice engine-out procedures (trim for best 
> glide, find a suitable field...) since part of the practice is to see if 
> one can actually =make= the field one has picked out by using the 
> procedures one is practicing.
FYI...
As it happens, I just flew with an instructor yesterday, doing my BFR. 
During our ground discussion, he told me that he was involved in an incident 
in which the FAA cited him for violating the minimum safe altitude 
regulations.  In his case, he was not doing engine-out practicing, but that 
did come up, and here's what the local FAA inspector said...
* There is no "sparsely settled" area anywhere within the Puget Sound 
region, even in locations where it is miles to the nearest structure.  The 
FAA does not provide any guidance as to what *is* a sparsely settled area, 
but apparently if there's any settlement anywhere within some apparently 
long distance, that's not "sparse".
* There is no exception to the minimum safe altitude rules for the purpose 
of practicing engine-out procedures.  If you are not over a sparsely settled 
area (of which there are none around here, and by this interpretation there 
would be none around ANY significantly populated region), then you may not 
descend below 500', and that goes up to 1000' above the highest obstacle 
within 2000' of the aircraft if the area is considered "congested" (note 
that they don't restrict that to man-made obstacles...if there's a 100' tree 
around, quite common here in the Northwest and elsewhere, your minimum 
altitude is actually 1100' AGL, for example).
* The inspector readily admitted that there is no formal definition of the 
terms, and declined to offer any formal definition of the terms.  They are 
playing by the rules set forth by the NTSB in past judgments, in that the 
FAA is permitted to interpret their rules as they see fit, and are not 
required to make any explicit statements about the specifics of the rules. 
So, if they see a pilot flying lower than the FAA inspector thinks he should 
be, and the altitude is below *some* minimum safe altitude specified, the 
inspector need only describe the area as an area where a higher altitude is 
required, and there's no defense that the pilot can mount against that.
So, as far your actual question goes...it depends on what you mean by "see 
if one can actually make the field", but if that would require flight below 
500' and you're not at an airport, then no, you can't do that practically 
anywhere that people live.  If you're flying in a congested area (and 
remember, there's no formal definition of "congested area"), that minimum is 
the 1000' given.
With a minimum altitude of 1000' above the highest obstacle within 2000', 
I'd say it'd be pretty hard to know for sure that you've got the field made. 
An experienced instructor could make a reasonably accurate judgment call, 
but from that altitude, all sorts of things could screw up the glide.
Frankly, I think it's pretty lame for the FAA to have rules for which they 
don't include definitions of the terms used.  I'm not one to just broadly 
paint the FAA as being bad, but this is certainly one area in which they 
need some serious improvement.
Pete
Jim Macklin
July 27th 06, 10:14 PM
Achtung, I'm from the FAA and I'm hear to define words the 
way I want.  Papers!
§ 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. 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.
Important words above... OVER  Every place that isn't OVER a 
town, city, settlement or crowd is by the above list 
SPARSELY and I'm pretty sure Puget Sound has lots of water. 
Except for congested areas, a tree is not an item of 
concern, the term structure can mean the outhouse or porta 
potty or a tent, but a road sign along a vacant highway 
doesn't count as a structure.
"Peter Duniho" > wrote in 
message ...
| "Jose" > wrote in message
| . com...
| > I wonder how one can legally practice engine-out 
procedures (trim for best
| > glide, find a suitable field...) since part of the 
practice is to see if
| > one can actually =make= the field one has picked out by 
using the
| > procedures one is practicing.
|
| FYI...
|
| As it happens, I just flew with an instructor yesterday, 
doing my BFR.
| During our ground discussion, he told me that he was 
involved in an incident
| in which the FAA cited him for violating the minimum safe 
altitude
| regulations.  In his case, he was not doing engine-out 
practicing, but that
| did come up, and here's what the local FAA inspector 
said...
|
| * There is no "sparsely settled" area anywhere within the 
Puget Sound
| region, even in locations where it is miles to the nearest 
structure.  The
| FAA does not provide any guidance as to what *is* a 
sparsely settled area,
| but apparently if there's any settlement anywhere within 
some apparently
| long distance, that's not "sparse".
|
| * There is no exception to the minimum safe altitude rules 
for the purpose
| of practicing engine-out procedures.  If you are not over 
a sparsely settled
| area (of which there are none around here, and by this 
interpretation there
| would be none around ANY significantly populated region), 
then you may not
| descend below 500', and that goes up to 1000' above the 
highest obstacle
| within 2000' of the aircraft if the area is considered 
"congested" (note
| that they don't restrict that to man-made obstacles...if 
there's a 100' tree
| around, quite common here in the Northwest and elsewhere, 
your minimum
| altitude is actually 1100' AGL, for example).
|
| * The inspector readily admitted that there is no formal 
definition of the
| terms, and declined to offer any formal definition of the 
terms.  They are
| playing by the rules set forth by the NTSB in past 
judgments, in that the
| FAA is permitted to interpret their rules as they see fit, 
and are not
| required to make any explicit statements about the 
specifics of the rules.
| So, if they see a pilot flying lower than the FAA 
inspector thinks he should
| be, and the altitude is below *some* minimum safe altitude 
specified, the
| inspector need only describe the area as an area where a 
higher altitude is
| required, and there's no defense that the pilot can mount 
against that.
|
| So, as far your actual question goes...it depends on what 
you mean by "see
| if one can actually make the field", but if that would 
require flight below
| 500' and you're not at an airport, then no, you can't do 
that practically
| anywhere that people live.  If you're flying in a 
congested area (and
| remember, there's no formal definition of "congested 
area"), that minimum is
| the 1000' given.
|
| With a minimum altitude of 1000' above the highest 
obstacle within 2000',
| I'd say it'd be pretty hard to know for sure that you've 
got the field made.
| An experienced instructor could make a reasonably accurate 
judgment call,
| but from that altitude, all sorts of things could screw up 
the glide.
|
| Frankly, I think it's pretty lame for the FAA to have 
rules for which they
| don't include definitions of the terms used.  I'm not one 
to just broadly
| paint the FAA as being bad, but this is certainly one area 
in which they
| need some serious improvement.
|
| Pete
|
|
Jonathan Goodish
July 27th 06, 10:49 PM
In article >,
 Jose > wrote:
> > Despite the two rulings, pilots should realize that currently there is
> > nothing in the FARs to warn you that conducting a "low approach" will
> > only be deemed appropriate if the airport or runway is one upon which
> > your aircraft can land. 
> 
> I wonder how one can legally practice engine-out procedures (trim for 
> best glide, find a suitable field...) since part of the practice is to 
> see if one can actually =make= the field one has picked out by using the 
> procedures one is practicing.
Well, if you make it, you can land there.
JKG
.Blueskies.
July 27th 06, 10:49 PM
"Jim Logajan" > wrote in message .. .
: Owen Hiller > wrote:
: > I had no idea that a flyover of the runway was illegal.
:
: I presume this may be due to 91.119, which would probably require at least
: 500 feet AGL if there is no intent to land?
That is 500' from persons or 'property'.
Jonathan Goodish
July 27th 06, 10:52 PM
In article >,
 Jim Logajan > wrote:
> Owen Hiller > wrote:
> > I had no idea that a flyover of the runway was illegal.
> 
> I presume this may be due to 91.119, which would probably require at least 
> 500 feet AGL if there is no intent to land?
Except that's not an accurate paraphrase of 91.119.
JKG
Steven P. McNicoll[_1_]
July 27th 06, 11:04 PM
".Blueskies." > wrote in message 
. com...
>
> That is 500' from persons or 'property'.
>
No, it's 500 feet from any person, vessel, vehicle, or structure.
Roy Smith
July 27th 06, 11:04 PM
Flying over the runway may or may not be illegal, but it sure beats
the hell out of flying below the runway.
Bob Gardner
July 27th 06, 11:25 PM
I'm not going to get my knickers in a twist over a quote from someone like 
that.
Bob Gardner
"Jim Logajan" > wrote in message 
.. .
> "Bob Gardner" > wrote:
>> Who are you quoting? Who used the word "illegal"?
>
> Since Owen included the link to the article written by an "Evan
> Belanger" of "The Cullman Times," that appears to be the source of the
> quote.
>
>>
>> Bob Gardner
>>
>> "Owen Hiller" > wrote in message
>> ...
>>>I had no idea that a flyover of the runway was illegal. But here you
>>>go:
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> "After making two flyovers - a common, but illegal maneuver in which
>>> the pilot flies low over the runway - he made the five-minute flight
>>> to Rountree where he normally purchased fuel, said airport employees.
>>>
>>> According to an investigator with the Federal Aviation
>>> Administration, before landing, he conducted another flyover, but
>>> stalled, crashing nose-down just beyond the tree line in an open
>>> field east of the runway.
>>>
>>> The crash was reported at approximately 8 a.m. by a resident who saw
>>> the wreckage as he left for work, according Hartselle Police."
>>>
>>>
>>> "Veteran-flyer Tom Coggin, 67, of Cullman, died instantly when his
>>> RV-6, two-seater aircraft crashed on private property near Rountree
>>> Field, Hartselle's municipal airstrip."
>>>
>>> "Deadly Flight"   - Cullman Times  July 25 2006
>>>
>>> http://www.cullmantimes.com/homepage/local_story_206231537.html?keywor
>>> d=leadpicturestory
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>>
>
Terry[_1_]
July 28th 06, 12:19 AM
Owen Hiller wrote:
> I had no idea that a flyover of the runway was illegal. But here you go:
> 
> 
> 
> "After making two flyovers — a common, but illegal maneuver in which the
> pilot flies low over the runway — he made the five-minute flight to
> Rountree where he normally purchased fuel, said airport employees.
> 
> According to an investigator with the Federal Aviation Administration,
> before landing, he conducted another flyover, but stalled, crashing
> nose-down just beyond the tree line in an open field east of the runway.
> 
> The crash was reported at approximately 8 a.m. by a resident who saw the
> wreckage as he left for work, according Hartselle Police."
> 
> 
> "Veteran-flyer Tom Coggin, 67, of Cullman, died instantly when his RV-6,
> two-seater aircraft crashed on private property near Rountree Field,
> Hartselle's municipal airstrip."
> 
> "Deadly Flight"   - Cullman Times  July 25 2006
> 
> http://www.cullmantimes.com/homepage/local_story_206231537.html?keyword=leadpicturestor y
> 
> 
> 
Then again, being 67 and all (about my age) this guy could have been in 
the throes of some medical problem on each flyover (yeah yeah he did 
stop and get gas but still could have been incapacitated somehow the 
entire time) and thus the crash event.
Terry
Jim Logajan
July 28th 06, 12:28 AM
Jonathan Goodish > wrote:
> In article >,
>  Jim Logajan > wrote:
> 
>> Owen Hiller > wrote:
>> > I had no idea that a flyover of the runway was illegal.
>> 
>> I presume this may be due to 91.119, which would probably require at
>> least 500 feet AGL if there is no intent to land?
> 
> 
> Except that's not an accurate paraphrase of 91.119.
True. My intent was merely to provide a summary line for 91.119, not 
provide any sort of paraphrase. I should have written "I presume this may 
be due to 91.119, which addresses minimum legal altitudes?"
I don't pretend to know whether runway flyovers are illegal, which is why I 
framed the speculation as a question.
M[_1_]
July 28th 06, 12:54 AM
> Minimum safe altitude is that altitude necessary to ensure being able
> to glide to a safe landing in the event of a power failure.
FAR 91.119 does not define minimum safe altitude based on the safe
landing of the aircraft itself in the event of power failure.  It's
based on whether such a landing will result in undue hazard to the
persons or the property on the surface.  Otherwise you will never be
legal flying below 500AGL over the open water.
U.S FAR 91.119 still carries the grand tradition that as part 91
flyers, you're allowed to do certain risky things, as long as you're
only endangering yourself.  That's a great tradition that makes this
country great, folks.
John Galban
July 28th 06, 12:59 AM
Bob Gardner wrote:
> I'm not going to get my knickers in a twist over a quote from someone like
> that.
>
   I wouldn't either.   I know that a low approach over a runway is not
illegal.  People do them all the time with the tower's blessing.
John Galban====>N4BQ (PA28-180)
Emily[_1_]
July 28th 06, 01:00 AM
John Galban wrote:
> Bob Gardner wrote:
>> I'm not going to get my knickers in a twist over a quote from someone like
>> that.
>>
>    I wouldn't either.   I know that a low approach over a runway is not
> illegal.  People do them all the time with the tower's blessing.
For that matter, going around would be considered a low approach.
Morgans[_3_]
July 28th 06, 01:35 AM
"Terry" > wrote
> Then again, being 67 and all (about my age) this guy could have been in
> the throes of some medical problem on each flyover (yeah yeah he did
> stop and get gas but still could have been incapacitated somehow the
> entire time) and thus the crash event.
My bet is that after the high speed pass, he slowed a bit to land, turned
too steeply, and did a high speed stall.
-- 
Jim in NC
Jim Macklin
July 28th 06, 01:48 AM
We flew below the runway all the time in the King Air full 
motion simulators at Flight Safety, even did a few spinouts.
"Roy Smith" > wrote in message 
...
| Flying over the runway may or may not be illegal, but it 
sure beats
| the hell out of flying below the runway.
Newps
July 28th 06, 01:50 AM
John Galban wrote:
Hey, saw your name in the book at Schafer.  Next year why don't you plan 
on coming up for the work party.  Third weekend of July.
Ken Chaddock
July 28th 06, 02:25 AM
Dale wrote:
> In article . com>,
>  "Andrew Sarangan" > wrote:
> 
> 
>>I could see flyovers being illegal under two  FARs - minimum safe
>>altitude, as well as careless and reckless. Regardless of legality,
>>they are totally unnecessary and unsafe. The outcome of this flight
>>demonstrates that point.
> 
> 
> He seemed to have lost control of his airplane.  The flyover had nothing 
> to do with that.  The same outcome could have occured during a landing 
> or takeoff.
> 
> Sometimes flyovers are necessary such as a go-around or to check the 
> condition of an intended landing area.  The only reason they may be 
> unsafe is because they aren't practiced enough.
	Bingo ! Lots of folks don't like to fly flaps down at low speed close 
to the ground and therefore don't practice it as often as they should. 
It's like spinning, you really should take a spin certified trainer to 
3000 or 4000 and spin the damned thing to make sure that you recognize 
and react to a incepted spin is as nearly instantaneously as 
possible...which is *really* important at 700agl in a climb out and you 
screw up...
....Ken
John Galban
July 28th 06, 02:38 AM
Newps wrote:
> John Galban wrote:
>
>
> Hey, saw your name in the book at Schafer.  Next year why don't you plan
> on coming up for the work party.  Third weekend of July.
Hey Newps,
  My name's in the Shafer book every year :-)   I try to get my
vacation time to line up with the MPA work party, but it doesn't always
work out.  Last time I was able to join the party was in '99.   I'm
planning a lot more mountain flying time off next year (about 4 weeks),
so I'll probably be there.
John Galban=====>N4BQ (PA28-180)
Jonathan Goodish
July 28th 06, 02:48 AM
In article >,
 Jim Logajan > wrote:
> True. My intent was merely to provide a summary line for 91.119, not 
> provide any sort of paraphrase. I should have written "I presume this may 
> be due to 91.119, which addresses minimum legal altitudes?"
> 
> I don't pretend to know whether runway flyovers are illegal, which is why I 
> framed the speculation as a question.
There is nothing in the FARs that would suggest that runway "fly overs" 
are illegal.  Now, careless and reckless could probably describe a fly 
over, depending on how it is executed.
JKG
Peter Duniho
July 28th 06, 03:21 AM
".Blueskies." > wrote in message 
. com...
> : I presume this may be due to 91.119, which would probably require at 
> least
> : 500 feet AGL if there is no intent to land?
>
> That is 500' from persons or 'property'.
Unless you are flying over a sparsely populated area, it's *at least* 500' 
AGL.  I think it's safe to say that anywhere that there's a "municipal 
airstrip", the FAA isn't going to consider "sparsely populated".
Pete
Peter Duniho
July 28th 06, 03:23 AM
"Jonathan Goodish" > wrote in message 
...
> There is nothing in the FARs that would suggest that runway "fly overs"
> are illegal.
If there is no intent to land, I'd say 91.119 certainly can be read as just 
such a prohibition.
Now, there are obviously other issues (the FAA doesn't go around citing 
people making practice instrument approaches, for example).  But a strict 
reading of the FARs definitely *does* suggest exactly what you think it 
doesn't.
Pete
Peter Duniho
July 28th 06, 03:28 AM
"Jim Macklin" > wrote in message 
news:rc9yg.84362$ZW3.50803@dukeread04...
> [...]
> Important words above... OVER  Every place that isn't OVER a
> town, city, settlement or crowd is by the above list
> SPARSELY and I'm pretty sure Puget Sound has lots of water.
Do you even bother to read the posts to which you reply?  Or are you saying 
that you don't believe what I wrote?
I specifically wrote exactly the interpretation that the FAA is using here, 
and it isn't anywhere *close* to the interpretation you'd like it to be.  In 
particular, the person who was cited by the FAA for violation of 91.119 was 
NOT over "a town, city, settlement, or crowd" and yet was found to NOT be 
flying over a "sparsely populated area".
As far as "I'm pretty sure Puget Sound has lots of water" goes, that's fine, 
but nothing that I wrote pertained to flight over water.  The question is 
what constitutes a "sparsely populated area", and in the Puget Sound region, 
there is NO place that meets that description, according to our local FSDO.
Pete
Peter Duniho
July 28th 06, 03:30 AM
"Emily" > wrote in message 
. ..
> For that matter, going around would be considered a low approach.
Semantically speaking, sure.  But that's not relevant here.
In the case of a true go-around, the low-altitude approach was made for the 
purpose of landing, even if no landing actually occurred.  No such claim 
could be made for an intentional low approach.
Emily[_1_]
July 28th 06, 03:44 AM
Peter Duniho wrote:
> "Emily" > wrote in message 
> . ..
>> For that matter, going around would be considered a low approach.
> 
> Semantically speaking, sure.  But that's not relevant here.
> 
> In the case of a true go-around, the low-altitude approach was made for the 
> purpose of landing, even if no landing actually occurred.  No such claim 
> could be made for an intentional low approach. 
Which makes the case posted earlier interesting.  Granted, one could 
argue the pilot lied about the go-around, but even so....interesting.
Terry[_1_]
July 28th 06, 04:15 AM
Morgans wrote:
> "Terry" > wrote
> 
>> Then again, being 67 and all (about my age) this guy could have been in
>> the throes of some medical problem on each flyover (yeah yeah he did
>> stop and get gas but still could have been incapacitated somehow the
>> entire time) and thus the crash event.
> 
> My bet is that after the high speed pass, he slowed a bit to land, turned
> too steeply, and did a high speed stall.
Does make sense ...
Jim Macklin
July 28th 06, 04:23 AM
Yes, I read your words and my opinion is that your FSDO is 
insane.
If some FAA inspector told me what you are saying, I would 
be in contact with my Congressman and FAA HQ.
The FAA publications teach missed approaches, low approaches 
and all manner of low flight.  If you are OVER a town, it 
can be identified and a pilot knows what altitude he is 
expect to fly.  When over open range, trees, water or an 
area with no concentration of houses or buildings, that 
constitutes "sparsely" by common definition.  Laws in order 
to be enforced must be written so a common person can abide 
by the words written in that law.
The FAA interpretation you say the FAA enforces in your 
region is nonsense and since they have brought cases, it is 
open to challenge, Congressional over-sight, and public 
demonstration.
The FAA does issue waiver to these rules for airshows, some 
times it is a blanket for the airport/event [Oshkosh] and 
sometimes it is for the pilot and the airspace.  But any 
pilot expects to be able to fly a low approach and do a 
go-around.  Many CFIs have their students fly along and just 
a few feet above the runway, planning not to land, even 
though the speed is right ay 1.3 Vso.  Some times we do have 
tire contact, but it wasn't planned.
If an agent of the Administrator asks you to do something or 
clears you to do some something, that is approval by the 
Administrator.
The FAA has many agents, some like airplanes and some still 
think they are a Col. in the USAF.  If you take a NASA night 
photo of the area and it is dark, it is sparsely populated. 
If you are a mile away from a densely populated area and any 
area of buildings, vehicles [that includes tractor and 
trucks] structures [that includes tower and oil rigs] people 
and that includes Mexicans walking over the border, stay 500 
foot radius away.
But just because you say it, I say it, the FAA says it or 
even an NTSB law judge says it, it may not be correct. 
Congress and the US Supreme Court are the final say.
-- 
James H. Macklin
ATP,CFI,A&P
-- 
The people think the Constitution protects their rights;
But government sees it as an obstacle to be overcome.
 some support 
http://www.usdoj.gov/olc/secondamendment2.htm
See http://www.fija.org/ more about your rights and duties.
"Peter Duniho" > wrote in 
message ...
| "Jim Macklin" > wrote 
in message
| news:rc9yg.84362$ZW3.50803@dukeread04...
| > [...]
| > Important words above... OVER  Every place that isn't 
OVER a
| > town, city, settlement or crowd is by the above list
| > SPARSELY and I'm pretty sure Puget Sound has lots of 
water.
|
| Do you even bother to read the posts to which you reply? 
Or are you saying
| that you don't believe what I wrote?
|
| I specifically wrote exactly the interpretation that the 
FAA is using here,
| and it isn't anywhere *close* to the interpretation you'd 
like it to be.  In
| particular, the person who was cited by the FAA for 
violation of 91.119 was
| NOT over "a town, city, settlement, or crowd" and yet was 
found to NOT be
| flying over a "sparsely populated area".
|
| As far as "I'm pretty sure Puget Sound has lots of water" 
goes, that's fine,
| but nothing that I wrote pertained to flight over water. 
The question is
| what constitutes a "sparsely populated area", and in the 
Puget Sound region,
| there is NO place that meets that description, according 
to our local FSDO.
|
| Pete
|
|
BTIZ
July 28th 06, 04:24 AM
come on out west.. I'll show you a municipal airport in a sparsely populated 
area.. there are no homes within 7 miles, and only two hotels and a prison, 
all more than 1000ft from the runway
B
"Peter Duniho" > wrote in message 
...
> ".Blueskies." > wrote in message 
> . com...
>> : I presume this may be due to 91.119, which would probably require at 
>> least
>> : 500 feet AGL if there is no intent to land?
>>
>> That is 500' from persons or 'property'.
>
> Unless you are flying over a sparsely populated area, it's *at least* 500' 
> AGL.  I think it's safe to say that anywhere that there's a "municipal 
> airstrip", the FAA isn't going to consider "sparsely populated".
>
> Pete
>
Jim Macklin
July 28th 06, 04:24 AM
Boy, will that ever slow down the IFR training routine.  And 
it will make the OPTION a real invitation to a violation.
"Peter Duniho" > wrote in 
message ...
| "Emily" > wrote in message
| . ..
| > For that matter, going around would be considered a low 
approach.
|
| Semantically speaking, sure.  But that's not relevant 
here.
|
| In the case of a true go-around, the low-altitude approach 
was made for the
| purpose of landing, even if no landing actually occurred. 
No such claim
| could be made for an intentional low approach.
|
|
Peter Duniho
July 28th 06, 04:50 AM
"BTIZ" > wrote in message 
news:6zeyg.16263$6w.7083@fed1read11...
> come on out west.. I'll show you a municipal airport in a sparsely 
> populated area.. there are no homes within 7 miles, and only two hotels 
> and a prison, all more than 1000ft from the runway
I am "out west".  And you are missing the point.  There's no way that the 
FAA inspectors here would consider any airport with a hotel and prison 
nearby to be in a "sparsely populated area".
And why no actual airport name in your post?  You could actually "show" me 
the airport right here.  Even if I wasn't already "out west", the Internet 
makes it easy.
Pete
Peter Duniho
July 28th 06, 05:04 AM
"Jim Macklin" > wrote in message 
news:bAeyg.84402$ZW3.76333@dukeread04...
> Yes, I read your words and my opinion is that your FSDO is
> insane.
Perhaps they are.  I have no facts to suggest otherwise.
However, be that as it may, they are interpreting the FARs, and the NTSB has 
found that where the FARs are vague, the FAA's interpretation is the one 
that is used, even if that interpretation is contrary to "common definition" 
(and frankly, the actual "common definition" of "sparsely" is even more 
vague than any official definition...can you tell me exactly how "widely 
spaced" the intervals between population need to be in order to qualify as 
"sparsely" under the common definition of "Occurring, growing, or settled at 
widely spaced intervals"?).
> The FAA publications teach missed approaches, low approaches
> and all manner of low flight.
Beyond missed approaches, low approaches, takeoffs, and landings, what 
flight below 500' does the FAA teach?  More specifically, what low flight 
that cannot be accomplished at an airport does the FAA teach?
> If you are OVER a town, it
> can be identified and a pilot knows what altitude he is
> expect to fly.  When over open range, trees, water or an
> area with no concentration of houses or buildings, that
> constitutes "sparsely" by common definition.
And yet, there's at least one pilot who was found in violation of 91.119 
while flying below 500' in "an area with no concentration of houses or 
buildings".
I don't agree with the interpretation, but given the broad latitude the FAA 
is granted in enforcing their regulations, it's important for every pilot to 
understand the precedents.
> [...]
> The FAA interpretation you say the FAA enforces in your
> region is nonsense and since they have brought cases, it is
> open to challenge, Congressional over-sight, and public
> demonstration.
I agree it would have been more informative had this pilot contested the 
violation.  As it happens, he was let off without so much as a suspension, 
and so he was happy to not make waves.  However, I am not so naive as to 
think that he would have had an open and shut case in contesting the action.
> [...] But any
> pilot expects to be able to fly a low approach and do a
> go-around.
Again, completely irrelevant to the question of "sparsely populated".
> Many CFIs have their students fly along and just
> a few feet above the runway, planning not to land, even
> though the speed is right ay 1.3 Vso.  Some times we do have
> tire contact, but it wasn't planned.
Yes, I know.  I even benefited from this practice, and I've never heard of 
anyone being cited because of it.  However, still completely irrelevant to 
the question of "sparsely populated".
> If an agent of the Administrator asks you to do something or
> clears you to do some something, that is approval by the
> Administrator.
Again, completely irrelevant.
> The FAA has many agents, some like airplanes and some still
> think they are a Col. in the USAF.  If you take a NASA night
> photo of the area and it is dark, it is sparsely populated.
A relevant claim, but unfounded in this context.  I'm aware of no FAA 
interpretation that describes "sparsely populated" in that manner.
> [...]
> But just because you say it, I say it, the FAA says it or
> even an NTSB law judge says it, it may not be correct.
> Congress and the US Supreme Court are the final say.
Well, if you're aware of such a case in which the FAA opinion was overruled, 
I'm all ears.  If not, then your own interpretation of "sparsely populated" 
(which I generally agree with) carries no weight whatsoever.
Pete
Peter Duniho
July 28th 06, 05:05 AM
"Emily" > wrote in message 
. ..
> Which makes the case posted earlier interesting.  Granted, one could argue 
> the pilot lied about the go-around, but even so....interesting.
And in fact, the FAA basically tried to argue that the pilot did lie. 
Fortunately, the NTSB found that the pilot's story was more plausible than 
the FAA's.
Peter Duniho
July 28th 06, 05:07 AM
"Jim Macklin" > wrote in message 
news:eAeyg.84403$ZW3.33597@dukeread04...
> Boy, will that ever slow down the IFR training routine.  And
> it will make the OPTION a real invitation to a violation.
Yup.  As I mentioned earlier, technically speaking such operations are 
illegal under 91.119.  However, as I also mentioned earlier, clearly the FAA 
sets aside that technicality for such operations, since they not only allow 
them, they encourage them.
But that doesn't mean that any random low approach is legal, especially if 
not done for some FAA-sanctioned purpose.
Pete
Emily[_1_]
July 28th 06, 05:07 AM
Peter Duniho wrote:
> "Emily" > wrote in message 
> . ..
>> Which makes the case posted earlier interesting.  Granted, one could argue 
>> the pilot lied about the go-around, but even so....interesting.
> 
> And in fact, the FAA basically tried to argue that the pilot did lie. 
> Fortunately, the NTSB found that the pilot's story was more plausible than 
> the FAA's. 
> 
> 
Almost gives you the warm and fuzzies, don't it?
Jim Macklin
July 28th 06, 05:13 AM
Your Congressman sets the FAA budget every two years.  The 
FAA has to answer Congress' requests on demand.  Call your 
Congressman and I'll can mine and raise the issue.  I know 
my Congressman personally and have his phone number 
memorized and call his staff by first name.  Let's start a 
movement, everybody call your Congressman about stupid FAA 
rules and interpretations.
There is an election November 7, they will listen to you now 
and they will be "home" looking to talk face to face.
-- 
The people think the Constitution protects their rights;
But government sees it as an obstacle to be overcome.
 some support 
http://www.usdoj.gov/olc/secondamendment2.htm
See http://www.fija.org/ more about your rights and duties.
"Peter Duniho" > wrote in 
message ...
| "Jim Macklin" > wrote 
in message
| news:bAeyg.84402$ZW3.76333@dukeread04...
| > Yes, I read your words and my opinion is that your FSDO 
is
| > insane.
|
| Perhaps they are.  I have no facts to suggest otherwise.
|
| However, be that as it may, they are interpreting the 
FARs, and the NTSB has
| found that where the FARs are vague, the FAA's 
interpretation is the one
| that is used, even if that interpretation is contrary to 
"common definition"
| (and frankly, the actual "common definition" of "sparsely" 
is even more
| vague than any official definition...can you tell me 
exactly how "widely
| spaced" the intervals between population need to be in 
order to qualify as
| "sparsely" under the common definition of "Occurring, 
growing, or settled at
| widely spaced intervals"?).
|
| > The FAA publications teach missed approaches, low 
approaches
| > and all manner of low flight.
|
| Beyond missed approaches, low approaches, takeoffs, and 
landings, what
| flight below 500' does the FAA teach?  More specifically, 
what low flight
| that cannot be accomplished at an airport does the FAA 
teach?
|
| > If you are OVER a town, it
| > can be identified and a pilot knows what altitude he is
| > expect to fly.  When over open range, trees, water or an
| > area with no concentration of houses or buildings, that
| > constitutes "sparsely" by common definition.
|
| And yet, there's at least one pilot who was found in 
violation of 91.119
| while flying below 500' in "an area with no concentration 
of houses or
| buildings".
|
| I don't agree with the interpretation, but given the broad 
latitude the FAA
| is granted in enforcing their regulations, it's important 
for every pilot to
| understand the precedents.
|
| > [...]
| > The FAA interpretation you say the FAA enforces in your
| > region is nonsense and since they have brought cases, it 
is
| > open to challenge, Congressional over-sight, and public
| > demonstration.
|
| I agree it would have been more informative had this pilot 
contested the
| violation.  As it happens, he was let off without so much 
as a suspension,
| and so he was happy to not make waves.  However, I am not 
so naive as to
| think that he would have had an open and shut case in 
contesting the action.
|
| > [...] But any
| > pilot expects to be able to fly a low approach and do a
| > go-around.
|
| Again, completely irrelevant to the question of "sparsely 
populated".
|
| > Many CFIs have their students fly along and just
| > a few feet above the runway, planning not to land, even
| > though the speed is right ay 1.3 Vso.  Some times we do 
have
| > tire contact, but it wasn't planned.
|
| Yes, I know.  I even benefited from this practice, and 
I've never heard of
| anyone being cited because of it.  However, still 
completely irrelevant to
| the question of "sparsely populated".
|
| > If an agent of the Administrator asks you to do 
something or
| > clears you to do some something, that is approval by the
| > Administrator.
|
| Again, completely irrelevant.
|
| > The FAA has many agents, some like airplanes and some 
still
| > think they are a Col. in the USAF.  If you take a NASA 
night
| > photo of the area and it is dark, it is sparsely 
populated.
|
| A relevant claim, but unfounded in this context.  I'm 
aware of no FAA
| interpretation that describes "sparsely populated" in that 
manner.
|
| > [...]
| > But just because you say it, I say it, the FAA says it 
or
| > even an NTSB law judge says it, it may not be correct.
| > Congress and the US Supreme Court are the final say.
|
| Well, if you're aware of such a case in which the FAA 
opinion was overruled,
| I'm all ears.  If not, then your own interpretation of 
"sparsely populated"
| (which I generally agree with) carries no weight 
whatsoever.
|
| Pete
|
|
Jim Macklin
July 28th 06, 05:32 AM
The root problem is that many FAA Inspectors are mindless 
authoritarians.  The bureaucrats band together to defend 
their turf.  The NTSB has too many political appointees with 
no aviation experience.  The result is stupid application of 
the rules.
Phone, write and email the FAA and your Congressman. 
Contact the AOPA and EAA, demand some changes, demand 
sanity.
Just a quick sample from Google...land use map sparsely 
populated   826,000 pages
[PDF] T. Kit 9-12/TG.1'99 File Format: PDF/Adobe Acrobat - 
View as HTML
      the size of each state is not related to the size of 
the land area. ... the cartogram to the standard US map. 7. 
Name a sparsely populated state other ...
      www.census.gov/dmd/www/pdf/912ch1.pdf - Similar pages
  SIZE IT UP(Map Literacy) Grades 9-10 Skills and Objectives 
.... Use the two maps on page 5 (the US Population Cartogram 
and the Standard US Map) to answer the ... Name a sparsely 
populated state other than Montana. 8. ...
        www.census.gov/dmd/www/text/9-12b.txt - 16k - 
Cached - Similar pages
Web Sites Powered by ESRI Internet Solutions ... land use 
information, historical maps, and more. The Atlas has a 
powerful search function capable of finding locations even 
in sparsely populated areas. ...
      www.esri.com/software/internetmaps/index.html - 24k - 
Cached - Similar pages
Zoning, CDFS-1265-99 He/she must have a thorough knowledge 
of the zoning text and map and use these ... Another 
reality, especially in sparsely populated areas, is staffing 
and ...
      ohioline.osu.edu/cd-fact/1265.html - 17k - Cached - 
Similar pages
Land Use Debate Land use research materials; Maps (Local, 
regional, global) ... Have the students determine the common 
factors of the sparsely populated areas. ...
      www.wested.org/werc/earthsystems/geology/landuse.html  
- 10k - Cached - Similar pages
      So the US government in the form of the Census Bureau 
and the USDA and probably the Interior Department and 
Defense Department all can provide maps that
      define sparsely populated areas.
      The FAA can be forced to follow established 
definitions.
"Peter Duniho" > wrote in 
message ...
| "Jim Macklin" > wrote 
in message
| news:eAeyg.84403$ZW3.33597@dukeread04...
| > Boy, will that ever slow down the IFR training routine. 
And
| > it will make the OPTION a real invitation to a 
violation.
|
| Yup.  As I mentioned earlier, technically speaking such 
operations are
| illegal under 91.119.  However, as I also mentioned 
earlier, clearly the FAA
| sets aside that technicality for such operations, since 
they not only allow
| them, they encourage them.
|
| But that doesn't mean that any random low approach is 
legal, especially if
| not done for some FAA-sanctioned purpose.
|
| Pete
|
|
Morgans[_3_]
July 28th 06, 08:27 AM
"Jim Macklin" > wrote in message
news:eAeyg.84403$ZW3.33597@dukeread04...
> Boy, will that ever slow down the IFR training routine.  And
> it will make the OPTION a real invitation to a violation.
>
I'll bet the FAA was hacked off (not that I agree) because the low pass was
down on the deck, at WOT.  Ya' think? <g>
-- 
Jim in NC
Jim Macklin
July 28th 06, 11:14 AM
In the case of the first posted report, two inspectors were 
at a remote airport.  One inspector heard an airplane that 
didn't sound like it was being flown properly.  The other 
inspector said he didn't see anything.
Sounds can be useful, like when you hear a Bonanza or C210 
with the prop at low pitch[ hi rpm] on climb out and the 
tips are going supersonic because (a.) The pilot doesn't 
know enough to pull the prop back 50-100 rpm and (b.) 
because the governor is set too fast because the tach isn't 
properly calibrated.
But I suspect the inspectors were missing a ball game and 
wanted to be at a big, concrete airport.  So they decided to 
punish somebody.
The FAA gets into a mood [or is it mode] where they start 
looking for somebody to violate because that makes a paper 
trail that will get them noticed by the higher-ups.
One day I took a charter from Wichita to MKC [Kansas City 
Downtown].  It was scheduled IFR in the Duchess because the 
customer wanted to spend as little as possible.  It was 
scheduled for a 7 AM departure.  It was also in the spring 
so IFR conditions and ice were a certain possibility.  I 
began calling the FSS [the Internet did not yet exist] about 
5 AM.  I got a full briefing and filed IFR.  I called back 
several times for updates and asked for PIREPS each time, 
the last time about 5 minutes before engine start.  The 
weather was 1,000 overcast and tops were reported by many 
pilots as being at 3,000, a layer about 800 feet thick.  It 
was clear above and the PIREPS indicated temps above 
freezing, NO ICING on climb out.  When I departed I saw no 
ice on the Duchess and the sky was clear above the layer.
When I got back that afternoon there was a message to call 
the FSDO and speak to my friend Warren.
I called Warren and he asked me why I was flying in icing 
conditions.  Seems the Feds had been renting the King Air 
for some practice and had been making multiple IFR 
approaches, for about an hour.  They had just landed as I 
was taxiing out and a lineboy told them I was on a charter 
to Kansas City,
I of course said I was not flying in ice, had seen no ice 
all day and recounted the details of my flight.  BUT there 
were lawyers from the Kansas City FAA office on that King 
Air and they had seen a Beech Duchess [BE-76] with nothing 
but carb heat and a heated pitot depart IFR.
They had been getting ice while being vectored in the top of 
the layer at 3,000 for an hour.  Anyway, the local FSDO was 
ordered [I was told] to begin action against me.  I prepared 
my case for an informal meeting and the feds came in with 
stacks of paper, every telephone call I'd made, all the 
radio calls, the ATIS tapes and transcripts.  It was during 
this meeting that my boos, who as Director of Operations 
also attended, and I learned that the feds had been getting 
ice in the pattern doing a dozen or so ILS and VOR 
approaches in the layer.
The feds noted that I had made many phone calls and updated 
the weather.  They noted that I had requested all PIREPS for 
the local airport and enroute, nobody had reported any 
icing.  In the end they decided to drop the case, but the KC 
lawyers insisted I write a new page for our OPS manual on 
ICING.  I did and put in exactly what I did, including that 
lack of PIREPS or PIREPS that reported ice, confirming a 
forecast required a switch to an ice approved aircraft, a 
delay or even a cancellation.  The FAA approved that 
revision with no changes.
I then asked the feds why they didn't report the ice during 
the hour they were flying, wasn't reporting ice a required 
report and were they going to violate the PIC of that King 
Air?
It actually was fun.
-- 
James H. Macklin
ATP,CFI,A&P
-- 
The people think the Constitution protects their rights;
But government sees it as an obstacle to be overcome.
 some support 
http://www.usdoj.gov/olc/secondamendment2.htm
See http://www.fija.org/ more about your rights and duties.
"Morgans" > wrote in message 
...
|
| "Jim Macklin" > wrote 
in message
| news:eAeyg.84403$ZW3.33597@dukeread04...
| > Boy, will that ever slow down the IFR training routine. 
And
| > it will make the OPTION a real invitation to a 
violation.
| >
| I'll bet the FAA was hacked off (not that I agree) because 
the low pass was
| down on the deck, at WOT.  Ya' think? <g>
| -- 
| Jim in NC
|
.Blueskies.
July 28th 06, 02:11 PM
The sectional charts show 'populated' areas in yellow. If it is not yellow, then is it 'unpopulated'?
http://www.naco.faa.gov/content/naco/online/pdf_files/7th_VFR_Symbols.pdf
"Peter Duniho" > wrote in message ...
: "Jim Macklin" > wrote in message
: news:bAeyg.84402$ZW3.76333@dukeread04...
: > Yes, I read your words and my opinion is that your FSDO is
: > insane.
:
: Perhaps they are.  I have no facts to suggest otherwise.
:
: However, be that as it may, they are interpreting the FARs, and the NTSB has
: found that where the FARs are vague, the FAA's interpretation is the one
: that is used, even if that interpretation is contrary to "common definition"
: (and frankly, the actual "common definition" of "sparsely" is even more
: vague than any official definition...can you tell me exactly how "widely
: spaced" the intervals between population need to be in order to qualify as
: "sparsely" under the common definition of "Occurring, growing, or settled at
: widely spaced intervals"?).
:
Jim Macklin
July 28th 06, 02:42 PM
Actually, the yellow area is a representation of the way a 
city looks at night, the pattern of the lights.
see http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/20/20071.html 
and then browse to find useful info.  For instance Greeley 
Co. Kansas has 2 people per square mile.
".Blueskies." > wrote in 
message 
. com...
| The sectional charts show 'populated' areas in yellow. If 
it is not yellow, then is it 'unpopulated'?
|
| 
http://www.naco.faa.gov/content/naco/online/pdf_files/7th_VFR_Symbols.pdf
|
|
|
| "Peter Duniho" > wrote in 
message ...
| : "Jim Macklin" > 
wrote in message
| : news:bAeyg.84402$ZW3.76333@dukeread04...
| : > Yes, I read your words and my opinion is that your 
FSDO is
| : > insane.
| :
| : Perhaps they are.  I have no facts to suggest otherwise.
| :
| : However, be that as it may, they are interpreting the 
FARs, and the NTSB has
| : found that where the FARs are vague, the FAA's 
interpretation is the one
| : that is used, even if that interpretation is contrary to 
"common definition"
| : (and frankly, the actual "common definition" of 
"sparsely" is even more
| : vague than any official definition...can you tell me 
exactly how "widely
| : spaced" the intervals between population need to be in 
order to qualify as
| : "sparsely" under the common definition of "Occurring, 
growing, or settled at
| : widely spaced intervals"?).
| :
|
|
.Blueskies.
July 28th 06, 03:32 PM
According to the naco link below, these are populated areas. I know I always thought it was the outline of lights also, 
but I cannot find that defined anywhere...
Those census facts are interesting - scary for my area, Kalamazoo, MI, but still interesting...
"Jim Macklin" > wrote in message news:3Fnyg.84443$ZW3.22903@dukeread04...
: Actually, the yellow area is a representation of the way a
: city looks at night, the pattern of the lights.
:
: see http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/20/20071.html
: and then browse to find useful info.  For instance Greeley
: Co. Kansas has 2 people per square mile.
:
:
:
: ".Blueskies." > wrote in
: message
: . com...
: | The sectional charts show 'populated' areas in yellow. If
: it is not yellow, then is it 'unpopulated'?
: |
: |
: http://www.naco.faa.gov/content/naco/online/pdf_files/7th_VFR_Symbols.pdf
: |
: |
: |
: | "Peter Duniho" > wrote in
: message ...
: | : "Jim Macklin" >
: wrote in message
: | : news:bAeyg.84402$ZW3.76333@dukeread04...
: | : > Yes, I read your words and my opinion is that your
: FSDO is
: | : > insane.
: | :
: | : Perhaps they are.  I have no facts to suggest otherwise.
: | :
: | : However, be that as it may, they are interpreting the
: FARs, and the NTSB has
: | : found that where the FARs are vague, the FAA's
: interpretation is the one
: | : that is used, even if that interpretation is contrary to
: "common definition"
: | : (and frankly, the actual "common definition" of
: "sparsely" is even more
: | : vague than any official definition...can you tell me
: exactly how "widely
: | : spaced" the intervals between population need to be in
: order to qualify as
: | : "sparsely" under the common definition of "Occurring,
: growing, or settled at
: | : widely spaced intervals"?).
: | :
: |
: |
:
:
Jim Macklin
July 28th 06, 04:59 PM
The first thing you'll notice is the big yellow blot that is 
Houston. Contrary to popular belief among pilots, the yellow 
does NOT signify the boundaries of the city. After all, what 
good would a city boundary do for a pilot in the air? The 
yellow indicates the approximate light pattern at night of 
populated area from the air, which is much more useful 
information. If you're flying at night, these patterns may 
be the only thing you can see from, say, 8,000 feet in the 
air, so looking at a recognizable pattern may be a big help 
in determining where you are.
This was just a page I found on the Internet.  I know that 
somewhere I have a government handbook, perhaps the USAF 
Navigators handbook, that gave the answer.
".Blueskies." > wrote in 
message 
 y.net...
| According to the naco link below, these are populated 
areas. I know I always thought it was the outline of lights 
also,
| but I cannot find that defined anywhere...
|
| Those census facts are interesting - scary for my area, 
Kalamazoo, MI, but still interesting...
|
|
|
| "Jim Macklin" > wrote 
in message news:3Fnyg.84443$ZW3.22903@dukeread04...
| : Actually, the yellow area is a representation of the way 
a
| : city looks at night, the pattern of the lights.
| :
| : see 
http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/20/20071.html
| : and then browse to find useful info.  For instance 
Greeley
| : Co. Kansas has 2 people per square mile.
| :
| :
| :
| : ".Blueskies." > wrote in
| : message
| : . com...
| : | The sectional charts show 'populated' areas in yellow. 
If
| : it is not yellow, then is it 'unpopulated'?
| : |
| : |
| : 
http://www.naco.faa.gov/content/naco/online/pdf_files/7th_VFR_Symbols.pdf
| : |
| : |
| : |
| : | "Peter Duniho" > wrote in
| : message ...
| : | : "Jim Macklin" >
| : wrote in message
| : | : news:bAeyg.84402$ZW3.76333@dukeread04...
| : | : > Yes, I read your words and my opinion is that your
| : FSDO is
| : | : > insane.
| : | :
| : | : Perhaps they are.  I have no facts to suggest 
otherwise.
| : | :
| : | : However, be that as it may, they are interpreting 
the
| : FARs, and the NTSB has
| : | : found that where the FARs are vague, the FAA's
| : interpretation is the one
| : | : that is used, even if that interpretation is 
contrary to
| : "common definition"
| : | : (and frankly, the actual "common definition" of
| : "sparsely" is even more
| : | : vague than any official definition...can you tell me
| : exactly how "widely
| : | : spaced" the intervals between population need to be 
in
| : order to qualify as
| : | : "sparsely" under the common definition of 
"Occurring,
| : growing, or settled at
| : | : widely spaced intervals"?).
| : | :
| : |
| : |
| :
| :
|
|
Peter Duniho
July 28th 06, 05:46 PM
".Blueskies." > wrote in message 
 y.net...
> According to the naco link below, these are populated areas. I know I 
> always thought it was the outline of lights also,
> but I cannot find that defined anywhere...
They are not defined to be "well lit areas", but they aren't an official 
depiction of "non-sparsely populated areas", and as a matter of mapping 
expedience, I don't doubt that the area is based upon the general nighttime 
view of a region.
The most important thing to be aware of is that the VFR charts are *not* 
useful for determining where you are with respect to 91.119.
Pete
.Blueskies.
July 28th 06, 06:29 PM
"Peter Duniho" > wrote in message ...
: ".Blueskies." > wrote in message
:  y.net...
: > According to the naco link below, these are populated areas. I know I
: > always thought it was the outline of lights also,
: > but I cannot find that defined anywhere...
:
: They are not defined to be "well lit areas", but they aren't an official
: depiction of "non-sparsely populated areas", and as a matter of mapping
: expedience, I don't doubt that the area is based upon the general nighttime
: view of a region.
:
: The most important thing to be aware of is that the VFR charts are *not*
: useful for determining where you are with respect to 91.119.
:
: Pete
:
:
Do you have any references for that? The only thing I have been able to find is the NACO defined 'populated area' for 
the yellow areas....
http://avn.faa.gov/index.asp?xml=naco/catalog/charts/supplementary/aero_guide
http://avn.faa.gov/index.asp?xml=naco/online/aero_guide
....
Neil Gould
July 28th 06, 07:25 PM
Recently, Jose > posted:
>> Despite the two rulings, pilots should realize that currently there
>> is nothing in the FARs to warn you that conducting a "low approach"
>> will only be deemed appropriate if the airport or runway is one upon
>> which your aircraft can land.
>
> I wonder how one can legally practice engine-out procedures (trim for
> best glide, find a suitable field...) since part of the practice is to
> see if one can actually =make= the field one has picked out by using
> the procedures one is practicing.
>
Well, I don't need to be below 500' agl to know whether I've made the
field, and I don't practice engine outs at 600'.  ;-)
Neil
Neil Gould
July 28th 06, 07:35 PM
Recently, Jim Macklin > posted:
> see http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/20/20071.html
> and then browse to find useful info.  For instance Greeley
> Co. Kansas has 2 people per square mile.
>
Well, if the county is 1,000 square miles, and all 500 people reside in a
two block neighborhood, then some areas will be densely populated!  ;-)
Neil
Jim Macklin
July 28th 06, 08:29 PM
and the rest is not populated at all.
"Neil Gould" > wrote in message 
 y.net...
| Recently, Jim Macklin 
> posted:
|
| > see 
http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/20/20071.html
| > and then browse to find useful info.  For instance 
Greeley
| > Co. Kansas has 2 people per square mile.
| >
| Well, if the county is 1,000 square miles, and all 500 
people reside in a
| two block neighborhood, then some areas will be densely 
populated!  ;-)
|
| Neil
|
|
|
|
Jonathan Goodish
July 28th 06, 10:31 PM
In article >,
 "Peter Duniho" > wrote:
> "Jonathan Goodish" > wrote in message 
> ...
> > There is nothing in the FARs that would suggest that runway "fly overs"
> > are illegal.
> 
> If there is no intent to land, I'd say 91.119 certainly can be read as just 
> such a prohibition.
Please explain how an intent to land is a requirement of FAR 91.119?  
FAR 91.119 (a) says that I may not fly below an altitude allowing a safe 
emergency landing, irrespective of whether I intend to land or not.  The 
language, "Except when necessary for takeoff or landing," provides me 
with an exception to the rest of 91.119 as long as I am taking off or 
landing.  But, it does not indicate a violation for low-level flight as 
long as I meet the requirement if paragraph (a) without violating 
anything in paragraphs (b) or (c).
Aside from any other argument, it would be very difficult for anyone to 
argue against an intent to land for someone performing a low-pass on an 
open runway.
JKG
Jose[_1_]
July 28th 06, 10:55 PM
> Please explain how an intent to land is a requirement of FAR 91.119?  
> FAR 91.119 (a) says that I may not fly below an altitude allowing a safe 
> emergency landing, irrespective of whether I intend to land or not.  The 
> language, "Except when necessary for takeoff or landing," provides me 
> with an exception to the rest of 91.119 as long as I am taking off or 
> landing.
That's not what my book says.  The "except when necessary..." clause is 
in front of everything.  The (a) anywhere: ... allowing a safe 
landing... means ANYWHERE you fly, you must be albe to land without 
undue hazard...  IN ADDITION, even if you could land without undue 
hazard, other restrictions apply (500', 1000', etc)
Jose
-- 
The monkey turns the crank and thinks he's making the music.
for Email, make the obvious change in the address.
Jonathan Goodish
July 28th 06, 11:38 PM
In article >,
 Jose > wrote:
> > Please explain how an intent to land is a requirement of FAR 91.119?  
> > FAR 91.119 (a) says that I may not fly below an altitude allowing a safe 
> > emergency landing, irrespective of whether I intend to land or not.  The 
> > language, "Except when necessary for takeoff or landing," provides me 
> > with an exception to the rest of 91.119 as long as I am taking off or 
> > landing.
> 
> That's not what my book says.  The "except when necessary..." clause is 
> in front of everything.  The (a) anywhere: ... allowing a safe 
> landing... means ANYWHERE you fly, you must be albe to land without 
> undue hazard...  IN ADDITION, even if you could land without undue 
> hazard, other restrictions apply (500', 1000', etc)
> 
> Jose
"Except when necessary for takeoff and landing" grants you an exception 
to any other requirements in 91.119 for minimum altitudes.  However, I 
could fly along at 100 feet AGL over sparsely populated areas, as 
permitted by 91.119(a) and (c).  Last time I checked, an airport runway 
was pretty sparsely populated, and I could certainly use it for an 
emergency landing if I lost power.
JKG
Jose[_1_]
July 28th 06, 11:50 PM
> Last time I checked, an airport runway 
> was pretty sparsely populated...
Oh, I don't know about that.  There are probably airplanes around within 
five hundred feet, and people in them or working on them.  There may 
also be structures.
I was at an FAA safety seminar in which the Hudson River was stated to 
be "congested", as is the middle of Pennsylvania wherever there is a 
highway.  The context was flying the Hudson corridor.  The presentor 
said that the FAA granated a special document (I don't know what they 
call them - memorandum of understanding?) in which they acknowledge that 
it is not possible to fly over the George Washington Bridge while 
remaining in the corridor (you must remain 1000 feet above it, which 
puts you in class B), but they "promise not to prosecute" people who 
violate the FARs by flying the corridor.
It looks like they are setting themselves up again to enforce anything 
they want, by using this document as a precedent for anything being 
considered "congested".
Jose
-- 
The monkey turns the crank and thinks he's making the music.
for Email, make the obvious change in the address.
Jonathan Goodish
July 29th 06, 01:32 AM
In article >,
 Jose > wrote:
> > Last time I checked, an airport runway 
> > was pretty sparsely populated...
> 
> Oh, I don't know about that.  There are probably airplanes around within 
> five hundred feet, and people in them or working on them.  There may 
> also be structures.
It depends on the airport and what's occurring on the surface.  I would 
venture to guess that most airports are rather sleepy most of the time, 
and people and structures are beyond 500 feet from the runway.
Regardless, though, you'd have a tough time arguing that someone who 
does low approaches, go arounds, or low passes down the runway didn't 
initially intend to land.
JKG
Emily[_1_]
July 29th 06, 01:36 AM
Jonathan Goodish wrote:
> 
> Regardless, though, you'd have a tough time arguing that someone who 
> does low approaches, go arounds, or low passes down the runway didn't 
> initially intend to land.
I think speed is a factor here.  I can buzz a runway in a a plane at 
speeds a lot higher than would be safe for landing.
Jose[_1_]
July 29th 06, 01:37 AM
> Regardless, though, you'd have a tough time arguing that someone who 
> does low approaches, go arounds, or low passes down the runway didn't 
> initially intend to land.
No I wouldn't.  The issue (of course) isn't whether the pilot 
=eventually= intended to land (somewhere), but whether the pilot =at 
that time= intended to land =there=.  Somebody practicing low approaches 
would be hard put to say he botched the approach so badly every time 
that a go-around was warranted.
Jose
-- 
The monkey turns the crank and thinks he's making the music.
for Email, make the obvious change in the address.
Peter Duniho
July 29th 06, 07:07 AM
"Jonathan Goodish" > wrote in message 
...
>> > There is nothing in the FARs that would suggest that runway "fly overs"
>> > are illegal.
>>
>> If there is no intent to land, I'd say 91.119 certainly can be read as 
>> just
>> such a prohibition.
>
>
> Please explain how an intent to land is a requirement of FAR 91.119?
Um...all of the minimum altitudes apply unless for the purpose of a takeoff 
or landing?  Duh.  The requirement is to be given an exception to 91.119.
> FAR 91.119 (a) says that I may not fly below an altitude allowing a safe
> emergency landing, irrespective of whether I intend to land or not.
(a) is the broadest, least-likely-to-apply situation.  It prescribes the 
absolute minimum altitude anywhere.  91.119 isn't a menu, where you get to 
choose which paragraph you want to comply with.  You have to comply with 
them all.
> The
> language, "Except when necessary for takeoff or landing," provides me
> with an exception to the rest of 91.119 as long as I am taking off or
> landing.  But, it does not indicate a violation for low-level flight as
> long as I meet the requirement if paragraph (a) without violating
> anything in paragraphs (b) or (c).
If you are at any public, municipal airport, there is no way you are meeting 
the requirement of (a) without violating (b) or (c).
> Aside from any other argument, it would be very difficult for anyone to
> argue against an intent to land for someone performing a low-pass on an
> open runway.
If you'd bothered to read the related thread, "Case law on runway 
buzzing/flyovers", you'd understand why that statement is just plain false. 
There are many cases where the FAA has successfully argued against an intent 
to land for someone performing a low-pass on an open runway.  Two prime 
example situations are when the runway was never a suitable landing site for 
the airplane in the first place, or when the approach to the runway was not 
made in a manner conducive to an actual landing (that would, of course, 
require a reliable witness to describe the entire approach).
Pete
Peter Duniho
July 29th 06, 07:07 AM
"Jonathan Goodish" > wrote in message 
...
> [...] Last time I checked, an airport runway
> was pretty sparsely populated
There is no way that a runway is in and of itself considered a "sparsely 
populated area".
Peter Duniho
July 29th 06, 07:10 AM
".Blueskies." > wrote in message 
. com...
> Do you have any references for that?
Any references for what?
> The only thing I have been able to find is the NACO defined
> 'populated area' for the yellow areas....
That is correct.
Cirrus
July 29th 06, 05:28 PM
I just took my commercial checkride a few feeks ago. I was taught by my
instructor to overly a non-towered airport by tpa+500ft (or more),
proceed away from the airport WITHOUT descending and then enter the
pattern( i.e. enter 45 and descent to TPA). On my checkride the
Examiner also expected this. I was taught that the key is to not
descent to or below TPA unless you are commiting to landing, which
means adhering to FARS and AIM procedures. Flying over the Field at or
below TPA just to take a look may be considered famously "careless and
reckless". I can't find it at the moment, but my instructor showed me
the TPA+500 rule in the AIM or FARs. In all of my instrument and
private training somehow the overly the airport rule was missed.  The
Examiner explained that just because YOU might know what you are doing,
every other pilot will be expecting everone to be following standard
procedures. When pilots deviate, not matter how well they think they
are communicating their intentions, accidents frequently happen. Who
expects someone to be cutting across the field a few hundred feet below
them while on downwind?
Above all it's probably best ot use common sense. At Bremerton Airport
near me, there are so many training aircraft and pilots who forget to
announce position, chaos, etc, I am hesitant to overfly the field at
all. Since I know the area well, I feel it's safer to not overfly. At a
new airport or one that has wildlife that frequents the field makes
more sense.
Just my two cents. Good post!
> I had no idea that a flyover of the runway was illegal. But here you go:
>
>
>
> "After making two flyovers - a common, but illegal maneuver in which the
> pilot flies low over the runway - he made the five-minute flight to
> Rountree where he normally purchased fuel, said airport employees.
>
> According to an investigator with the Federal Aviation Administration,
> before landing, he conducted another flyover, but stalled, crashing
> nose-down just beyond the tree line in an open field east of the runway.
>
> The crash was reported at approximately 8 a.m. by a resident who saw the
> wreckage as he left for work, according Hartselle Police."
>
>
> "Veteran-flyer Tom Coggin, 67, of Cullman, died instantly when his RV-6,
> two-seater aircraft crashed on private property near Rountree Field,
> Hartselle's municipal airstrip."
>
> "Deadly Flight"   - Cullman Times  July 25 2006
>
> http://www.cullmantimes.com/homepage/local_story_206231537.html?keyword=leadpicturestor y
Peter Duniho
July 29th 06, 07:10 PM
"Cirrus" > wrote in message 
 oups.com...
>I just took my commercial checkride a few feeks ago. I was taught by my
> instructor to overly a non-towered airport by tpa+500ft (or more),
> proceed away from the airport WITHOUT descending and then enter the
> pattern( i.e. enter 45 and descent to TPA).
Not a bad procedure, as a general concept.  I agree that for you to not have 
heard about this until your Commercial certificate training is very odd. 
This is basic Private stuff.
> On my checkride the
> Examiner also expected this. I was taught that the key is to not
> descent to or below TPA unless you are commiting to landing,
How do you fly an instrument procedure then?  Most instrument procedures, 
even non-precision, may often involve flight below TPA prior to being 
committed to landing.  For that matter, ANY approach to landing involves 
flight below TPA prior to being committed to landing (you should not be 
committed to the landing until you have touched down and have slowed 
sufficiently to ensure no need for a go-around).
> which
> means adhering to FARS and AIM procedures.
AIM, perhaps.  The FARs say nothing about descent below TPA.  They don't 
even discuss TPA.
> Flying over the Field at or
> below TPA just to take a look may be considered famously "careless and
> reckless".
True enough.  The FAA invokes 91.13 in most actions, including those for 
which they can find no other rule to use.
> I can't find it at the moment, but my instructor showed me
> the TPA+500 rule in the AIM or FARs.
I believe that the AIM mentions that.  There's no place in the FARs that 
does.
> In all of my instrument and
> private training somehow the overly the airport rule was missed.  The
> Examiner explained that just because YOU might know what you are doing,
> every other pilot will be expecting everone to be following standard
> procedures.
This is where you start to head off into the weeds.  Standard procedure or 
not, no other pilot should be significantly inconvenienced, or otherwise 
surprised by an airplane flying down the runway.  While there may be good 
reasons to avoid a low-approach over the runway in certain situations, I 
don't see how "every other pilot will be expecting everone [sic] to be 
following standard procedures" applies here.
> When pilots deviate, not matter how well they think they
> are communicating their intentions, accidents frequently happen. Who
> expects someone to be cutting across the field a few hundred feet below
> them while on downwind?
"Cutting across the field"?  The thread is about flight over and parallel to 
the runway.  No one is suggesting low-level flight perpendicular to the 
runway.  If your whole response was directed at that operation, it's 
irrelevant to this thread.
Pete
Matt Whiting
July 29th 06, 07:32 PM
Cirrus wrote:
> I just took my commercial checkride a few feeks ago. I was taught by my
> instructor to overly a non-towered airport by tpa+500ft (or more),
> proceed away from the airport WITHOUT descending and then enter the
> pattern( i.e. enter 45 and descent to TPA). On my checkride the
> Examiner also expected this. I was taught that the key is to not
> descent to or below TPA unless you are commiting to landing, which
> means adhering to FARS and AIM procedures. Flying over the Field at or
> below TPA just to take a look may be considered famously "careless and
> reckless". I can't find it at the moment, but my instructor showed me
> the TPA+500 rule in the AIM or FARs. In all of my instrument and
> private training somehow the overly the airport rule was missed.  The
> Examiner explained that just because YOU might know what you are doing,
> every other pilot will be expecting everone to be following standard
> procedures. When pilots deviate, not matter how well they think they
> are communicating their intentions, accidents frequently happen. Who
> expects someone to be cutting across the field a few hundred feet below
> them while on downwind?
This is the result of instructors and DEs who have little experience 
flying outside a metropolitan area.  Not inspecting a potentially soft 
field or obstructed field from MUCH less than TPA+500 is a good way to 
get killed or at a minimum trash a good airplane.  You don't need to do 
this at a controlled field, but that doesn't meant that this procedure 
is right ALL of the time.  Any instructor who doesn't teach how to 
inspect an unknown field should have their certificate revoked.
Matt
Bob Moore
July 29th 06, 08:30 PM
Peter Duniho wrote
> If there is no intent to land, I'd say 91.119 certainly can be read as
> just such a prohibition.
From the FAA's Pilot/Controller Glossary:
CLEARED FOR THE OPTION- ATC authorization for an aircraft to make a touch-
and-go, low approach, missed approach, stop and go, or full stop landing at 
the discretion of the pilot. It is normally used in training so that an 
instructor can evaluate a student's performance under changing situations. 
LOW APPROACH- An approach over an airport or runway following an instrument 
approach or a VFR approach including the go-around maneuver where the pilot 
intentionally does not make contact with the runway. 
Bob Moore
Morgans[_3_]
July 30th 06, 12:25 AM
"Bob Moore" > wrote
> From the FAA's Pilot/Controller Glossary:
>
> CLEARED FOR THE OPTION- ATC authorization for an aircraft to make a touch-
> and-go, low approach, missed approach, stop and go, or full stop landing
at
> the discretion of the pilot. It is normally used in training so that an
> instructor can evaluate a student's performance under changing situations.
>
> LOW APPROACH- An approach over an airport or runway following an
instrument
> approach or a VFR approach including the go-around maneuver where the
pilot
> intentionally does not make contact with the runway.
 I would take that the beef the FAA has is that a low approach is normally
done at approach speeds, not WOT, wouldn't you think? <g>
-- 
Jim in NC
Peter Duniho
July 30th 06, 01:11 AM
"Bob Moore" > wrote in message 
. 122...
>> If there is no intent to land, I'd say 91.119 certainly can be read as
>> just such a prohibition.
>
> From the FAA's Pilot/Controller Glossary: [snipped]
So?
Matt Whiting
July 30th 06, 01:44 AM
Morgans wrote:
> "Bob Moore" > wrote
> 
> 
>>From the FAA's Pilot/Controller Glossary:
>>
>>CLEARED FOR THE OPTION- ATC authorization for an aircraft to make a touch-
>>and-go, low approach, missed approach, stop and go, or full stop landing
> 
> at
> 
>>the discretion of the pilot. It is normally used in training so that an
>>instructor can evaluate a student's performance under changing situations.
>>
>>LOW APPROACH- An approach over an airport or runway following an
> 
> instrument
> 
>>approach or a VFR approach including the go-around maneuver where the
> 
> pilot
> 
>>intentionally does not make contact with the runway.
> 
> 
>  I would take that the beef the FAA has is that a low approach is normally
> done at approach speeds, not WOT, wouldn't you think? <g>
But you apply WOT as soon as you make the decision to go around.  That 
usually occurs prior to reaching the runway threshold, so you would be 
at WOT.  You'd not likely be going 150 MPH in a small airplane, however, 
but that really shouldn't be a big deal.
Matt
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