Defintion of Aircraft

[Charles Talleyrand]

Hovercraft and surface-effect craft are not regulated by the FAA. How
high must one fly before one falls under the pervue of the FAA? Is
there an official definition of "aircraft" that excludes hovercraft and
surface effect vehilcles?

-Thanks
-Charles Talleyrand

[Brien K. Meehan]

14 CFR 1.1 General definitions: "Aircraft" means a device that is used
or intended to be used for flight in the air.

[Ron Natalie]

Charles Talleyrand wrote:
> Hovercraft and surface-effect craft are not regulated by the FAA. How
> high must one fly before one falls under the pervue of the FAA? Is
> there an official definition of "aircraft" that excludes hovercraft and
> surface effect vehilcles?

I'm not sure there is a precise explanation but things that can't operate out of
ground effect to operate probably could escape FAA regulation.

[Charles Talleyrand]

But a hovercraft is intended to be used for flight in the air, only
just VERY low flight. Some surface effect vehicles can get 10 feet up
in the air and move 60 mph.

Does anyone know the official definition of "flight"?
-Thanks
-Charles Talleyrand

[zatatime]

On 12 Dec 2004 20:27:56 -0800, "Charles Talleyrand"
> wrote:

>But a hovercraft is intended to be used for flight in the air, only
>just VERY low flight. Some surface effect vehicles can get 10 feet up
>in the air and move 60 mph.
>
>Does anyone know the official definition of "flight"?
>-Thanks
>-Charles Talleyrand

....But they do not operate out of Ground Effect which has already been
offered as a way to define it. Don't know that you'll get any better
than that, but I think its a pretty good one.

z

[Marty Shapiro]

zatatime > wrote in
:

> On 12 Dec 2004 20:27:56 -0800, "Charles Talleyrand"
> > wrote:
>
>>But a hovercraft is intended to be used for flight in the air, only
>>just VERY low flight. Some surface effect vehicles can get 10 feet up
>>in the air and move 60 mph.
>>
>>Does anyone know the official definition of "flight"?
>>-Thanks
>>-Charles Talleyrand
>
> ...But they do not operate out of Ground Effect which has already been
> offered as a way to define it. Don't know that you'll get any better
> than that, but I think its a pretty good one.
>
> z
>

About 20 years ago I took the hovercraft from Dover to Calais. I remember
that the ticket had a time and flight number. The channel was very choppy
that day (from memory, the swells were over 6 meters high) and the "flight"
was almost cancelled. It is the only time I came close to having a flight
cancelled due to high seas!

--
Marty Shapiro
Silicon Rallye Inc.

(remove SPAMNOT to email me)

[Robert M. Gary]

Charles Talleyrand wrote:
> Hovercraft and surface-effect craft are not regulated by the FAA.
How
> high must one fly before one falls under the pervue of the FAA? Is
> there an official definition of "aircraft" that excludes hovercraft
and
> surface effect vehilcles?

The federal gov't (currently the FAA) controls the "navigatable
airspace", per a ruling by the Supreme Court in the early part of
1910's. If you alter air traffic, you'll get a visit.

-Robert, CFI

[Newps]

> Charles Talleyrand wrote:
>
>>Hovercraft and surface-effect craft are not regulated by the FAA.
>
> How
>
>>high must one fly before one falls under the pervue of the FAA? Is
>>there an official definition of "aircraft" that excludes hovercraft
>
> and
>
>>surface effect vehilcles?

Yeah, aircraft that fly thru the air are aircraft and thus regulated by
the FAA. Hovercraft and surface effect craft don't fly, take the ground
away and they don't work.

[[email protected]]

Newps wrote :
>Yeah, aircraft that fly thru the air are aircraft and thus regulated
by
>the FAA.

It can't be that simple. Don't radio controlled aircraft fly through
the air (out of ground effect)?
Just wondering,

John Galban=====>N4BQ (PA28-180)

[Jay Beckman]

> wrote in message
oups.com...
> Newps wrote :
>>Yeah, aircraft that fly thru the air are aircraft and thus regulated
> by
>>the FAA.
>
> It can't be that simple. Don't radio controlled aircraft fly through
> the air (out of ground effect)?
> Just wondering,
>
> John Galban=====>N4BQ (PA28-180)

John,

IIRC, immediately after 9/11 there was some talk amongst the R/C folks that
the FAA was looking at actually trying to regulate all R/C flying.

Jay Beckman
PP-ASEL
Chandler, AZ

[Robert M. Gary]

Newps wrote:

> Yeah, aircraft that fly thru the air are aircraft and thus regulated
by
> the FAA. Hovercraft and surface effect craft don't fly, take the
ground
> away and they don't work.

Probably the most important part is that they don't interact with the
"navigatable airspace".

[Robert M. Gary]

wrote:
> Newps wrote :
> >Yeah, aircraft that fly thru the air are aircraft and thus regulated
> by
> >the FAA.
>
> It can't be that simple. Don't radio controlled aircraft fly through
> the air (out of ground effect)?
> Just wondering,

At best they would be "air vehicles" under FAR 103 since they carry
less than 5 gals of gas and weighs less than 254 lbs. Basically this
means you can't fly them over congested areas.

Homemade rockets ARE regulated. Its been a while since I've launched
rockets but I believe anything with an "H" engine or larger requires
certification. There are examiners around that do the certifications.
-Robert

[[email protected]]

Robert M. Gary > wrote:

> wrote:
> > Newps wrote :
> > >Yeah, aircraft that fly thru the air are aircraft and thus regulated
> > by
> > >the FAA.
> >
> > It can't be that simple. Don't radio controlled aircraft fly through
> > the air (out of ground effect)?
> > Just wondering,

> At best they would be "air vehicles" under FAR 103 since they carry
> less than 5 gals of gas and weighs less than 254 lbs. Basically this
> means you can't fly them over congested areas.

> Homemade rockets ARE regulated. Its been a while since I've launched
> rockets but I believe anything with an "H" engine or larger requires
> certification. There are examiners around that do the certifications.
> -Robert

FAR 1 says "Aircraft means a device that is used or intended to be used
for flight in the air."

The term "flight" doesn't seem to be defined so you are left with the
dictionary definition.

FAR 1 also defines airplane, airship, balloon, rotorcraft, etc.

FAR 103 only applies to manned operation.

FAR 101 regulates moored balloons, kites, unmanned rockets, and unmanned
free balloons.

There does not seem to be a FAR that explicitly addresses unmanned
airplanes, airships, rotorcraft, or powered lift aircraft.

With the proliferation of UAVs these days, I would expect that to change
in the future.

--
Jim Pennino

Remove -spam-sux to reply.

[Denny]

My definition of airplane is: If the engine quits and you do nothing,
will you die? If the answer is yes, it's an airplane...

Denny

[Tony Cox]

"Denny" > wrote in message
oups.com...
> My definition of airplane is: If the engine quits and you do nothing,
> will you die? If the answer is yes, it's an airplane...

Oh you're such a pessimist...

http://www.ntsb.gov/ntsb/brief.asp?ev_id=20001206X01568&key=1

[Matt Whiting]

Denny wrote:
> My definition of airplane is: If the engine quits and you do nothing,
> will you die? If the answer is yes, it's an airplane...
>
> Denny
>

That definition also fits helicopters, motorcycles and automobiles in
many circumstances.


Matt