Chicago Police Marine Unit have jurisdiction out 3 miles along the city
limits. It doesn't matter. So far, they don't prohibit seaplane operations.
According to City Ordinance confirmed by me with the Chicago Police, they
view planes in the sky as not their problem. Planes on the water are treated
like boats. Further out is Coast Guard jurisdiction and has practically no
special restrictions.

I have landed inside the breakwalls just off Navy Pier. The timing was
right - waves and boat traffic were low. The Chicago Police monitor marine
channel 16 and are very knowledgeable and friendly.

There are boating restrictions that apply to seaplanes on the water. Like,
no boats within 150 feet of marked beaches, no wake zones, etc. As long as
you abide by those rules, the Police are more interested in taking pictures
and asking questions than causing a fuss.

If I think it is likely that I will be landing in their back yard (so to
speak), I call them with my name, N number, a description of the plane, and
the fact that I will be monitoring channel 16 on the water. The last time,
they came out, called me by name and asked to come along side. They had a
pot of coffee in the galley and I ended up spending about 45 minutes with
them. Nice guys!

jgrove24 sounds a bit scared but berating him (or her) here does nothing to
promote aviation. The references to low flying ORD traffic is either a
misjudgment of altitude (easy to do for the novice) or a reference to
non-ORD traffic flying under the Class B. Either way, there is certainly a
risk which should be acknowledged. I happen to think it is a very small risk
of collision and an incredibly small risk of damage to the land-based
population should tragedy strike.

The recent move by an alderman to suggest a restriction against seaplanes to
avoid unnecessary calls to 911 will probably go away but we continue to
monitor the situation. Of course, the ordinance is a ridiculous response but
it has good company with the actions of the mayor. The best counter-response
is reasoned education, not flame throwing. I'll take the same path with
jgrove24.

--
-------------------------------
Travis



"Skylune" wrote in message
lkaboutaviation.com...
by "Doug" anothername@[EMAIL PROTECTED] Jan 13, 2006 at 02:49 PM


I wonder who has jurisdiction over the use of the surface of the water
on Lake Michigan in that area. Wisconson, Illinois, Michigan, Chicago
or the Federal governement or ....? Surely NOT the Chicago police
department. I don't know of any laws prohibiting landing of a Seaplane
on Lake Michigan, but there may be some that I don't know of. Also it
depends on WHERE on Lake Michigan. The harbors are one jurisdiction and
the Lake is another and just where you are on the lake matters also.

According to a publication I read, there is one large area over Lake
Michigan, adjacent to the Sheboygan area, that is restricted airspace to
provide space for a program called Rockets for Schools. It was approved
decades ago by the FAA to provide high school students a place to launch
sub-orbital small scale rockets.

The Great Lakes Aeorspace and Science Center at the Sheboygan Armory may
see a future (private) rocket launch facility built, I read.