On Fri, 23 Jun 2006 03:55:18 -0500, Chris W wrote in
X%Nmg.58007$9c6.31230@dukeread11:

The FAA accepts the Academy of Model Aeronautics definition of a recreational
model as weighing 55 lbs (dry, I think) and operating under 400' altitude
(a provision busted every day by all kinds of RC aircraft).

In an other post you stated the 400 ft AGL rule was only when you were
with in 3 miles of an airport.

I was wrong.

I heard it through the grapevine at my club, which operates
fairly close to Niagara Falls International Airport (IAG) and the Niagara
Falls Air Reserve Base, which is on the other side of the runways.

It's 4.7 miles by car from the entrance of IAG to the parking lot at
our field. As the crow flies, we might be right on the three-mile
boundary, depending on how the airport's air space is defined.

http://local.google.com/local?saddr=IAG+-+Niagara+Falls+Intl+Airport+%4043.099339,-78.945076&daddr=3900+Witmer+Rd,+Niagara+Falls,+NY+ 14305&f=d&hl=en&ie=UTF8&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=41.411029,67.324219&om=1

The same in a shorter format:

http://tinyurl.com/nudjs

We've heard that the radar operators at IAG can see some of the
larger models at our field on their screens. I don't know how credible
that report is. We had a couple of guys from the AF Reserve in our club,
and I think they knew some of the controllers.

Looking at the FAA documents, it seems that the 400' altitude is a universal
restriction and not just applicable to sites within three miles of airports.

We see lots of aircraft flying in and out of IAG. Fortunately, we're not
lined up with either runway and haven't yet had any difficulties seeing
and avoiding the full-scale traffic. Some helicopters come over the
field at a fairly low level from time to time and perhaps once a year
we might see a low-flying GA aircraft.

If we stuck to the 400' ceiling and full-scale pilots maintained 500'
AGL, there would be plenty of clearance. I don't know anyone in the
club who has an altimeter of any sort, let alone telemetry to transmit
the information back to the ground, so I'm just guessing about how
high our planes fly.

Marty