Defintion of Aircraft

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.

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)

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

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

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.

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

"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?e...06X01568&key=1

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

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".