Kite flying

I remember as a kid we used to make our own kites and fly them pretty
high. Several spools of heavy twine was used. I wish we had cordless
drills to use to wind them back in. I seem to remember it took forever
to get them down. Didn't know anything about FARs back then.

Ross

Jim Logajan wrote:

"Skylune" wrote:

I saw a few kids flying kites over the weekend. It occurred to me:
What if they were flying the kites real high in the vicinity of GA
airports? I don't think there are any laws about kite flying off
airport property.


There are laws that cover kite flying under certain conditions - airports
are in fact covered by the regs. Relevant regs are in FAR part 101
"Moored balloons, kites, unmanned rockets and unmanned free balloons".

Quotes from some specific sections (see the FAR for the entire section):

"§ 101.13 Operating limitations.
(a) Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this section, no person may
operate a moored balloon or kite—

(1) Less than 500 feet from the base of any cloud;

(2) More than 500 feet above the surface of the earth;

(3) From an area where the ground visibility is less than three miles; or

(4) Within five miles of the boundary of any airport.

(b) Paragraph (a) of this section does not apply to the operation of a
balloon or kite below the top of any structure and within 250 feet of it,
if that shielded operation does not obscure any lighting on the
structure."

§ 101.15 Notice requirements.
No person may operate an unshielded moored balloon or kite more than 150
feet above the surface of the earth unless, at least 24 hours before
beginning the operation, he gives the following information to the FAA
ATC facility that is nearest to the place of intended operation:

(a) The names and addresses of the owners and operators.

(b) The size of the balloon or the size and weight of the kite.

(c) The location of the operation.

(d) The height above the surface of the earth at which the balloon or
kite is to be operated.

(e) The date, time, and duration of the operation.

§ 101.17 Lighting and marking requirements.
(a) No person may operate a moored balloon or kite, between sunset and
sunrise unless the balloon or kite, and its mooring lines, are lighted so
as to give a visual warning equal to that required for obstructions to
air navigation in the FAA publication “Obstruction Marking and Lighting”.

(b) No person may operate a moored balloon or kite between sunrise and
sunset unless its mooring lines have colored pennants or streamers
attached at not more than 50 foot intervals beginning at 150 feet above
the surface of the earth and visible for at least one mile. "

We had Green Giant kites that we got by sending in vegetable can labels. We
used monofilament line. We had an old bicycle that we converted the back
wheel into a spool, so we could reel in the line. It sounds like that
wasn't legal either.

One question however. When you read the FARS, it talks about "moored
balloons or kite". One could argue that a typical kite that is hand held,
is not moored.

Mike Schumann

"Ross Richardson" wrote in message
...
I remember as a kid we used to make our own kites and fly them pretty high.
Several spools of heavy twine was used. I wish we had cordless drills to
use to wind them back in. I seem to remember it took forever to get them
down. Didn't know anything about FARs back then.

Ross

Jim Logajan wrote:

"Skylune" wrote:

I saw a few kids flying kites over the weekend. It occurred to me: What
if they were flying the kites real high in the vicinity of GA
airports? I don't think there are any laws about kite flying off
airport property.


There are laws that cover kite flying under certain conditions - airports
are in fact covered by the regs. Relevant regs are in FAR part 101
"Moored balloons, kites, unmanned rockets and unmanned free balloons".

Quotes from some specific sections (see the FAR for the entire section):

"§ 101.13 Operating limitations.
(a) Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this section, no person may
operate a moored balloon or kite—

(1) Less than 500 feet from the base of any cloud;

(2) More than 500 feet above the surface of the earth;

(3) From an area where the ground visibility is less than three miles; or

(4) Within five miles of the boundary of any airport.

(b) Paragraph (a) of this section does not apply to the operation of a
balloon or kite below the top of any structure and within 250 feet of it,
if that shielded operation does not obscure any lighting on the
structure."

§ 101.15 Notice requirements.
No person may operate an unshielded moored balloon or kite more than 150
feet above the surface of the earth unless, at least 24 hours before
beginning the operation, he gives the following information to the FAA
ATC facility that is nearest to the place of intended operation:

(a) The names and addresses of the owners and operators.

(b) The size of the balloon or the size and weight of the kite.

(c) The location of the operation.

(d) The height above the surface of the earth at which the balloon or
kite is to be operated.

(e) The date, time, and duration of the operation.

§ 101.17 Lighting and marking requirements.
(a) No person may operate a moored balloon or kite, between sunset and
sunrise unless the balloon or kite, and its mooring lines, are lighted so
as to give a visual warning equal to that required for obstructions to
air navigation in the FAA publication “Obstruction Marking and Lighting”.

(b) No person may operate a moored balloon or kite between sunrise and
sunset unless its mooring lines have colored pennants or streamers
attached at not more than 50 foot intervals beginning at 150 feet above
the surface of the earth and visible for at least one mile. "

"Mike Schumann" wrote

We had Green Giant kites that we got by sending in vegetable can labels.

Yep, that (Green Giant) and many box kites were my favorites. I don't
remember how many rolls of string I had up on those, but it was many. The
box kite had to have a lot of wind, but if there was too much, it would
break the string.
--
Jim in NC

LOL. So the kids I saw were in violation of the FARS!!! That is
hysterical. Kids flying kites should study the FARs. LOL. Perhaps the
kite fliers should include copies of the FARs with the kite.

On 2006-04-19, Skylune wrote:
LOL. So the kids I saw were in violation of the FARS!!! That is
hysterical.

Why is it hysterical?

Kids flying kites should study the FARs. LOL.

If you engage in any activity at any age, it behooves you (or your
guardian, in the case of kids) to at least have a passing awareness of
laws that may be governing you. Flying kites on 1000 foot strings on an
airport departure path is every bit as brain dead as letting your kids
ride their bikes on the wrong side of a main road.

--
Yes, the Reply-To email address is valid.
Oolite-Linux: an Elite tribute: http://oolite-linux.berlios.de

by Dylan Smith Apr 19, 2006 at 02:29 PM


On 2006-04-19, Skylune wrote:
LOL. So the kids I saw were in violation of the FARS!!! That is
hysterical.

Why is it hysterical?

Kids flying kites should study the FARs. LOL.

If you engage in any activity at any age, it behooves you (or your
guardian, in the case of kids) to at least have a passing awareness of
laws that may be governing you. Flying kites on 1000 foot strings on an
airport departure path is every bit as brain dead as letting your kids
ride their bikes on the wrong side of a main road



It is ludicrous because the rules say you cannot fly a kite within 5 miles
of the airport boundary, not simply off the departure and arrival ends of
the runway. 5 miles! LOL.
The kite manufacturers should have liability warnings on the kites. Who
on earth could know that?

I suppose there are rules against raising carrier pigeons near GA airports
also. If those stupid little new hover crafts become popular, I am sure
that the FAA will somehow limit their usage as well. What about small
model planes? Are these also restricted?

Damn, I'm starting to understand why the STN people say that GA airports
should be required to purchase all land in a 25 mile radius. ;-)

On 2006-04-19, Skylune wrote:
It is ludicrous because the rules say you cannot fly a kite within 5 miles
of the airport boundary, not simply off the departure and arrival ends of
the runway. 5 miles! LOL.

No it doesn't say that at all. I suggest you read 14 CFR 101.13 *in
full*. In particular paragraph (b). You most certainly CAN fly a kite
within 5 miles of an airfield boundary. Paragraph (b) lists the common
sense exceptions.

that the FAA will somehow limit their usage as well. What about small
model planes? Are these also restricted?

There are regulations on model planes, too, as far as the altitude they
can be flown at. They are, after all, in the air committing aviation, so
this is in the FAA's domain. Why do you think it's stupid, ludicrous or
somehow hysterical that kites and models (both potentially dangerous
objects) have some kind of regulations from the administration that
happens to regulate the airspace they fly in?

--
Yes, the Reply-To email address is valid.
Oolite-Linux: an Elite tribute: http://oolite-linux.berlios.de

"Skylune" wrote:
What about small model planes? Are these also restricted?

Oddly enough, I can find no regulations specifically mentioning RC planes.
The obvious regs, such as for ultralight vehicles, specifically state that
they are applicable only to manned vehicles.

Perhaps you or others could search the regulations and come up with the
relevant cites and post them here - I had no luck finding anything covering
unmanned aerial vehicles:
http://ecfr.gpoaccess.gov/cgi/t/text...4/14tab_02.tpl

Getting a little off topic here. I once saw a doctor and his child
flying a kite right in the easement path of power distribution lines. It
got to me so much that I had to stop and tell him how dangerous that
was. He said that he understood and had it under control. What some
people will do, even educated ones.

Ross
KSWI

Skylune wrote:

by Dylan Smith Apr 19, 2006 at 02:29 PM


On 2006-04-19, Skylune wrote:

LOL. So the kids I saw were in violation of the FARS!!! That is
hysterical.


Why is it hysterical?


Kids flying kites should study the FARs. LOL.


If you engage in any activity at any age, it behooves you (or your
guardian, in the case of kids) to at least have a passing awareness of
laws that may be governing you. Flying kites on 1000 foot strings on an
airport departure path is every bit as brain dead as letting your kids
ride their bikes on the wrong side of a main road



It is ludicrous because the rules say you cannot fly a kite within 5 miles
of the airport boundary, not simply off the departure and arrival ends of
the runway. 5 miles! LOL.
The kite manufacturers should have liability warnings on the kites. Who
on earth could know that?

I suppose there are rules against raising carrier pigeons near GA airports
also. If those stupid little new hover crafts become popular, I am sure
that the FAA will somehow limit their usage as well. What about small
model planes? Are these also restricted?

Damn, I'm starting to understand why the STN people say that GA airports
should be required to purchase all land in a 25 mile radius. ;-)

by Jim Logajan Apr 18, 2006 at 09:56 PM




There are laws that cover kite flying under certain conditions - airports

are in fact covered by the regs. Relevant regs are in FAR part 101
"Moored balloons, kites, unmanned rockets and unmanned free balloons".

Quotes from some specific sections (see the FAR for the entire section):

"§ 101.13 Operating limitations.
(a) Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this section, no person may
operate a moored balloon or kite—

(1) Less than 500 feet from the base of any cloud;

(2) More than 500 feet above the surface of the earth;

(3) From an area where the ground visibility is less than three miles; or

(4) Within five miles of the boundary of any airport.

(b) Paragraph (a) of this section does not apply to the operation of a
balloon or kite below the top of any structure and within 250 feet of it,

if that shielded operation does not obscure any lighting on the
structure."

§ 101.15 Notice requirements.
No person may operate an unshielded moored balloon or kite more than 150
feet above the surface of the earth unless, at least 24 hours before
beginning the operation, he gives the following information to the FAA
ATC facility that is nearest to the place of intended operation:

(a) The names and addresses of the owners and operators.

(b) The size of the balloon or the size and weight of the kite.

(c) The location of the operation.

(d) The height above the surface of the earth at which the balloon or
kite is to be operated.

(e) The date, time, and duration of the operation.

§ 101.17 Lighting and marking requirements.
(a) No person may operate a moored balloon or kite, between sunset and
sunrise unless the balloon or kite, and its mooring lines, are lighted so

as to give a visual warning equal to that required for obstructions to
air navigation in the FAA publication “Obstruction Marking and Lighting”.

(b) No person may operate a moored balloon or kite between sunrise and
sunset unless its mooring lines have colored pennants or streamers
attached at not more than 50 foot intervals beginning at 150 feet above
the surface of the earth and visible for at least one mile. "



It would seem to me that kite manufacturers are at risk of a lawsuit if
they don't post all these legal restrictions on their products. Doubtful
a collision with a kite would cause a crash, but it could present a
distraction for pilots that like to buzz low over the treetops.

I wonder if a collision with a kite is an FAA reportable incident. And,
would that then constitute sufficient proof of illegal low flying?