commercial low-flight safety

Some duck hunters want to hire me to overfly a network of ponds in Oregon so
that they can scout the hunting range ahead of the season, with the request
that they want to "get down low."

Based on the terrain and the shape of the ponds, it would be easy to set it
up like a basic closed-traffic pattern at 1,500 down to 500' AGL, and I'm
sure pilots in Alaska do that sort of thing in their sleep. (The hunters
are Alaska natives and used to chartering these sorts of flights, and I've
flown with one of them several times noncommercially so they know me and I
know them.)

I told them 500' is as low as I would commit, esp without first observing
for flying birds, tall trees, trigger-happy hunters and other possible
hazards. It's a photo mission and we're launching and returning to the
same field, so it's all legal. The terrain is a very wide, flat,
unpopulated valley floor which is not in a protected wildlife area. The
aircraft is a C-172.

My question is, how low would -you- go for this sort of flight assuming the
birds aren't around and there aren't of Cheneys on the banks looking for
something in the air to shoot at?

Thanks, everybody!

-c
(CP-ASEL-IA)

I would have offered an opinion but since you felt the need to make this a
political statement I won't bother.

"gatt" wrote in message
...

Some duck hunters want to hire me to overfly a network of ponds in Oregon
so that they can scout the hunting range ahead of the season, with the
request that they want to "get down low."

Based on the terrain and the shape of the ponds, it would be easy to set
it up like a basic closed-traffic pattern at 1,500 down to 500' AGL, and
I'm sure pilots in Alaska do that sort of thing in their sleep. (The
hunters are Alaska natives and used to chartering these sorts of flights,
and I've flown with one of them several times noncommercially so they know
me and I know them.)

I told them 500' is as low as I would commit, esp without first observing
for flying birds, tall trees, trigger-happy hunters and other possible
hazards. It's a photo mission and we're launching and returning to the
same field, so it's all legal. The terrain is a very wide, flat,
unpopulated valley floor which is not in a protected wildlife area. The
aircraft is a C-172.

My question is, how low would -you- go for this sort of flight assuming
the birds aren't around and there aren't of Cheneys on the banks looking
for something in the air to shoot at?

Thanks, everybody!

-c
(CP-ASEL-IA)

"John" wrote in message
news:u2pnj.33547$75.25569@trnddc05...

I would have offered an opinion but since you felt the need to make this a
political statement I won't bother.

Okay, thanks.

My question is, how low would -you- go for this sort of flight assuming
the birds aren't around and there aren't of Cheneys on the banks looking
for something in the air to shoot at?

Ah. Must be the Cheney joke. Sorry... I can't think of anybody else
recently whose inadvertently blasted a fellow bird hunter in the face, but
if you can think of one you're welcome to change the names around to suit
your political sensitivies.

Really, though, I'm sorry you thought a passing joke was a "political"
statement. I have neither endorsed nor condemned a party, candidate or VP,
so, whatever. Have a great week!

-c

gatt wrote:
I would have offered an opinion but since you felt the need to make this a
political statement I won't bother.


-c


He was going to say your plan sounds good and to be careful.

--
Message posted via http://www.aviationkb.com

I admit I'm a bit sensitive lately, it seems like so many of threads
degenerate into a political discussion.

To address the question posed: Is this flight to occur during hunting
season or is it before the season open? That would be a big question. You
would not want to be mistaken for a really big goose


"gatt" wrote in message
...

"John" wrote in message
news:u2pnj.33547$75.25569@trnddc05...

I would have offered an opinion but since you felt the need to make this a
political statement I won't bother.

Okay, thanks.

My question is, how low would -you- go for this sort of flight assuming
the birds aren't around and there aren't of Cheneys on the banks looking
for something in the air to shoot at?

Ah. Must be the Cheney joke. Sorry... I can't think of anybody else
recently whose inadvertently blasted a fellow bird hunter in the face, but
if you can think of one you're welcome to change the names around to suit
your political sensitivies.

Really, though, I'm sorry you thought a passing joke was a "political"
statement. I have neither endorsed nor condemned a party, candidate or
VP, so, whatever. Have a great week!

-c

On Mon, 28 Jan 2008 19:28:14 GMT, "John"
wrote in i1qnj.1407$e46.78@trnddc04:

I admit I'm a bit sensitive lately, it seems like so many of threads
degenerate into a political discussion.

It seems like there's a lot more emotional vitriol being expressed
among newsgroup participants too.

To address the question posed: Is this flight to occur during hunting
season or is it before the season open? That would be a big question. You
would not want to be mistaken for a really big goose

Apparently you failed to read the first sentence in the OP:

Some duck hunters want to hire me to overfly a network of ponds in
Oregon so that they can scout the hunting range ahead of the
season, ...

Larry Dighera wrote in
:

On Mon, 28 Jan 2008 19:28:14 GMT, "John"
wrote in i1qnj.1407$e46.78@trnddc04:

I admit I'm a bit sensitive lately, it seems like so many of threads
degenerate into a political discussion.

It seems like there's a lot more emotional vitriol being expressed
among newsgroup participants too.

You mean "at you"


You deserve it, that;s why.

Bertie

gatt wrote:
"John" wrote in message
news:u2pnj.33547$75.25569@trnddc05...

I would have offered an opinion but since you felt the need to make this a
political statement I won't bother.

Okay, thanks.

My question is, how low would -you- go for this sort of flight assuming
the birds aren't around and there aren't of Cheneys on the banks looking
for something in the air to shoot at?

Ah. Must be the Cheney joke. Sorry... I can't think of anybody else
recently whose inadvertently blasted a fellow bird hunter in the face, but
if you can think of one you're welcome to change the names around to suit
your political sensitivies.

Really, though, I'm sorry you thought a passing joke was a "political"
statement. I have neither endorsed nor condemned a party, candidate or VP,
so, whatever. Have a great week!

-c



If there are hunters down there they will shoot at you if you are flying
too low. Luckily they are hunting with steel shot so it probably won't
make it up to your alt.

Even if they don't shoot at you they can get your N# and many states
have laws against doing just about anything that could be construed as
harassing hunters.

gatt wrote:
"John" wrote in message
news:u2pnj.33547$75.25569@trnddc05...

I would have offered an opinion but since you felt the need to make this a
political statement I won't bother.

Okay, thanks.

My question is, how low would -you- go for this sort of flight assuming
the birds aren't around and there aren't of Cheneys on the banks looking
for something in the air to shoot at?

Ah. Must be the Cheney joke. Sorry... I can't think of anybody else
recently whose inadvertently blasted a fellow bird hunter in the face, but
if you can think of one you're welcome to change the names around to suit
your political sensitivies.

Really, though, I'm sorry you thought a passing joke was a "political"
statement. I have neither endorsed nor condemned a party, candidate or VP,
so, whatever. Have a great week!

-c


It's funny about Usenet. I read your post and noted the Cheney reference
and didn't take it to be political at all; simply a metaphor to add a
closing touch of humor. I do this myself all the time.


--
Dudley Henriques

Dudley Henriques wrote:

It's funny about Usenet. I read your post and noted the Cheney reference
and didn't take it to be political at all; simply a metaphor to add a
closing touch of humor. I do this myself all the time.



Hell, I like Cheney and given that he deer hunts at one of the ranches
in TX where I have hunted a time or two and will probably hunt again I
can tell you that I will be damn sure I know where his gun is pointing
if we are ever there at the same time.