PPC_Mike
Admin
Posts: 119
Join date: 2010-05-13
Location: Kennewick,WA
 | | Subject: minimum altitudes changed! Thu May 13, 2010 8:40 am | |
| Minimum Altitudes
If the operation is conducted without hazard to persons or property on the surface— a powered parachute (PPC) or weight-shift-control (WSC) aircraft in non congested areas may be operated at less than 500 feet from any person, vessel, vehicle, or structure. This was only for helicopters before but now PPC and WSC was added. Per new §91.119 Minimum safe altitudes. Mike  |
|
Ragwing Rider
Posts: 19
Join date: 2010-05-21
Location: Madras, Or
| | Subject: Re: minimum altitudes changed! Sat May 22, 2010 1:01 am | |
| Where did you find this Mike? I've searched the net & can't find it...
Lonnie |
|
PPC_Mike
Admin
Posts: 119
Join date: 2010-05-13
Location: Kennewick,WA
| | Subject: Re: minimum altitudes changed! Sat May 22, 2010 1:44 am | |
| | Ragwing Rider wrote: | Where did you find this Mike? I've searched the net & can't find it...
Lonnie |
Hi Lonnie
I first read about it here:
http://beasportpilot.com/tag/new-faa-rules-release/
Hope this helps
Mike |
|
Ragwing Rider
Posts: 19
Join date: 2010-05-21
Location: Madras, Or
| | Subject: Re: minimum altitudes changed! Sat May 22, 2010 2:51 am | |
| Forgive my ignorance. Does this apply to Part 103 pilots?
Thanks for the info Mike! |
|
PPC_Mike
Admin
Posts: 119
Join date: 2010-05-13
Location: Kennewick,WA
| | Subject: Re: minimum altitudes changed! Sat May 22, 2010 8:51 pm | |
| | Ragwing Rider wrote: | Forgive my ignorance. Does this apply to Part 103 pilots?
Thanks for the info Mike! |
Well the way I read the Part 103...No
Among the restrictions of FAA's FAR Part 103:
- Used only for sport and recreation
- Daylight operations only
- No operations over congested areas
- Used by a single occupant
- Maximum five gallons of fuel
- Yield right-of-way to all other aircraft
- Operation in controlled airspace and restricted areas requires prior
permission
the rules for ultralights are some what more vague....without much of the hard elevations and such
any other experts want to chime in here?
Mike  |
|
rdwill
Posts: 3
Join date: 2010-05-15
Location: Northern Virginia
| | Subject: Re: minimum altitudes changed! Sun May 23, 2010 4:54 am | |
| | PPC_Mike wrote: | | Ragwing Rider wrote: | Forgive my ignorance. Does this apply to Part 103 pilots?
Thanks for the info Mike! |
Well the way I read the Part 103...No
Among the restrictions of FAA's FAR Part 103:
- Used only for sport and recreation
- Daylight operations only
- No operations over congested areas
- Used by a single occupant
- Maximum five gallons of fuel
- Yield right-of-way to all other aircraft
- Operation in controlled airspace and restricted areas requires prior
permission
the rules for ultralights are some what more vague....without much of the hard elevations and such
any other experts want to chime in here?
Mike |
I know this may be a little long but I think it explains the question. And by no means I'm I a expert.
"Quite
often, I get asked the question whether or not ultralights are also subject to other FAR's (such as Part 91, VFR rules, etc.). This question comes
up a lot because in FAR Part 103, ultralights are defined a "vehicles" (not "aircraft"). Other regulations, including Part 91, talk about "aircraft".
Some people think this means that ultralights are exempt from any portion of this regulation, solely because of the words "aircraft" .vs. "vehicle".
When I train students, I make them very much aware of Part 91, and tell them that pertinent parts of this regulation should also be followed (even if
we're not required to), for safety reasons, if nothing else. (As an example, 91.159 - VFR Cruising altitudes).
Can you give me any guidance (or references) where I can get these terms>("vehicle" and "aircraft") clarified? Why did Part 103 call ultralights>"vehicles"? How would you answer the question of whether or not Part 103 ultralights are "exempt" from any other FAR?
Thanks in advance."
"Here is the response I received from the FAA:"
Date:
Tue, 05 Jan 1999 15:34:47 -0500
From:
"WebmasterAFS"
To:
Bob Comperini
Subject: Re: Regulation
Can you give me any guidance (or references) where I can get these terms ("vehicle" and "aircraft") clarified?
Sure. The term "aircraft is defined in FAR Part 1. It says, "Aircraft" means a device that is used or intended to be used for flight in the air. The term
"vehicle" and "ultralight" is not defined in FAR Part 1. One could interpret the definition of "aircraft" to also include ultralights since
they are indeed a device intended to be used for flight. But, in the preamble to the original FAR 103 (as published in the Federal Register on Sept. 2, 1982) we state that ultralights would not be considered aircraft for purposes of airworthiness certification and registration nor would their operators be subject to the same pilot certification and operational requirements as aircraft operators. FAR 103 does not require airman/aircraft certification or vehicle registration but, rather, is premised on the absolute minimum regulation necessary to ensure safety in the public interest. We used the word "vehicle" since the common meaning of the word is a device or structure for transporting persons or things. We purposely did not want the word aircraft used in the context of describing an ultralight.
Some people think this means that ultralights are exempt from any portion of this regulation, solely because of the words "aircraft" .vs. "vehicle". And
they're right. Ultralight operators are *NOT* subject to any regulation other than FAR Part 103. That regulation contains all the operational conditions and limitations necessary to ensure safety in the public interest. Part 91, as you point out, pertains to aircraft.n fact 91.1(a) specifically excludes ultralights. That section states:"(a) Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this section and Sec.91.703, this part prescribes rules governing the operation of aircraft (other than moored balloons, kites, unmanned rockets, and unmanned free
balloons, which are governed by part 101 of this chapter, and ultralight vehicles operated in accordance with part 103 of this chapter) within the United States, including the waters within 3 autical miles of the U.S. coast."
I don't disagree with you teaching ultralight operators about other FARs such as 91, 135, etc. Even though 103 is the only regulation that applies to them some basic knowledge of other regulations probably doesn't hurt.Ditto other FAA documents such as the AIM, etc.
Best Regards
Rick
Cremer, Aviation Safety Inspector (Ops and AWS)
rdwill
|
|
PPC_Mike
Admin
Posts: 119
Join date: 2010-05-13
Location: Kennewick,WA
| | Subject: Re: minimum altitudes changed! Sun May 23, 2010 10:15 am | |
| That clears it up for me... Thanks!  Mike |
|
Ragwing Rider
Posts: 19
Join date: 2010-05-21
Location: Madras, Or
| | Subject: Re: minimum altitudes changed! Sun May 23, 2010 10:42 am | |
| OK... I'm going to stir things up again! Mike, in your first post you state "in non congested areas may be operated at less than 500 feet from any person, vessel, vehicle, or structure" Part 103 states that I can't fly in congested areas & that I understand but your statement is dealing with "Non congested" areas. I was told by our local FBO that all of section 91 pertains to Part 103 pilots where it applies, but now I see according to Rick Cremer, Part 103 is the only thing that applies to me. Not trying to push the limits in any way, I'm most interested in flying or maybe I should say "driving" being I'm considered a "vehicle". SAFE! And yes, I also have read all of section 91 & try to abide by what I feel applies to me. But maybe I won't feel so bad now when I'm flying (driving)  in a non congested area closer then 500 feet from any person, vessel, vehicle, or structure! Thanks! Lonnie |
|
