rickair7777

Well that's what you would think...

But the FAA has a history of violating people, and the NTSB a history of upholding said violations, based on non-pilot complaints about "buzzing". I think they take the attitude that if you're annoying people, you're too low.

The FAA publishes guidelines to assist NIMBY's in making cases against "alleged" low-flying aircraft, and will assist complainers in building a case that will stick.

I know two people who were investigated, and the FSDO held that a violation had occurred. In both cases the training flight ops were conducted in a "routine" practice area, and were thrown out after the defendant's lawyer obtained radar records which showed takeoff, transit, maneuvers, RTB, and LDG with continuous radar coverage at legal altitudes. For some reason the FSDO didn't see a need to pull the tapes during their investigation...they just took the "word" (perjury) of a notorious local anti-aviation whiner.

Cubdriver

Rick's got the idea on this. If the public even thinks it's too low, the FAA applies some heat. Aerial surveys and drop zone work taught me to be wary of the suburbs. Drop zone pilots know this all too well, but they occasionally get pressured into off-field skydiver searches which is how I know about it. Recently the FBI learned something too- see this thread .

USMCFLYR

We were taught in the military that perception was key because some people often complained, or even made claims of damage against the govt, on some of the low level routes that we fly regularly.

In my current job we do some maneuvers that have us flying very low and/or near obstacles. A year ago I was flying certain maneuvers near KDAL/KADS which I was worried was going to have us on the 5 o'clock news!

Perception is powerful.

Cubdriver

If people knew how many hi-rez cameras were trained over their houses at 2,000 agl doing aerial surveys, I bet you would hear about it. Public perception is a major consideration in aviation. One of the wickets we had to get around in design school was public reaction to sound pressure levels- designs had to show they were not loud enough to bust adverse reaction standards. You would be impressed how much the government knows about this. A large amount of data was compiled on this in the 40s-60s before the NIMBY crowd became active.

savall

At first I was thinking the people were just blowing up the situation & the kid made a few passes to mess with his buddies, no big deal. But, after hearing he was kicked out of the school for disciplinary reasons, it is probably safe to say he is a moron and gets what he has coming. I'm not really sure they'll be able to pinpoint him on radar though if he was squawking 1200..?

gdpballin

The pilot has been arrested and charged with the 'crime'. I'm not withholding any information.

It is entertaining to me because the school is a private school with a lot of stuck up kids and agents who immediately turned into vision experts after this incident. Obviously he was in the wrong with what he did, but the reaction is hilarious in my eyes. I'm glad nothing serious happened with this though.

gdpballin

It was truly an act to disrupt the graduation and yes he was kicked out of the school earlier this year. He's a good kid but yes is also a complete moron. It apparently was 8+ passes.

gdpballin

What airplane were you in around the KADS area? Just curious, this is where I'm based at currently.

MiGBoy

Now dang it, I know that we were low & inverted, but it wasn't THAT bad! Speaking of which, did you hear we have a Pitts in the hanger now? Your due for some re-current.

USMCFLYR

The mighty pressurized, radar equipped, and air conditioned KING AIR!

I thought I might have heard something of a Pitts that you were *hoping* would show up!
The most important question to me - - - is there more room in the cockpit? I sent you an e-mail a few days ago. I'm coming down 17-21 Jun for MIDS out of KDAL.