Proposed Rule 5 changes: Includes replies from the CAA

[Heliport]

Do it TONIGHT!!

Deadline for the first round of consultation is tomorrow 17 January.
Remember you can e-mail.

eg If you favour the FAA rule and, in particular, the exemption for helicopters, why not send an email saying just that. It would only take a few minutes.

FAR Sec. 91.119 Minimum safe altitudes: General.

Except when necessary for takeoff or landing, no person may operate an aircraft below the following altitudes:
(a) Anywhere. An altitude allowing, if a power unit fails, an emergency landing without undue hazard to persons or property on the surface.
(b) Over congested areas. Over any congested area of a city, town, or settlement, or over any open air assembly of persons, an altitude of 1,000 feet above the highest obstacle within a horizontal radius of 2,000 feet of the aircraft.
(c) Over other than congested areas. An altitude of 500 feet above the surface, except over open water or sparsely populated areas. In those cases, the aircraft may not be operated closer than 500 feet to any person, vessel, vehicle, or structure.
(d) Helicopters.
Helicopters may be operated at less than the minimums prescribed ........... if the operation is conducted without hazard to persons or property on the surface. In addition, each person operating a helicopter shall comply with any routes or altitudes specifically prescribed for helicopters by the Administrator.

I realise the FAA treats qualified pilots as qualified adults capable of making decisions, and the chances of the CAA doing the same thing are pretty remote, but you may think it's worth at least trying!

I have no idea to what extent, if at all, this 'consultation' is genuine or just window-dressing. I suspect the latter, but nothing would please me more than being proved wrong.
I realise it's not very encouraging when the person collecting submissions has already said (in reply to 'Headsethair': "Unfortunately, America being a place with lots of wide open spaces, their low flying rules are not, generally speaking, detailed enough to suit the heavily populated countries of Europe."

Many people say there's no point in sending submissions because the CAA will always do what they want and aren't interested in what pilots actually out flying think. I can easily understand that reaction, and to a large extent agree it may well be accurate, but:

(1) we should still try

(2) the CAA is bound to trumpet the revised rule with claims that it's been done after extensive consultation with the industry, pilots etc etc

(3) once restrictions are imposed, they are rarely lifted.


Click here for main thread on this topic, and links to the CAA consultation doc.