Minimum altitude in the UK

[EcamSurprise]

Hi,

In the UK, what is the minimum altitude for helicopter flight please, both over congested areas and remote objects / persons.

Do helicopters have an exception to the usual rules?
Do you have a reference?

Thanks.

[handysnaks]

The minimum altitude is always ground level, especially at both ends of most flights.

[WASALOADIE]

EU Regulation 923/2012
Incorporated into the UK Air Navigation Order (CAA Docs CAP393)

General Exemption E 3940 Standardised European Rules of the Air – Permissions Required by the Standardised European Rules of the Air for Certain Flight Operations
1) The Civil Aviation Authority, on behalf of the United Kingdom, pursuant to Article 14(4) of Regulation (EC) No. 216/2008, exempts any operator or pilot of an aircraft referred to in Annex 1 to this Exemption (‘Annex 1’) from the requirement to have a permission issued by the competent authority pursuant to SERA. 3105, SERA.5001, SERA.5005 and SERA.5015 whilst flying in United Kingdom airspace in the circumstances and for the flight operations mentioned in Annex 1, subject to the condition set out in paragraph 2.
2) The condition specified in paragraph 1 is that the operator and pilot must comply with any conditions which would otherwise be required under such a permission if it had been granted by the competent authority, as referred to, and specified, in Annex 1.
3) In this exemption ‘SERA’ means Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No. 923/2012 (‘the Standardised European Rules of the Air’ (SERA)).
4) This exemption has effect from 00:01 hours on 4 December 2014 until 23:59 hours on 9 December 2014, unless previously revoked.
Annex 1 Part A Exceptions to the Minimum Height Requirements
1) General (SERA.5005(f)(2))
a) The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) permits, under paragraphs SERA.3105 and SERA.5005(f), an aircraft to fly at a height of less than 150 metres (500 feet) above the highest obstacle within a radius of 150 metres (500 feet) from the aircraft, subject to the condition set out in subparagraph (b).
b) The aircraft must not be flown closer than 150 metres (500 feet) to any person, vessel, vehicle or structure except with the permission of the CAA.
2) Landing and Taking Off The Civil Aviation Authority permits, under paragraphs SERA.3105, SERA.5005(f) and SERA.5015(b), an aircraft to fly below the heights specified in SERA.5005(f) and SERA.5015(b) if it is flying in accordance with normal aviation practices and:
a) practising approaches to land at or checking navigational aids or procedures at a Government or licensed aerodrome;
b) practising forced landings if it is not flown closer than 150 metres (500 feet) to any person, vessel, vehicle or structure;
or
c) flying in accordance with a notified procedure or when specifically authorised by the CAA in accordance with SERA.5015(b)

[Thomas coupling]

IAW SERA 5005(f): not within 500' of persons vehicles vessels structures. Over congested areas - such that you can alight safely in the event of total power failure avoiding the congested area but a minimum of 1000'.

[Self loading bear]

At EHLE (Lelystad airport Netherlands)
You can safely practise hovering at -12ft AMSL

Cheers SLB

[chopjock]

In the UK, what is the minimum altitude for helicopter flight please,

Surely you mean height? not altitude.

[Camp Freddie]

Surely you mean height? not altitude.

I dont think he does

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Altitude#Aviation

he wants to know how close he can fly to the ground, that is "absolute altitude"

height refers a QFE or an airfield datum, so it tells you the height above that datum but not what is directly below you.

[ShyTorque]

Strange though, I've flown many aircraft which have Radar Altimeters (giving radar altitude) fitted with voice audio warnings. None of them ever say "CHECK ALTITUDE!"; they all say "CHECK HEIGHT!"

[Simtech]

Originally Posted by ShyTorque

None of them ever say "CHECK ALTITUDE!"; they all say "CHECK HEIGHT!"

Ah yes, AVAD..."Beep biddley beep - check height!"

[Camp Freddie]

i agree mr Torque,

i wonder why the the "radar altimeter" which says "radar altitude" on it, doesn't say "radar absolute altitude", as that could be confused with "radar indicated altitude" or other versions of "altitude"

[chopjock]

CF

I dont think he does

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Altitude#Aviation

he wants to know how close he can fly to the ground, that is "absolute altitude"

height refers a QFE or an airfield datum, so it tells you the height above that datum but not what is directly below you.

All my SERA low flying permissions refer to "height above the ground", nowhere does it refer to "absolute altitude".

[Camp Freddie]

All my SERA low flying permissions refer to "height above the ground", nowhere does it refer to "absolute altitude".

I would argue that while they say that the terminology is misleading as height is clearly above a specified datum not the distance directly below you

[chopjock]

I would argue that while they say that the terminology is misleading as height is clearly above a specified datum not the distance directly below you

Except the CAA do specify the datum as the ground!

[Sir Korsky]

we have a 76 that yells ' attitude altitude ' at you when we're taxiing in.

[Camp Freddie]

in SERA it says

‘height’ means the vertical distance of a level, a point or an object considered as a point, measured from a specified datum;

[[email protected]]

he wants to know how close he can fly to the ground, that is "absolute altitude"

Never heard or used the term 'absolute altitude' in 30 plus years of flying.

in SERA it says ‘height’ means the vertical distance of a level, a point or an object considered as a point, measured from a specified datum

And that specified datum would be the ground or the sea.

ATC use height and altitude (as well as flight levels) and whilst height is used when operating on QFE, it is to give you your vertical distance above your landing datum ie the ground at the airfield.

All UK mil pilots operate at low level using height (measured with a rad alt) which is agl or asl.

[EcamSurprise]

Hi everyone,

Thanks very much for the useful replies.

I paxed recently in a heli who maintained a minimum altitude of 500ft (on the local QNH) but the Rad Alt was showing down to 200ft over certain points which included property / persons, hence my interest.

Have a good'un

[EESDL]

Oooooohhhhh

Off to put the kettle on..............interesting