FAA planning expanded “visits” to airports to monitor activity & make ramp checks….

                                                            Feb. 13, 2008

 

To:  Rosamond Skypark Board:

From:  Dolores Mathews

 

The e-mail quoted below was received today from a Whiteman-based pilot who attended an FAA seminar last night. It should be of interest to Skypark pilots as well as those in higher traffic areas.

This indicates a new emphasis by the FAA on enforcement of the FARs.  Even though we may feel we are exempt from enforcement because of where we are, it doesn't hurt to remind our pilots, since we do have considerable activity with low fly-bys and a neighborhood of nonaviation  people around the Skypark who could conceivably file complaints, bringing the FAA's attention to this airport. Here is the pilot's e-mail:

"Went to an excellent seminar on FARs last night presented by David Volker of the VNY FSDO. He mentioned how they are now required to go out, visit airports, monitor activity, and conduct random ramp checks. He said that we can now expect to see a lot more of the inspectors.

"He asked the group to get the word out about the next area of enforcement, low and often high speed passes over the runway followed by an abrupt pull-up. The FSDO’s hope is that, by getting the word out, that there will be fewer enforcement actions necessary and we’ll avoid a potential stall/spin accident. These low passes, although approved by the tower, violate two FARs.

"FAR 91.19: Except when necessary for takeoff or landing, no person may operate an aircraft below the following altitudes:

(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.

"By asking for a low pass you’ve clearly indicated that you intend to go below 1,000’ AGL and not land.

"FAR 91.303: For the purposes of this section, aerobatic flight means an intentional maneuver involving an abrupt change in an aircraft's attitude, an abnormal attitude, or abnormal acceleration, not necessary for normal flight.

"The high speed over the runway and the abrupt pull-up at the end fit this definition of aerobatic flight.

"You can’t get around this by receiving landing clearance or asking for 'the option' and then going around because you’ll be expected to transition from the descent to climb without flying level over the length of the runway."