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03-18-2016 | 05:12 AM

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Badger Flyer

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Quote:

Originally Posted by MajorTomski

Badger Flyer there's a problem using absolutes. Several years ago I attended a STEM related model airplane race hosted by a nationally known university with a large, competent or so I thought, aviation department.

The lunchtime 'entertainment' was four full scale aircraft, 2 Cubs, a C-152 and an ultra light of some sort doing low passes down the MODEL runway at less than 50 feet and less than 200 feet from the HUGE line of spectators, and less than 100 feet from over 100 contestants. All this on a day when the winds were gusting to 27 knots

When I pointed out that I was a non-regulatory FAA employee and that I was shocked that the university aviation department could find four idiot pilot so pull off that stunt, the department chairman said 'everything is just fine.'

Then they were dumb enough to post incriminating pictures on the web the next day. Needless to say the local FSDO had a very long grounded chat with the department head and the four pilots.

Very often the show-off gene is stronger than the I'll be breaking the law and endangering people genes.

I would certainly agree that some people will break the rules, and I’ve seen it happen as well. I think the behavior you’re describing is quite clearly in violation of 91.119 and possibly 91.13, unless the organizers had obtained an airshow waiver (probably not?). Naturally the guilty parties are not going to own up to it, but that doesn’t mean that the FAA would not pursue an enforcement action if they become aware of the situation. Unfortunately they often become aware only after there has been a problem.

This is a very different situation than a pilot legally flying along over the open countryside at 500 feet, enjoying the view. There is nothing inherently irresponsible in doing so. In my area the landscape is dominated by farm fields and being able to land safely usually isn’t much of an issue. The main safety risks at 500 feet are birds, towers, crop dusters, and sometimes powered parachutes/ultralights.

On the other side, I’m curious to know how practical the 400 altitude limit is in real life? Is there a feeling that this limit is overly restrictive? Is it always complied with? Given the performance of some modern RC models I can imagine a reasonable case for expanding the limits, for example by raising the maximum altitude over designated flying fields that are marked on sectional charts.

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