Today there was a Bell Jet Ranger flying low over the neighborhood. This wasn't just a flyover. He was really hauling that thing around. I would guess most of his yanking and banking was at least 45 degrees of bank. All this while only 100 feet or so above us.

So whats the deal? Do they not have to be 500 feet above sparsely populated and 1000 above congested (such as my neighborhood). If I pulled that crap in my Bo am am sure someone would have called the cops.

Short ans, can go below. 91.119

Best ans, 91.13

Thanks. I didn't realize they could fly that low. I guess I really don't mind it too much. I just wasn't crazy about the tight and steep figure 8s he was doing 100 foot over a residential neighborhood.

While yes he can go below the prescribed altitude. 91.119 (a) still applies.
And 91.119 (d) also says without hazard to persons or property. 100 feet over residential areas doing wifferdills does not meet this standard.

He was in the wrong. And I am sure the local FSDO would agree.

Now, Jet Rangers typically are operated under part 135, and would say most are as they are out of the price range of most guys that just buzz around in a helo. Many part 91 operators out there, but if it was a chartered for hire flight then....

135.203 (b) a helicopter may not be operated over a congested area except for takeoff and landing at less than 300 feet AGL.

Tail number and observations to the FSDO might curtail such excursions in the future. ???

I turned in one of our local news helicopters last year to the OKC FSDO after seeing him hover at 75-100 ft., over congested areas on three separate occasions, trying to get the "story". The FSDO did go have a talk with them about it, but asked that I take pictures next time showing the ground and the helicopter so that it could be used as proof.

A helicopter pilot (and DPE, CFI-H) I know was busted in SEA for hovering near one of the tall buildings in Seattle on a photo mission. The only thing the FAA was concerned about was the reg that requires a landing area in the event of an engine failure. He took the fed for a ride, put him in the exact same spot, and said, "That parking lot."

The fed looked, and said, "I can't allow that, it's full of people and cars!" My friend smiled and said, "Not on the Sunday I did the flight." The fed was happy, but then he asked about "What about today?" "My second choice was the closed overpass right behind us." Case closed.

I loved the time I had in the R-22. Took both my sons up and down I-5, right downtown, at 300' or so, tall buildings towering over us on both sides. Did a "Pinnacle Landing" on the third-tallest building in SEA. Well, it's a closed heliport, couldn't legally touch down, but almost. Then drifted, drifted slowly off the edge. What a thrill.

The allowances for helicopter operations at such altitudes in congested areas (open areas too) are intended to be specific to the needs of the mission.

Outside of that, it was no different than someone doing it in a Bonanza. If it were one of my guys, there would be a talk about the T-chart, how altitude and airspeed are your friend, etc, etc. Maybe even a 30 day suspension.

We'll have to agree to disagree. The fling-wing is an entirely different animal than a fixed wing, and the regulations recognize that. There is no mention of the "needs of the mission."

While you can get a permit to fly that low over built-up area for a specific job it is just poor airmanship to be doing it when you don't need to. It also makes us all look bad.

If it was only for 10-15 minutes, they were probably doing a photo shoot. And they will usually notify local Fsdo and area controller prior to departure from the airport.

A helicopter pilot (and DPE, CFI-H) I know was busted in SEA for hovering near one of the tall buildings in Seattle on a photo mission. The only thing the FAA was concerned about was the reg that requires a landing area in the event of an engine failure. He took the fed for a ride, put him in the exact same spot, and said, "That parking lot."

The fed looked, and said, "I can't allow that, it's full of people and cars!" My friend smiled and said, "Not on the Sunday I did the flight." The fed was happy, but then he asked about "What about today?" "My second choice was the closed overpass right behind us." Case closed.

I loved the time I had in the R-22. Took both my sons up and down I-5, right downtown, at 300' or so, tall buildings towering over us on both sides. Did a "Pinnacle Landing" on the third-tallest building in SEA. Well, it's a closed heliport, couldn't legally touch down, but almost. Then drifted, drifted slowly off the edge. What a thrill.

RPG

Sean, it wouldn't surprise me if it were the previous FBO owner from your airport... I know there's a JetRanger sitting in the hangar by his office in GRR, but I can't remember if he flies it or not..

Sounds a little heavy handed. There are times when you are in the shaded areas on the graphs for sure but a good pilot won't stay in those areas any longer than necessary. Prior to 911 I flew under the Golden Gate Bridge, as did the bay tours all day long.