Nap of the Earth: Flying low
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Editorial disclaimer: These are my views and opinions alone. Operate at your own risk.
I recently watched a very popular YouTube video that illustrated the beauty of nap of the Earth flying. The pilot, flying a J-3, is very experienced and very familiar with the area he was flying. Link here: http://youtu.be/X_Kt_CxXxtA
I will go ahead and state for the record, and in spite of my safety-promotional-ways, that I am not opposed to this type of flying, but…
The problem we get into in this day-and-age of viral videos is that some might watch something like this and then immediately feel compelled to emulate it with no thought of the legalities, hazards, or physics involved. In the unlikely event that I produce a low flying video it will have disclaimers all over it so as not to encourage someone to take unnecessary risks.
There are thousands of aviation professionals that make their living flying low all day long so we know it can be done legally and safely.
But, and it’s a big BUT, these folks are trained to do this kind of flying and they generally aren’t carrying innocent bystanders or showing off. The latter two are what have gotten pilots into trouble.
They know the area they are operating so ground-based hazards can be avoided. This is one of the things that almost ended my career before it ever started (article here).
Also, the professionals aren’t down there buzzing friends or family (not legal – see FAR references below), so they avoid the whole stall-spin hazard that folks get into. By the way, the video I watched didn’t have any of that kind of flying, just low n’ slow in a J-3 Cub.
Finally, the professional understands the physics involved with staying out of box canyons or what to do in case of an engine failure.
I’m always amazed that many of the amateur videos show low flying over water. It is spectacular, but if the engine fails and you don’t have enough energy to get to land, it going to be a very bad day. If you are in a fixed gear aircraft you should expect to flip over as soon as the gear touches the water. The sudden stop will probably render you and your passenger unconscious and upside under water. Chances of survival are very low. In fact two people perished in a Cub leaving Oshkosh after ditching in Lake Winnebago with eyewitnesses watching it happen. The Cub wouldn’t have had a lot of energy hitting the water, but with no shoulder harness…well you can figure out the rest.
The regulation (14 CFR 91.119) is clear. 1000′ from person or property or 500′ from person or property in “non-congested” areas. What isn’t as clear is 14 CFR 91.13 Careless and Reckless. It is so broad that if you have an accident or hurt someone, you can expect that to be added to your list of condemnations. Also, each FAA guy or gal has their own interpretation, so you should go ahead and assume there will be some risk of regulatory entanglement if your low level sortie isn’t carefully scripted and executed (and even then you never know). Worst case someone gets hurt. Note this Stearman pilot in Wisconsin was charged with homicide after striking wires on a low level flight with a passenger – 2007 Aero-News Network article here.
My intent isn’t to say you can never fly below pattern altitude, nor do I want to scare anyone. My intent is to make sure you have considered all of the risks and how to mitigate them before you do something that you might regret, especially if you are carrying passengers.
Flying low is a polarizing subject, so let’s hear your opinions. Don’t worry, you won’t offend me.
Enjoy the view!
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That’s a great video, Brent and I’ve done my fair share of low flying ( when the risk was taken by me alone ) and in the right circumstances, its great fun ( if you give yourself options as you point out ). I think you’ve articulated a well balanced and objective overview here. Well done.
Thank you sir!
no thanks, I always maintain more than 1000′ above towns and anywhere else. You read too often where someone was flying low and ended up in trouble.
Glenn,
That’s a good plan.
Brent
Nice article, Brent. I think you’re exactly right about the way a skilled, experienced pilot mitigates his or her risks for this type of flying (cropdusting comes to mind). What’s scary to me, as you mention, is when YouTube imitators come into the picture. Do they have the ability to judge when they have fully managed their risks of flying at these thinner margins? In other words, do they know what they don’t know about the risks?
I am reminded of when my flight school lost a Piper Arrow. The certificated pilot who rented the aircraft was flying low into the sun and sliced the vertical stabilizer off when he passed through some power lines. A sad and wholly unnecessary accident.
Personally, I don’t fly lower than pattern altitude (unless I’m at an airport, obviously). But that’s my choice. I can still appreciate this video for what it is, even if I don’t choose to operate my aircraft that way.
Chris,
Thanks for the great words and your personal experience.
Brent
Hey Brent, had a chance to safely get down fairly low (100 feet) yesterday in a Stearman out in middle of no-where in central Florida. There where massive smooth cattle pastures in every direction and no obstructions for as far as the eyes could see so a safe engine out landing would have been no big deal. Wow! I will remember that flight for the rest of my life.
Dana,
That’s awesome! You know the Stearman in at the top of my Bucket list!
Brent
Endless Touch & Goes and Low Passes on my remote private grass strip in a Kolb Firestar is really exhilarating and satisfys that urge to fly low but yet doing it safely and legally.
Even in remote areas if you drop down low you must know your terrain like the back of your hand and avoid people & objects by a wide margin. With all the new and taller power line poles and the superabundance of new wind generators going up all around us almost weekly it’s risky business and is bad aviation PR !
But equally dangerous ,in my opinion, is that our smaller profile and slower speeds most sport planes travel at when flying at higher altitudes also makes us more vulnerable to midair risk.
Dennis,
Excellent point. You are certainly less likely to have a midair. Oh yeah, and I still want a Kolb!
Regards,
Brent
Is it safe? Depends on a lot of things. The engine could quit, but that’s pretty darn rare. More often are cases of people running into things (much like the Stearman pilot did). My comfort level would be determined by things like the weather conditions, the width of the water (is it a small river or a Great Lake?), and my direct experience and knowledge with the route.
One of my favorite late afternoon flying routes is to cruise down the Orange County coastline at a low (but legal) altitude. I know the area, the frequencies, and the hazards (mainly helicopter traffic). That doesn’t mean there’s NO risk, but helps mitigate some factors.
Ron,
I agreed. Too many variables to generalize. As you know, each op is different.
Regards,
Brent
It was sweet so definitely find a way to make it happen! First time I really had a sense of what old time barn storming must have felt like. The icing on the cake was after some low flying we popped smoke did a couple lazy eights over Fantasy of Flight (its a no acro zone) landed there and met Kermit Weeks!
Now I’m really jealous!
That was a thoroughly enjoyable video – but even as someone who flies a Cub regularly in our neck of the woods (Waynesville) it’s hard to imagine replicating it. Perhaps I just have too much of a survival instinct, but I worry far too much about an unseen power line or fence post.
Not that I wouldn’t love to spend days on end flying that low and slow, though…
Well said Steve!
Thanks for commenting!
Brent