SCHEDULE 8RULES OF THE AIR

SECTION IIILOW FLYING RULE

Low flying prohibitions5

1

Subject to paragraph (2), an aircraft shall comply with the low flying prohibitions in paragraph (3) unless exempted by rule 6.

2

If an aircraft is flying in circumstances such that more than one of the low flying prohibitions applies, it shall fly at the greatest height required by any of the applicable prohibitions.

3

The low flying prohibitions are as follows—

a

Failure of power unit

An aircraft shall not be flown below such height as would enable it to make an emergency landing without causing danger to persons or property on the surface in the event of a power unit failure.

b

The 500 feet rule

Except with the permission in writing of the Governor, an aircraft shall not be flown closer than 500 feet to any person, vessel, vehicle or structure.

c

The 1,000 feet rule

Except with the written permission of the Governor, an aircraft flying over a congested area of a city town or settlement shall not fly below a height of 1,000 feet above the highest fixed obstacle within a horizontal radius of 600 metres of the aircraft.

d

The land clear rule

An aircraft flying over a congested area of a city, town or settlement shall not fly below such height as would permit the aircraft to land clear of the congested area in the event of a power unit failure.

e

Flying over open air assemblies

Except with the written permission of the Governor, an aircraft shall not fly over an organised open-air assembly of more than 1,000 persons below whichever is the higher of the following heights—

i

1,000 feet; or

ii

such height as would permit the aircraft to land clear of the assembly in the event of a power unit failure.

f

Landing and taking off near open air assemblies

An aircraft shall not land or take-off within 1,000 metres of an organised, open-air assembly of more than 1,000 persons except—

i

at an aerodrome, in accordance with procedures notified by the Governor; or

ii

at a landing site which is not an aerodrome, in accordance with procedures notified by the Governor and with the written permission of the organiser of the assembly.