Minimum altitude over a built-up area
Minimum height or distance over people and obstacles (CAR 602.14(2)). Depends on aircraft type and location.
Built-up area or open-air assembly (602.14(2)(a)):
| Aircraft | Minimum height above highest obstacle | Obstacle within (horizontal) | Cite |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aeroplane | at least 1,000 ft, and high enough to land clear in an emergency | 2,000 ft | (a)(i) |
| Balloon | 500 ft | 500 ft | (a)(ii) |
| Any other aircraft (e.g. helicopter) | 1,000 ft | 500 ft | (a)(iii) |
Anywhere else (non-populous areas, open water, open country), 602.14(2)(b):
- Distance, not height: no closer than 500 ft to any person, vessel, vehicle, or structure.
Details:
- Obstacle: any fixed or mobile object on an area used for surface movement of aircraft, or that extends above a surface protecting aircraft in flight (TC AIM GEN, obstacle (OBST)).
- Deemed over it, even off to the side (CAR 602.12(1)): area counts as built-up or assembly if within this horizontal distance of the aircraft:
- Helicopter or balloon: 500 ft
- Any other aircraft: 2,000 ft
- Lower minima allowed (CAR 602.15):
- Only as low as the task needs, and without hazard.
- Purposes: 602.15(1)(a)-(f), the six public-service purposes of 602.96(5)(a)-(f) (see aerodrome-2000ft-rule).
- Operations authorized under Subpart 3 or CAR 702.22 may also go below height minima (602.15(2)(a)).
Trap: 500 ft is not the built-up minimum (it is the open-country distance and the balloon margin); 2,000 ft horizontal is a radius, not the vertical margin.
References
- CARs 602.12
- CARs 602.14
- CARs 602.15