by Tom Hamilton
Editor, Balloon Life
Between June 1995 and May 1996 Balloon Life published five articles that followed one case where a pilot was cited by the Federal Aviation Administration for flying to low over a city and landing in an inappropriate place. The case was heard by an Administrative Law Judge and then appealed by both parties to the National Transportation Safety Board.
The links below are to the five stories. In the final story, "Choose Your Landing Site Carefully," the NTSB clearly lays out its feeling about low flying and a balloon pilot's choice of a landing site.
This case study is presented to provide insight into the thinking by the NTSB. Pilot's may wish to consider these thoughts in their own flight planning, landing site selection, and to the thought process used by the FAA Adminstrator and field representatives.
This article looks at the original case, Adminstrator vs. Prior, as heard by the ALJ. The judge vacates most of the penalty sought by the FAA against the defendant. Minimum Safe Altitude Rewritten?, June 1995
Christine Kalakuka's editorial in her Freeflight column regarding the initial hearing in Adminstrator vs. Prior mentioned above. Who's Making The Rules?, February 1996
Introduction to a petition made to the FAA in 1996 requesting that the minimum altitude for balloons as contained in FAR 91.119 be lowered.How Low Can You Go?, May 1996
Why the FAA denied a petition to lower the minimum safe altitudes in 1991. Petition Denied, May 1996
The NTSB in its strongest wording to date reiterates its position on minimum safe altitudes and inappropriate landing sites.Choose Your Landing Site Carefully, May 1996