Minimum altitude

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The minimum altitude ( English lowest safe altitude or minimum safe altitude ) is the minimum altitude above ground that aircraft must maintain in flight. It serves for flight safety , the protection of people on the ground and noise protection by reducing aircraft noise . It is not to be confused with the maximum elevation figure ( English minimum sector altitude ) MSA, defined by the ICAO z. B. can be found in departure maps of airfields and also not with the decision altitude and minimum descent altitude .

European Union

The SERA ( Standardized European Rules of the Air ) specifies the minimum flight altitude for the European Union in SERA.5005 letter f . It is part of the regulations for visual flight . The minimum flight altitude is an absolute value that may only be undercut during take-offs and landings.

Flights Minimum altitude
over cities, other densely populated areas, and outdoor gatherings 300 m (1000  ft ) above the highest obstacle within 600 m
all other cases 150 m (500 ft) above the ground or 150 m (500 ft) above the highest obstruction within a 150 m (500 ft) circle around the aircraft

Minimum height

A flight under instrument flight rules must be carried out at a height of at least 300 m (1000 ft) above the highest obstacle within a radius of 8 km, except for take-offs and landings. Over high terrain or in mountainous areas, an altitude of at least 600 m (2000 ft) above the highest obstacle within a radius of 8 km (SERA.5015) applies. SERA uses the term minimum height for this .

Germany

The implementation of the regulations of the EU and the European Agency for Aviation Safety regarding minimum flight altitude is specified in § 37 of the Aviation Ordinance (LuftVO) , the term safety minimum altitude is officially used. The deviation from the minimum flight altitude can be approved by the responsible aviation authority. For gliders , hang-gliders and paragliders , for which it is necessary due to the design, the minimum flight height may not be exceeded.

In Germany, minimum flight altitudes only apply to civil aircraft. Military aircraft are generally allowed to deviate from the general rules of aviation if this is “necessary to fulfill their special tasks”. ( Section 30 of the Aviation Act (LuftVG) ). Of low-level flights will ft in military aircraft from an altitude of less than 1,500 ft and talked helicopter less 500th After the Military Aeronautical Information Publication Germany ( English MIL AIP Germany ) must ft in the excellent low altitude areas to 500 and flown ft in low altitude areas 250-250. Military helicopters are not subject to a minimum altitude in the low-altitude areas

The term `` minimum altitude '' used in Germany was an altitude of 2000 ft above ground, which was prescribed in Germany for noise protection reasons, which under certain circumstances - if the weather or airspace structure does not allow otherwise - could be undercut. It applied to motorized aircraft on cross-country flights according to visual flight rules until the introduction of the SERA . The rule was abolished in 2015.

United States

In the USA , the Federal Aviation Administration rules apply . In the Federal Aviation Regulations , this is called the minimum safe altitude (MSA). In principle, it should be dimensioned in such a way as to enable a safe landing without endangering people or property if the engine fails. Furthermore:

  • Over populated areas and crowds, an altitude of 1,000 ft above the highest obstacle with 2,000 ft horizontal distance
  • Over other areas an altitude of 500 ft above ground. Above water and sparsely populated areas also lower but no approach to people, vehicles or structures below 500 ft.

There are further exceptions for helicopters and weight-controlled aircraft. In the vicinity of noise sensitive areas such as wildlife sanctuaries or national parks , the minimum recommended altitude is 2,000 ft.

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ ICAO PANS-OPS / 1 - Section 5, Chapter 2, §2.3
  2. ↑ a b Implementing Regulation (EU) No. 923/2012 - Establishing common air traffic rules and operating rules for air traffic control services and procedures (SERA)
  3. ^ Bundeswehr - Center for Air Operations A 3 IIIc (ed.): Military Aviation Handbook Germany . ENR 1.15 low-level flight. February 12, 2019 ( milais.org [accessed April 16, 2020]).
  4. ↑ § 6 LuVo in the version from 1999 (no longer valid)
  5. ↑ Code of Federal Regulations Title 14 CFR §91.119. In: Electronic Code of Federal Regulations. Retrieved April 16, 2020 .
  6. ↑ Federal Aviation Administration (Ed.): Visual Flight Rules (VFR) Flight Near Noise-Sensitive Areas . Advisior Circular 91-36D. December 17, 2004 (English, faa.gov [accessed April 16, 2020]).