CFI Pop Quiz #205 - Acrobatic

[Chris Burgess]

What is the minimum altitude and flight visibility required for acrobatic flight?

A) 1500 feet AGL and 5 miles.
B) 1500 feet AGL and 3 miles.
C) 3000 feet AGL and 3 miles.

Bonus: FAR number please and, what is acrobatic flight?

[gyromike]

§ 91.303 Aerobatic flight.
No person may operate an aircraft in aerobatic flight—

(a) Over any congested area of a city, town, or settlement;

(b) Over an open air assembly of persons;

(c) Within the lateral boundaries of the surface areas of Class B, Class C, Class D, or Class E airspace designated for an airport;

(d) Within 4 nautical miles of the center line of any Federal airway;

(e) Below an altitude of 1,500 feet above the surface; or

(f) When flight visibility is less than 3 statute miles.

For the purposes of this section, aerobatic flight means an intentional maneuver involving an abrupt change in an aircraft's attitude, an abnormal attitude, or abnormal acceleration, not necessary for normal flight.

[KenSandyEggo]

(a) Over any congested area of a city, town, or settlement;

(b) Over an open air assembly of persons;

(c) Within the lateral boundaries of the surface areas of Class B, Class C, Class D, or Class E airspace designated for an airport;

(e) Below an altitude of 1,500 feet above the surface


Someone should notify the Blue Angels. They violated the heck out of me at the Miramar Airshow.

[GyroRon]

Rumor I keep hearing is aerobatics are legal over a airport as long as you are above pattern altitude.....

[Chris Burgess]

"B" is the correct answer. At airshows, including PRA Mentone, the airspace is usually waivered and some operations that are otherwise illegal, are allowed under stipulated conditions. The pilots know this as they are required to read and sign the waiver. No rumors, just the facts. For the purposes of this section, aerobatic flight means an intentional maneuver involving an abrupt change in an aircraft's attitude, an abnormal attitude, or abnormal acceleration, not necessary for normal flight.