Have You Seen the Helicopter Flying Over the DC Protestors? FAA Guide to Low Flying Aircraft

FAA’s Flight Standards District Offices (FSDO)

“Except when necessary for takeoff or landing, no person may operate an aircraft below the following altitudes:

“(a) Anywhere – An altitude allowing, if a power unit fails, an emergency landing without undue hazard to persons or property on the surface.

“(b) Over congested areas – Over any congested area of a city, town, or settlement, or over any open-air assembly of persons, an altitude of 1,000 feet above the highest obstacle within a horizontal radius of 2,000 feet of the aircraft.

“(c) Over other than congested areas – An altitude of 500 feet above the surface except over open water or sparsely populated areas. In that case, the aircraft may not be operated closer than 500 feet to any person, vessel, vehicle, or structure.

A helicopter seen hovering low over a crowd of demonstrators in Washington, D.C. on June 1, 2020. (Photo: Twitter Screengrab via Zolan Kanno-Youngs)

“(d) Helicopters – Helicopters may be operated at less than the minimums prescribed In paragraph (b) or (c) of this section if the operation is conducted without hazard to persons or property on the surface. In addition, each person operating a helicopter shall comply with routes or altitudes specifically prescribed for helicopters by the Administrator.

“Helicopter operations may be conducted below the minimum altitudes set for fixed-wing aircraft.

“The reason: they have unique operating characteristics, the most important of which is their ability to execute pinpoint emergency landings during power-out emergencies. Furthermore, the helicopter’s increased use by law enforcement and emergency medical service agencies requires added flexibility. For more information, or to report a low-flying aircraft, please contact your local FSDO.”