Can I fly over the JHB CBD?

[Bumpy]

I will be collecting my new plane (JK-05) from Panorama in a few weeks time, and will be flying to some ware close to Centurion, before returning to Maputo. The direct route will take me over the JHB CBD…. Can I do this

Thanks in advance.

[Junkie]

NO

[KFA]

Hi Bumpy, come visit Komatipoort for some lekker boerekoffie.

[RV4ker (RIP)]

Agree with above. Check ATF. It should not be a problem. Route via Ponte (Stay west of the silver ball) then on to Santon City, check in with FAGC for routing overhead the field (easier than incurring Wrath of FALA with new TMA) 6500' OR 7500'.

[Thunderboy]

If you do have authority think about what plane it is it and how comfortable you will be flying over the CBD and wether you can handle an emergency if you over the CBD (remember you will be low and there is not much space to land, besides if you do you will be hijacked)

[lamercyfly]

Hi folk.

Herwith some sound advice on this flying over built up areas thing.

Firstly, the definition of built up area needs to be understood. On the Aviation Charts, all built up areas are coloured yellow, and called 'built-up'.

Other than that, I recall that in Geography, a town needed to have a church to classify as a town, and a city needed a cathedral. But that's just for interest sake. The aviation chart is the first choice.

Then some specific air law:-

1. CAR 91.06.32 (1) MINIMUM HEIGHTS Except when necessary for taking off or landing, or except with prior written approval of the Commissioner, no aircraft -
(a) shall be flown over built-up areas or over an open-air assembly of persons at a height less than 1000 feet above the highest obstacle, within a radius of 2000 feet ofrom the aircraft;

(b) and (c) not applicable to the post..........

Further to the above, microlights still fall under the NTCA category and are still governed by the LS/1 document, which states quite clearly that microlights are not allowed to overfly built up areas.

When the new laws actually are written in correctly, which then supersede the LS/1 document, this overflight of built up areas by microlights becomes a grey area. I have not found this exclusion in the new laws.

And yes, some Authority to fly documents do state overflight prohibited, while other do not state this exclusion.

But the governing document (LS/1) overides what is stated on the Authority to Fly document, and that states very clearly that overflight is verboten

However, in the event of an emergency, or in the interest of safety, deviation from any law is however permitted CAR 91.02.06 (1) (a) and (b) - I am not goint to quote it here. If you are interested in the actual wording, check it out in the little red condensed South African Air Law for Private Pilots book on page 24.

Hope this clears up the debate concerning the legal aspect.

Common sense is however an entirely different aspect, and what is clearly a dangerous flight path to one pilot may be entirely overlooked by another pilot..........

Demon, please maybe post this answer under a new thread so that all members of this forum have this answer

Later,