In Reply to: Re: Re: Low Flights Presumed to Harm Marine Mammals posted by Chuck Tribolet on December 17, 2010 at 20:17:51:

Hi Chuck
I am a pilot, if you go to the San Francisco Sectional Chart, ( google it) you'll see that pilots are requested to stay a minimum above 2000' AGL while in the Farallones National Marine Sanct. Also in the Areonatical Information Manual section 4 7-4-6 it states "b. Pilots are requested to maintain a minimum altitude of 2,000 feet above the surface of the following: National Parks, Monuments, Seashores, Lakeshores, Recreation Areas and Scenic Riverways administered by the National Park Service, National Wildlife Refuges, Big Game Refuges, Game Ranges and Wildlife Ranges administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and Wilderness and Primitive areas administered by the U.S. Forest ServiceWhile this isn't a mandatory flight level restriction, most pilots do obide by this."
The following is from the Federal Aviation Regulations Part 91;

Sec. 91.119 — Minimum safe altitudes: General.
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.

Sec. 91.13 — Careless or reckless operation.
(a) Aircraft operations for the purpose of air navigation. No person may operate an aircraft in a careless or reckless manner so as to endanger the life or property of another.

(b) Aircraft operations other than for the purpose of air navigation. No person may operate an aircraft, other than for the purpose of air navigation, on any part of the surface of an airport used by aircraft for air commerce (including areas used by those aircraft for receiving or discharging persons or cargo), in a careless or reckless manner so as to endanger the life or property of another.

Flying is expensive, in training and for some renting aircraft not to mention ownership, to be stupid and get caught doing things that are unsafe like buzzing wildlife well... Hang em!

One day when they outlaw wetsuits and pee valves because it's offensive to animals don't come crying to me...

John