FAA Flight Instructor Airplane (FIA)Regulations (14 CFR 61/91)Medium
A pilot plans to fly over a sparsely populated area, not over open water, at a low altitude. According to 14 CFR 91.119(c), what is the minimum safe altitude requirement in this situation?
- AAn altitude allowing an emergency landing without undue hazard, with no specific numerical minimum
- B500 feet above the surface, except the aircraft may not be operated closer than 500 feet to any person, vessel, vehicle, or structure
- C1,000 feet above the highest obstacle within a horizontal radius of 2,000 feet of the aircraft
- D1,000 feet above the surface at all times, with no exceptions
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: B. 500 feet above the surface, except the aircraft may not be operated closer than 500 feet to any person, vessel, vehicle, or structure
14 CFR 91.119(c) governs areas other than congested areas: the aircraft must be operated at an altitude of 500 feet above the surface, except that over open water or sparsely populated areas it may not be operated closer than 500 feet to any person, vessel, vehicle, or structure.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. This describes the general 91.119(a) rule that applies everywhere but does not state the specific numeric minimum for this scenario.
- C. This 1,000 ft/2,000 ft rule applies to congested areas under 91.119(b), not sparsely populated areas.
- D. 1,000 feet AGL is not the standard minimum for sparsely populated areas.
Minimum Safe Altitudes (91.119)
14 CFR 91.119 sets altitude minimums varying by area type: general safety, congested areas, and other areas including sparsely populated/open water.
- (a) General: safe emergency landing capability everywhere
- (b) Congested areas: 1,000 ft above highest obstacle within 2,000 ft horizontal
- (c) Other areas: 500 ft above surface, or 500 ft from any person/vessel/vehicle/structure
Memory trick: '1,000 over crowds, 500 over the rest.'