FAA Commercial Pilot Airplane (CAX)RegulationsMedium
A commercial pilot is asked to perform a flight that involves dropping objects from an aircraft. Under what conditions is dropping objects from an aircraft generally permitted under Part 91?
- AOnly if the objects are dropped over sparsely populated areas and without risk of injury or damage to persons or property.
- BOnly if the objects are biodegradable and dropped from at least 1,000 feet AGL.
- COnly if reasonable precautions are taken to avoid injury or damage to persons or property.
- DOnly if prior authorization is obtained from the local Air Traffic Control (ATC) facility.
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: C. Only if reasonable precautions are taken to avoid injury or damage to persons or property.
According to 14 CFR 91.15, no pilot in command of a civil aircraft may intentionally drop any object from an aircraft in flight if it creates a hazard to persons or property. However, this section also states that this does not prohibit the dropping of any object if reasonable precautions are taken to avoid injury or damage to persons or property.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. While sparsely populated areas are safer, the regulation focuses on 'reasonable precautions' and avoiding 'hazard', not exclusively on the type of area.
- B. Biodegradability and specific altitude are not the primary regulatory criteria for intentional dropping of objects under Part 91.
- D. ATC authorization is not the primary regulatory requirement for dropping objects under Part 91; the focus is on safety precautions.
Dropping Objects (Part 91)
Intentional dropping of objects from an aircraft is permitted under Part 91 if reasonable precautions are taken to avoid injury or damage to persons or property on the surface.
- Primary concern is avoiding hazard.
- Requires 'reasonable precautions'.
- Does not require specific airspace or prior ATC clearance for general operations.
Memory trick: Don't drop hazards, but prudent drops are fine.