[BC] Proposed new tower regs.

[Mike McCarthy]

I have specific experience with a medical aircraft collision.  The vast
majority of impacts to structures is by rotary air craft.  Not fixed wing.
 There are the rare exceptions, but they're few and far between.  I think
the last fixed wing craft collision was in Texas or Goergia by a military
jet about 10 years ago.  And even then, it was well more than 1000ft. up.

AT present, minimum flying elvation for rotary wing craft is something
above 1000 ft.  Fixed wing is 3000 ft. in VFR conditions. That said,
aircraft can and will fly at whatever elevation will permit safe passage
with permission by the local controlling center. With approval of the
local terminal control tower or approach/departure control center, lower
elevations are permitted where necessary to safely navigate. MVFR and IFR
conditions are very different.  And the standards for military/high
performance aircraft is also a bit different.

After reading the meat of the NPRM, I have soem serious concerns about
many of the proposed changes. The commisssion is proposing whole scale
change in the rules when only some fine tuning is really necessary. Quite
frankly, the elimination of the quarterly inspection is a terrible idea.
PCIA is pushing this to save millions of dollars.  But at what cost to
flying public.

MM

> Airplanes are not the problem aircraft, it's helicopters that rely on
> those
> lights, especially medical evacuation helicopters.  Here in the Tampa
> area,
> we had a medical chopper fly into a radio tower a few years ago.
>
> Paul Smith
> W4KNX
> Sarasota, FL.
>
> Behalf Of Jerry Mathis
>
> I doubt seriously safety will suffer. As others have pointed out, if a
> plane
> is flying that low, they're in trouble already.
>
> --
> Jerry Mathis