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OT: Warning shots fired when Issaquah man parasails near Chelan Falls

44Brent

Regular Member
Joined
May 21, 2006
Messages
772
Location
Olympia, WA
CHELAN FALLS (AP) — The Douglas County sheriff’s office says a man fired warning shots at a parasail he felt was flying too low over his property.

Undersheriff Don Culp told The Wenatchee World the parasail was not hit Tuesday afternoon and the 36-year-old Issaquah man landed at a park in Chelan Falls and called the sheriff’s office.

The parasailer had taken off from Chelan Butte and ran into the anti-aircraft fire across the Columbia River from Chelan Falls.

The 66-year-old property owner told a deputy he did not intend to hit the parasail. He said he first yelled at the parasailer for trespassing by flying too low and fired two or three shots after verbal unpleasantries.

The case was referred to the county prosecutor.

http://blogs.seattletimes.com/today...hen-issaquah-man-parasails-near-chelan-falls/
 

shaun

Regular Member
Joined
Apr 30, 2013
Messages
56
Location
Fountain CO
Aye yie yie. If his airspace is encroached upon, this guy should invest in some SAM batteries.
 

badkarma

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Joined
Jun 27, 2011
Messages
333
Location
Duvall, Washington
What if... it wasn't a parasail but a SPD RC drone? Do you technically own the airspace above your property? I know I own my land but not the mineral rights. But I'm unsure about my "air space".
 

jfslicer

Regular Member
Joined
May 18, 2013
Messages
72
Location
Lake Stevens
What if... it wasn't a parasail but a SPD RC drone? Do you technically own the airspace above your property? I know I own my land but not the mineral rights. But I'm unsure about my "air space".

As a pilot I can tell you, you do not own the air space.
 

EMNofSeattle

Regular Member
Joined
Aug 7, 2012
Messages
3,670
Location
S. Kitsap, Washington state
What if... it wasn't a parasail but a SPD RC drone? Do you technically own the airspace above your property? I know I own my land but not the mineral rights. But I'm unsure about my "air space".

Well 49 USC 40103 has a clear and concise answer to this question

(a) Sovereignty and Public Right of Transit.—
(1) The United States Government has exclusive sovereignty of airspace of the United States.

(2) A citizen of the United States has a public right of transit through the navigable airspace. To further that right, the Secretary of Transportation shall consult with the Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board established under section 502 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 792) before prescribing a regulation or issuing an order or procedure that will have a significant impact on the accessibility of commercial airports or commercial air transportation for handicapped individuals.
 

notalawyer

Regular Member
Joined
Jun 19, 2012
Messages
1,061
Location
Florida
What if... it wasn't a parasail but a SPD RC drone? Do you technically own the airspace above your property? I know I own my land but not the mineral rights. But I'm unsure about my "air space".

Generally you have exclusive use of your airspace up to the point where you can legitimately & effectively use it.
 

jfslicer

Regular Member
Joined
May 18, 2013
Messages
72
Location
Lake Stevens
Generally you have exclusive use of your airspace up to the point where you can legitimately & effectively use it.

This seems false. There are several types of airspace... Class B, C, & D Airspace exists from the ground up to a varying height based on the class type. In class B airspace you need ATC clearance and direct vectors. Violation of their vectors has serious consequences. If you are in Class B airspace, the FAA owns you. For visual reference look here: http://macklow.com/airspace/airspace-chart-large.gif

However, since this most likely happened in Class G airspace, let's address that. Aircraft must fly 700' above ground level (agl). That said those are Aircraft regulations. And they seem to show you don't own your airspace.

According to this document, parachuters need to begin their landing and circling procedures at 2000' agl. That's twice the height small aircraft use when circling an airport. I've never skydived and don't know what the law is on that though.
 
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JoeSparky

Centurion
Joined
Jun 20, 2008
Messages
3,621
Location
Pleasant Grove, Utah, USA
This seems false. There are several types of airspace... Class B, C, & D Airspace exists from the ground up to a varying height based on the class type. In class B airspace you need ATC clearance and direct vectors. Violation of their vectors has serious consequences. If you are in Class B airspace, the FAA owns you. For visual reference look here: http://macklow.com/airspace/airspace-chart-large.gif

However, since this most likely happened in Class G airspace, let's address that. Aircraft must fly 700' above ground level (agl). That said those are Aircraft regulations. And they seem to show you don't own your airspace.

According to this document, parachuters need to begin their landing and circling procedures at 2000' agl. That's twice the height small aircraft use when circling an airport. I've never skydived and don't know what the law is on that though.

You have forgotten or at least not included Class E airspace also..... Basically, 500 feet from people or structures UNLESS taking off or landing!
 
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