Bandit Jumps and finding a pilot

[aerialfx 0]

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Hi all,

I've long had the idea of doing a bandit jump into a park (early morning of course) near my parents house in Philly.

While I don't have the demo license and probably won't be able to get permission from the authorities to do it, I do have confidence in my skills and believe I would have no problem landing in the large park (given good conditions and the right spot, of course).

My question is: Is it possible for a NOTAM to be filed without permission from the township for the park, and is it possible to do a bandit jump without the pilot being at great risk of a fine or revocation of privileges?

I realize that I would be facing penalties if caught doing this (though I don't think I would be spotted at 5:30-6am in the morning in that neighborhood), and I'm willing to confront the potential consequences. This is something I've dreamed of doing many times, and doing it would literally be a dream come true.

I have searched for "bandit jumps" and "demo jumps" and have posted a similar thread about a year ago, but have not found an answer to this specific question (and I'm sure this question might raise many others), which is why I'm posting.

Thanks.

Do it then...
G
www.aerialfx.co.za

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[azdiver 0]

didn't know that they were ruled under faa regs, knew it would be a long climb, but to launch one wouldn't a big field be alright, i see some launch from a field near me all the time. and with all the busy airports around me doesn't seem to stop them. they have to be getting 3 k.

light travels faster than sound, that's why some people appear to be bright until you hear them speak

[squirrel 0]

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Powered Paragliders/Ultralights that will hold two people require an instructor rating from the FAA since they weigh more then the weight limit for the Ultralight class allows. All pilots including Ultralight will be getting into the sport rating here in the next few years. Jumps from those ultralights are against FAA regs since the only people allowed to "ride" are students, they are not allowed to be flown for commercial operations.

Besides it takes forever to climb in one of those to more then 2000 feet and I'm not sure I'd be wanting to loiter in busy airspace like Philly at a few thousand feet with out a transponder and radio to talk to control.

i fly a trike, Solwings Aquilla, 15M wing, with Rotax 582 power plant. and will be getting n-numbered this year, due to the fact that it is a "fat ultralight" over the 254 lb max, and will be sport pilot rated. it will fall into the E-LSA catagory. the tirke climbs at 700 fpm with student pilot and instructor. 1100 fpm solo...crazy fast for what it is. once i am sport pilot rated, will i be able to legally let my wife jump, or vice versa? i currently fly in class G airspace, way out in the desert .whats your opinion?

no monies exchange hands, as in, no compensation...as stated under the sport pilot rules. and, we dont fly above the 10,000ft max. we have though about this, but will not even go beyound that until i have several hundred hours, ...i am now at 50+ hours, just a grasshoper.

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Where is Darwin when you need him?

[billvon 3,107]

> no monies exchange hands, as in, no compensation...

You'd have to add "cost sharing" to that as a minimum. I get the feeling that if anyone complained about it to the FAA, you would be the "test case."

[squirrel 0]

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> no monies exchange hands, as in, no compensation...

You'd have to add "cost sharing" to that as a minimum. I get the feeling that if anyone complained about it to the FAA, you would be the "test case."

to quote the the sport pilot limitations..."a sport pilot may not operate as pilot in comand of a LSA that is carrying a passenger or property for compensation/hire, for compensation or hire, or in furtherance of a business"

the only person that i would ever let jump is my wife(or me vice versa), and she is 50% owner of the aircraft, as well as a student pilot. this is not something we would do all the time, as in a oraganized operation. and i would file a notam, so far i dont see any rules against a partial owner, jumping from thier own LSA.

I have been told by a leading trike instructor that this would all be OK by the FAA. I just get alot of different opinions, so I keep wondering.

your thoughts?

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Where is Darwin when you need him?

[quade 4]

As the owner (partial or not) I think you -might- be right, but it's the opinion of the FAA that actually counts.

There are some things that I've never seen a legal interp on. This would be one of them.

The FARs surrounding skydiving are, in reality, fairly lax. It's the USPA's BSRs that most of us jump by because we jump at public drop zones.

I think if you look strictly at the FARs, you'll find that you could do quite a bit. For instance, I see absolutely no reason why, according to the FARs that you couldn't make your FIRST skydive at mid-night out of your own aircraft onto your own property as long as the rig was in date (not in your ultra-light, but a certificated aircraft).

I'm not sayin' it's smart, but you could legally do it.

Just remember this; not everything that is legal is safe and not everything that is safe is legal.

quade -
The World's Most Boring Skydiver