Low Flying Aircraft Complaints

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is the government agency responsible for aviation 

safety. We welcome information from citizens that will enable us to take corrective measures 

including legal enforcement action against individuals violating Federal Aviation Regulations 

(FAR). It is FAA policy to investigate citizen complaints of low-flying aircraft operated in violation 

of the FAR, and that might endanger persons or property. 

To Whom Should You Complain?

Within FAA, the Office of Flight Standards monitors aircraft operations. Locally, Flight Standards 

inspectors work in a Flight Standards District Office (FSDO). See below for the office nearest you. 

If no FSDO is listed, call any FAA facility: they can give you this information. 

"The facts, Ma 'am, the facts!"

Before contacting the FSDO, remember that the FAA is a safety organization with legal 

enforcement responsibilities. So we will need facts before we conduct an investigation. To save 

time, please have this information ready when you call. And do keep your notes: we may request 

a written statement. Here is the type of information we need: 

Identification - Can you identify the aircraft? Was it military or civil? Was it a high-or low-wing 

aircraft? Did you record the registration number which appears on the fuselage? (On U.S. 

registered aircraft, that number will be preceded with a capital ''N.") 

Time and place - Exactly when did the incident(s) occur? Where did this happen? What direction 

was the aircraft flying? What was the color? 

Altitude - How high (low) was the aircraft flying? On what do you base your estimate? Was the 

aircraft level with or below the elevation of a prominent object such as a tower or building? Did 

you obtain photographs? Are there any witnesses who could confirm your estimate - do you have 

their names, addresses, telephone numbers? 

Supporting Evidence: Witnesses, Police, Photographs 

·Do you know of any other witnesses? The more the better. Do you have their names, 

addresses? They may be contacted. 

Are local police aware of the problem? While they have limited authority in aviation matters, 

police officers are considered ''trained observers" by the courts and their written statements or 

reports make excellent evidence should our enforcement action go to trial. 

If you took photographs, we need to know the lens used, and the height of any identifiable 

landmarks that appear. 

·What FAA Will Do

·Once we have the appropriate facts, an FAA aviation safety inspector from the local FSDO will 

attempt to identify the offending aircraft operator. We can do this in several ways. For example, 

we can check aircraft flight records with our air traffic control information and/or sightings from 

other observers, such as local law enforcement officers. 
We may need to trace and contact the registered aircraft owner, since the owner and operator 

may be two different people. 

·Do you want feedback?

·FAA welcomes assistance in identifying and prosecuting all violations of the Federal Aviation 

Regulations. Citizens complaining about low-flying aircraft will, upon request, be advised of the 

final results of the FAA investigation: be sure to give the FSDO your name, address and 

telephone numbers where you can be reached at home and at work. 

·If further information is required, please write: Community and Consumer Liaison Division, APA200, Federal Aviation Administration, Washington, D.C. 20591. During regular duty hours (7:30 

a.m. - 4:0O p.m., Eastern Time, Monday through Friday), telephone (202) 267-3481. 

This is the FAR

If you're interested, shown below is Title ·14, ·Code of Federal Regulations, Section 91.119 of the 

General Operating and Flight Rules which specifically prohibits low-flying aircraft. 

·91.119 Minimum safe altitudes; general

Except when necessary for takeoff or landing, no person may operate an aircraft below the 

following altitudes; 

(a) ·Anywhere. ·An altitude allowing, if a power unit fails, an emergency landing without undue 

hazard to persons or property on the surface. 

(b) ·Over congested areas. ·Over any congested area of a city, town, or settlement, or over any 

open air assembly of persons, an altitude of 1,000 feet above the highest obstacle within a 

horizontal radius of 2.000 feet of the aircraft. 

(c) ·Over other than congested areas. 

An altitude of 500 feet above the surface except over open water or sparsely populated areas. In 

that case, the aircraft may not be operated closer than 500 feet to any person, vessel, vehicle, or 

structure. 

(d) ·Helicopters. ·Helicopters may be operated at less than the minimums prescribed In paragraph 

(b) or (c) of this section if the operation is conducted without hazard to persons or property on the 

surface. In addition, each person operating a helicopter shall comply with routes or altitudes 

specifically prescribed for helicopters by the Administrator. 

·Helicopter operations may be conducted below the minimum altitudes set for fixed-wing aircraft. 

The reason? The helicopter's unique operating characteristics, the most important of which is its 

ability to execute pinpoint emergency landings during power failure. Further, the helicopter's 

increased use by law enforcement and emergency medical service agencies requires added 

flexibility in the application of many FAA provisions.