"Reunite Gondwanaland (Mary Shafer)" wrote in
message ...
In general, the various exceptions to the FARs are mission related.
For example, the damned LACo Sheriff's helicopter that flies over my
neighborhood at 200 ft at Oh-Dark-Thirty is allowed to descend much
lower than the FARs allow because it's required to look for criminals
(and to awaken more sleeping citizens to let us know our sheriff is at
work).


The worst case I've heard of a government agency not following regulations
that civilian craft would have to follow was after a rotor strike between
the State Police medivac copter and the civilian one. The pilot flew the
unrepaired SP helicopter off the helipad (10+ stories up in an urban area).

The civilian medivac copter couldn't fly until appropriate inspections and
repairs were done.



--
Greg Moore
Ask me about lily, an RPI based CMC.