01-03-2011, 08:45 AM
Just as an FYI, HATCPM only applies to air tours. It has no bearing on other aviation activity. Blue Hawaii and all the others can fly and hover over your house without violating HATCPM if they are engaged in any other activity permitted so long as it’s not an air tour.
Second thing, the FAA conducted a demonstration when the study program for restriction over Honolulu area was enacted and most people misjudged the height. During that demonstration, the majority of flights conducted between 500' to 900' were misidentified by average people on the ground as being under 500'. Over 1,000 feet was about even. It's not unusual for a helicopter above 500' to be thought as being much lower in altitude.
Second thing, the FAA conducted a demonstration when the study program for restriction over Honolulu area was enacted and most people misjudged the height. During that demonstration, the majority of flights conducted between 500' to 900' were misidentified by average people on the ground as being under 500'. Over 1,000 feet was about even. It's not unusual for a helicopter above 500' to be thought as being much lower in altitude.