Landing on Ice

[ShyFlyGuy]

So I want to land my 152 on a frozen lake. I've breezed through the FAR's and I can't find anything stating whether it is or is not legal to land an aircraft on a frozen lake. I know they do it in Minnesota and Canada (among other places) but I'd like to see it in writing before heading out to plow a runway on the ice. I'll put up a sign so the fishermen don't set up on the improved surface.

Thanks!

Shy

 

[GRAAB HIRBOUBI]

So I want to land my 152 on a frozen lake. I've breezed through the FAR's and I can't find anything stating whether it is or is not legal to land an aircraft on a frozen lake. I know they do it in Minnesota and Canada (among other places) but I'd like to see it in writing before heading out to plow a runway on the ice. I'll put up a sign so the fishermen don't set up on the improved surface.

Thanks!

Shy

You know it's funny you bring this up. I flew with an aviation attorney in his Ercoupe and we did exactly that. But we didn't need any runway we just did touch and goes on a number of lakes in the Metro area. Course it was pretty snowless. If you had ski's you could go anywhere.

Now this issue is - What may be legal in the FAR's may not be covered by Insurance. Break something and you're hosed.

Another guy I know used to land his Champ on sand beaches and bars on the rivers and stuff around here too. I say have fun just don't break anything. Night

 

[crj567]

Yep-

I would read the insurance policy VERY carefully. I would bet there is an exclusion of some sort against this-(but, who cares as long as nothing happens?.)

I doubt the FAA would have any problem with it-unless anything happens. I don't know of any specific FAR this could violate. Just remember-your brakes will do no good, and you have no constant-speed prop, so you may slip and slide for a while. Just shut her down once you land, and you should be fine.

-Cheers!

 

[Lynxman]

And this is in the regional section because?

 

[DenverCrashpad]

Might be worth looking into Seaplane regulations. Some states don't allow operations on lakes with floats but that may only be due to invasive species being transfered from lake to lake on floats. Not sure about skis or wheels on frozen lakes.

 

[N813CA]

you can land on roads in a lot of states. Why not lakes... I would never do it though. Risk to high for me.

 

[dbert]

How did they get their flaps to work?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QocqjS5Mjik

 

[ShyFlyGuy]

And this is in the regional section because?

I'm a "retired" Captain from the regionals and this particular section of FI has the greatest concentration of know-it-all's. Besides, the knowledge I gain from this experiment could benefit anyone flying in the northeast this winter.

Shy

 

[Roger Dat]

http://www.backcountrypilot.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=4784&start=0

 

[DrewBlows]

States have their own regulations when it comes to landing on lakes, check out your State's regulations online. The last issue of AOPAPilot has a good article about an ice airport in New Hampshire.

 

[Northern Lights]

Check with local and state regulations to avoid trouble.

These guys landed on an urban lake in Minneapolis.

http://wcco.com/local/lake.calhoun.airplanes.2.1418745.html

p.s., what are you doing now that you are "retired"? Last I remember you were on the Saab at Colgan.

 

[Erlanger]

So I want to land my 152 on a frozen lake. I've breezed through the FAR's and I can't find anything stating whether it is or is not legal to land an aircraft on a frozen lake. I know they do it in Minnesota and Canada (among other places) but I'd like to see it in writing before heading out to plow a runway on the ice. I'll put up a sign so the fishermen don't set up on the improved surface.

Thanks!

Shy

You're probably fine until you break through the ice and then the FAA will come after you.

 

[jonjuan]

So I want to land my 152 on a frozen lake. I've breezed through the FAR's and I can't find anything stating whether it is or is not legal to land an aircraft on a frozen lake. I know they do it in Minnesota and Canada (among other places) but I'd like to see it in writing before heading out to plow a runway on the ice. I'll put up a sign so the fishermen don't set up on the improved surface.

Thanks!

Shy

No different than landing on a moving treadmill....

 

[GravityHater]

They don't do it everywhere in MN, be sure to know all the local ordinances (basically impossible). This one cost 1000$ per landing:
http://wcco.com/local/lake.calhoun.airplanes.2.1418745.html

 

[CGHercster]

Pilots Land On Lake Calhoun, Grab A Bite To Eat

Reporting
Esme Murphy
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) ―

Click to enlarge 1 of 1
Ordinance PB 2.31 states that airplanes are prohibited on park property. (File) Brian A. Williams

Close

numSlides of totalImages



Related Links

• Read The Latest Minnesota News

Two airplanes landed safely on Lake Calhoun, however such a landing is a violation of the Park and Recreation Department's ordinance.

Just after noon Monday, two small, older-model planes landed on the north end of the lake. The pilots hopped out and later told people they wanted to get a hamburger at the lakeside restaurant Burger Jones.

When they returned they were greeted by Minneapolis Park Police, who told the pilots it was against the law to land on a city lake. Ordinance PB 2.31 states that airplanes are prohibited on park property.

Police identified the pilots as Michael Doherty of Le Sueur, Minn. and Hans Meyer of Burnsville, Minn. The men told police they were prepared to take off immediately.

"Pretty much the direction the planes are down to the far end of the lake, and we'll turn around, we'll do a run-up, we'll check our engine systems and then we're going to just take off straight into the wind," said one man.

One of the aircrafts is described as a Champion 7FC fixed wing single-engine airplane. The plane is registered under Ascension Flyers, Inc. of Stillwater. The other was described as an Aeronca 7AC, which was registered to an address in Le Sueur.

The pilots received citations for the illegal landing and the Federal Aviation Administration was called. The FAA inspected the planes and the pilots' licenses to make sure they could take off.

Police said the fine associated with each ticket could be up to $1,000.

A passenger was not cited for the landing.

On other lakes outside of Minneapolis such as Lake Minnetonka, similar landings are legal and more common.

 

[Twisted Mind]

Or they can name a burger in your honor.

http://themouth.parasole.com/index.cfm

 

[buxflyr]

And this is in the regional section because?

Didnt you hear? Mesa is exiting bk with new utilization of their aircraft in frozen pond ops! Ice fisherman pay bottom dollar to get to those muskie lakes and mesa is happy to open a station starting meow!