Applicable Regs
Amazing what a high-speed internet connection and about 30 minutes can produce.... form your own opinion.
Personally, I think TRACON likes to bend situations to make life easy on themselves. I think they are reluctant to use the straight-in approach when landing 22L because it gives them less room for ORD or because it requires RNAV/GPS.
Sec. 121.657 Flight altitude rules.
(a) General. Notwithstanding Sec. 91.119 or any rule applicable
outside the United States, no person may operate an aircraft below the
minimums set forth in paragraphs (b) and (c) of this section, except
when necessary for takeoff or landing, or except when, after considering
the character of the terrain, the quality and quantity of meteorological
services, the navigational facilities available, and other flight
conditions, the Administrator prescribes other minimums for any route or
part of a route where he finds that the safe conduct of the flight
requires other altitudes....
(b) Day VFR operations. No certificate holder conducting domestic
operations may operate a passenger-carrying aircraft and no certificate
holder conducting flag or supplemental operations may operate any
aircraft under VFR during the day at an altitude less than 1,000 feet
above the surface or less than 1,000 feet from any mountain, hill, or
other obstruction to flight.
(c) Night VFR, IFR, and over-the-top operations. No person may
operate an aircraft under IFR including over-the- top or at night under
VFR at an altitude less than 1,000 feet above the
highest obstacle within a horizontal distance of five miles from the
center of the intended course, or, in designated mountainous areas, less
than 2,000 feet above the highest obstacle within a horizontal distance
of five miles from the center of the intended course.
Sec. 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 those cases,
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 any routes or altitudes
specifically prescribed for helicopters by the Administrator.
Sec. 91.130 Operations in Class C airspace.
(a) General. Unless otherwise authorized by ATC, each aircraft operation in
Class C airspace must be conducted in compliance with this section and Sec.
91.129.
Sec. 91.129 Operations in Class D airspace.
(e) Minimum Altitudes. When operating to an airport in Class D airspace,
each pilot of--
(1) A large or turbine-powered airplane shall, unless otherwise required
by the applicable distance from cloud criteria, enter the traffic pattern at
an altitude of at least 1,500 feet above the elevation of the airport and
maintain at least 1,500 feet until further descent is required for a safe
landing;
(2) A large or turbine-powered airplane approaching to land on a runway
served by an instrument landing system (ILS), if the airplane is ILS
equipped, shall fly that airplane at an altitude at or above the glide slope
between the outer marker (or point of interception of glide slope, if
compliance with the applicable distance from clouds criteria requires
interception closer in) and the middle marker; and
(3) An airplane approaching to land on a runway served by a visual
approach slope indicator shall maintain an altitude at or above the glide
slope until a lower altitude is necessary for safe landing.
Sec. 91.123 Compliance with ATC clearances and instructions.
(a) When an ATC clearance has been obtained, no pilot in command may
deviate from that clearance unless an amended clearance is obtained, an
emergency exists, or the deviation is in response to a traffic alert and
collision avoidance system resolution advisory. However, except in Class A
airspace, a pilot may cancel an IFR flight plan if the operation is being
conducted in VFR weather conditions. When a pilot is uncertain of an ATC
clearance, that pilot shall immediately request clarification from ATC.
(b) Except in an emergency, no person may operate an aircraft contrary to
an ATC instruction in an area in which air traffic control is exercised.
(c) Each pilot in command who, in an emergency...
!FDC 2/0199 FDC PART 1 OF 2 ..SPECIAL NOTICE..
FDC NOTAMS 2/9583 AND 1/3353 ARE CANCELLED.
FLIGHT RESTRICTIONS
EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.
PURSUANT TO 14 CFR SECTION 99.7, SPECIAL SECURITY INSTRUCTIONS, AND
14 CFR SECTION 91.139, EMERGENCY AIR TRAFFIC RULES. EFFECTIVE ONE
HOUR BEFORE THE SCHEDULED TIME OF THE EVENT, UNTIL ONE HOUR AFTER
THE END OF THE EVENT, ALL AIRCRAFT AND PARACHUTE OPERATIONS ARE
PROHIBITED WITHIN A THREE NAUTICAL MILE RADIUS/3,000 FEET AGL
AND BELOW OVER ANY STADIUM HAVING A SEATING CAPACITY OF 30,000 OR
MORE IN WHICH A MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL, NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE,
NCAA DIVISION ONE FOOTBALL, OR MAJOR MOTOR SPEEDWAY EVENT IS
OCCURING, UNLESS UNDER ATC CONTROL FOR ARRIVAL/DEPARTURE PROCEDURES
AT AN AIRPORT ADJACENT TO THE STADIUM. THIS RESTRICTION DOES NOT
APPLY TO DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE, LAW ENFORCEMENT, OR AEROMEDICAL
FLIGHT OPERATIONS THAT ARE IN CONTACT WITH ATC.
END PART 1 OF 2
