So, what's the deal with landing on a VERY unused highway in New Mexico. My parents' house is right off this highway and their dirt driveway is a little hazardous for the aircraft I am flying. Is there any County, State, or Federal law I should take into account? I can land and get off the highway ten minutes before another vehicle passes by. Just wondering the legality of such things.

Joshua

Not being a smart ass here, but if you have to ask maybe you shouldn't do it. I appreciate that you are looking for an OK from someone or somebody, nothing wrong with that, but look at it this way: when a tree falls in the forest and there is no one there to hear it, does it make any noise? See where I'm going here?

If that doesn't help you decide, just call local law enforcement and the Staties, ask them, I'm sure they'll have a more definitive answer for you.

I considered what you are saying but was just thinking that someone would have experience on this subject already. I am good at asking if things are alright that really are okay anyway.

Not sure in NM, but in North Dakota it is up to local authorities. I do it quite often, and nobody seems to care.

Fly over the highway look for traffic when you've got plenty of safe room, land, taxi up the road to the house or as close as you can. Be done with it. We wont tell. I've done that before it's like not getting caught with your hand in the cookie jar. Taking off is a little different unless you can see both directions down the road it takes a little more vigilance.

Yep, local authorities is the best bet for your definitive answer. If you talk to someone, make sure you get his name as all are not on the same page.

mountainmatt wrote:Yep, local authorities is the best bet for your definitive answer. If you talk to someone, make sure you get his name as all are not on the same page.

Matt just tell him to do it have him sign a release of liability first

When I asked permission to land on a dirt road in Idaho I called the local police station and talked to the Sherriff. When I told him what I wanted to do I clarified that I would have somone ensure traffic was stopped at both ends for the landing and takeoff. When I told him that he was much more receptive and I was actually given permission. It was pretty cool!

piperpainter wrote:When I asked permission to land on a dirt road in Idaho I called the local police station and talked to the Sherriff. When I told him what I wanted to do I clarified that I would have somone ensure traffic was stopped at both ends for the landing and takeoff. When I told him that he was much more receptive and I was actually given permission. It was pretty cool!

Same here in Oregon it is up to the CO. Sherrif

The authority lies with the agency, either local or state with investigative/enforcement authority. In California, it is listed in the Public Utilities Code and any county road falls under the California Highway Patrol. Good luck in obtaining permission from a non aviator patrol officer. I know it has been done on interstate 5 after fuel exhaustion incidents, but usually only in really rural area and rare instances.

Anyone know about Washington State? I have heard it is up to the Sheriff here too, and have heard mixed things about the same area (Douglas County, Grant County, Ferry County)
I talked to a guy who says he has landed his Cub all over the farm roads, and does it all day long on some days. I also heard of a pilot who had (or at least though he had) and emergency and landed on a back road, and then was told he had to have the plane hauled off on a truck even though it was deemed perfectly safe to fly.

I am thinking that if I stick to the little dirt roads, I will be fine legaly. I'm not quite "there" yet with my landings, but hope to be soon.

D.

A number of years ago, we were tow-launching our hang gliders, using a remote county road here in rural Lassen County, CA.
We had about five gliders set up in a nice open field next to the road we'd been using as our LZ, when the nice CHP Officer stopped by... (first car besides ours we'd seen in awhile.)
"Where'd you guys fly from?" he asks. All my buddies look at me, the owner of the tow-rig trailer. "Well" sez I, "we launch 'em from the back of that trailer."
"No S#&t!!!" he says. "This, I gotta see!"
So, he grabs his video camera and, after a quick radio call to HQ, hops in the back of the pickup for a great view of me waving to his camera as I blast off from the tow rig, towline dragging me up to about 1,500; AGL.
He was stoked when I landed, and shook hands all around.
"Okay, be careful!" he said with a wave goodbye.
Not all of those guys are against us!
Don't try this in the City, tho...

I heard of farmers here in Grant Co WA who landed and took off from gravel 'very rural' Co roads checking crops/crews/etc.. Someone was telling me it was completely legitimate, but I had moved here from SoCal ( & CHP attitude) and had some doubts as to how casual they might be depending on the specific officer involved. So I called the SO and asked the day duty officer (Sgt?). He indicated he could find a ticket book full of equipment violations (no turn signals, brake lights, horn, over width, etc) so I should be feeling pretty 'wealthy' if I wanted to try it.......
Probably depends also on who you are and who you know locally-besides which officer shows up/you ask.

Wealthy, I am not, so I dismissed that idea.
lc

Rhymes

I agree completely, but common sense doesn't seem to be prevalent much these days.

land on an Idaho road...heaven forbid!...not that i would or have or could of course, but i still remember heading to the big lost river in the stinson/callair early evenings...landing and taxi off into the weeds and fish till dark...dad was cool that way...! spent many a day bouncing around in those 2 old birds...chasing bigger fish and such, as well as dropping into the frank many times on upper and mid loon...think it is called the Falconberry...and simplots down below back then...

Oh and lets not all forget one very important thing..... If you do it , DON"T POST IT HERE, if you don't want anyone to turn you in.....

emergency landings are a legitimate use of a public road

Something to keep in mind about highway landings:

Back when I was a kayaker I would fly to West Virginia a fair amount and always kept I-77 close by in case of an emergency.

While driving this one time, my wife was driving and I sat back counted the wire crossings (a group of wires was counted as one crossing). On that 150 miles of interstate there were enough wire crossings to average about every 4500 feet (less then every mile or average airport).

iceman wrote:Oh and lets not all forget one very important thing..... If you do it , DON"T POST IT HERE, if you don't want anyone to turn you in.....

No worries. If it is illegal I am not doing it. That was the reason for the initial question. I got a misdemeanor a few years back for some photos I had online. I only need to learn that lesson once.

Joshua

Just don't do what this guy did