CAA question on minimum height

[Hughie]

I fly a lot over a local nature reserve which is in a FL 85 / 25 zone about 10km from a UK international airport.

I see plenty of commercial airliners flying in towards the airport, according to my android app they are at around 3000' when they are nearby.

However the nature reserve attracts quite a lot of small aircraft such as helicopter (police/rescue/other) and light fixed wing.

When I fly I try to stick to 100M (i.e. below 400') and listen and watch all the time for other aircraft, but should these small aircraft be flying above a minimum height in any case ? Which CAA legal instrument defines this?

Thanks.

 

[IrishSights]

Generally 500' but there are exceptions. This document gives an overview of the Standardised European Rules of the Air. http://www.caa.co.uk/application.aspx?c ... il&id=6552

 

[Hughie]

Generally 500' but there are exceptions. This document gives an overview of the Standardised European Rules of the Air. http://www.caa.co.uk/application.aspx?c ... il&id=6552

Thank you IrishSights. It is dissapointing in that they can pretty much fly as low as they like in this case

 

[IrishSights]

For us it is 'see and avoid'

 

[Hughie]

For us it is 'see and avoid'

Absolutely.

The problem is that up until now I was concerned about other aircraft above or on the same level. I now learn that there is nothing stopping a small fixed wing coming up from beneath me

This makes my exit strategy plans interesting. CSC to the ground may not be an option.

EDIT: I have just returned from walking my dog over there and an air ambulance helicopter flew in from nowhere over my head, could not have been more than about 250 AGL. I could almost read his aircraft registration.
There is no way I can fly in this area. And there is no reason why he should be under 500'. He was simply having a jolly by the looks of it.