I believe ADS-B is recorded as pressure altitude. Barometer is above 29.92 so
altitude appears lower on log.
Yes, it was a local pilot and some the altitudes we’re low.
Perhaps the airport should establish patterns to the west of the airport.
Sent from my iPad
On Jul 7, 2022, at 13:57, Ferdinand de Souza <upward@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
The airplane in question overflew my hangar several times this morning. It did
not seem to me to be unusually low.
I've just now reviewed ADS-B traces over the last several days for airplanes
whose flight paths I am familiar with, at Taos and Alamosa. There is a
consistent error in altitude reported, by 400-500 feet on the low side. This
bias is easily noticed by looking at the ADS-B trace for each downwind leg.
Just a FWIW, in case the powers that be rely on ADS-B records to prosecute the
complaints.
And for heaven's sake let's not get into noise abatement regulations. Taos just
ain't big enough, let's keep it that way.
On 7/7/22 1:28 PM, Kino Chavez wrote:
Taos Pilots,
Today (Thursday, 7 Jul 22) we had a pilot make multiple patterns to runway
13/31 on the east side of the runway well below pattern altitude. By flying the
pattern so low the pilot was, by the FARs, not in the pattern. This means the
pilot had to comply with the FAR minimum altitudes over a populated area (1,000
feet AGL) which the pilot did not do. As a result the Mayor's office and the
airport received numerous complaints. The plane was low enough to easily read
the tail number so the home owners have (I believe) called ABQ FSDO. We are
receiving regular noise complaints but in general the local pilots are playing
by the rules and I have been making that clear to the local residents that call
me. I am considering putting noise abatement procedures in place that affect
VFR arrivals, departures and patterns. Please be respectful to the local
population when you fly. Thank you.
Kino Chavez
TAOSAviation
P: 575-737-9790
E: kino.chavez@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx<mailto:kino.chavez@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
www.TAOSAviation.com<http://www.TAOSAviation.com>