Parachute Plane Flight is a City Violation

A man strapped to an engine and parachute glided above Clearwater Beach Sunday and has been spotted along other Pinellas County Beaches as well.

And while it looked pretty neat, it is a violation of Treasure Island and St. Pete Beach ordinance Section 18-28:

Except when an emergency exists, no airman shall operate an aircraft below the following altitudes:

(1) Generally. An altitude allowing an emergency landing without undue hazard to persons or property on the surface within the city limits.

(2) Congested areas. Over any congested area of the city, an altitude of 1,000 feet above the highest obstacle within a horizontal radius of 2,000 feet of the aircraft.

(3) Noncongested areas. An altitude of 500 feet above the surface, except over open water, or sparsely populated areas. In that case, the aircraft shall not be operated closer than 500 feet to any person, vessel, vehicle or structure.

As it can be seen in the video, the man is piloting the craft lower to the ground than accepted. 

The device, sometimes called a powered parachute or paraplane, is basically a seat with an engine on the back and a cage built around it. All of which is attached to a parachute.

The ordinance also forbids acrobatic flight over park property and landing or taking off in parks, beaches or water unless human life is endangered.