ENR 1  General rules and procedures

ENR 1.1   General rules

The air traffic rules and procedures applicable to air traffic in Belize territory conform to Annexes 2 and 11 to the Convention on International Civil Aviation and to those portions of the Procedures for Air Navigation Services — Air Traffic Management applicable to aircraft and of the Regional Supplementary Procedures applicable to the CAR/SAM Region, except for the differences listed in GEN 1.7.
 
1.Minimum safe height
 
Aircraft shall not be flown below the minimum safe altitude except when necessary for take-off and landing. The minimum safe altitude is that one at which neither an unnecessary noise disturbance nor unnecessary hazards to persons and property in the event of an emergency landing are to be feared; however, over cities, over densely populated areas and assemblies of persons, this altitude shall be at least 2000 ft (600 m) above the highest obstacle within a radius of 600 m (2,000 ft), and elsewhere at least 500 ft (150 m) above ground or water. Gliders and balloons may be operated upon request, below a height of 500 ft (150 m) if necessary for the kind of operation and if danger to persons and property is not to be feared. Aircraft shall not be flown below bridges and similar constructions nor below overhead lines and antennae. For flights conducted for special purposes, the Department of Civil Aviation may grant exemptions.
 
2.Dropping of objects
 
The dropping or spraying of objects or other substances out of or from aircraft is prohibited. This does not apply to ballast in the form of water or fine sand, fuel, tow ropes, tow banners and similar objects if dropped or discharged at places where no danger to person or property exists.
 
The Department of Civil Aviation may grant exemptions to the interdiction if no danger to person or properties exists.
 
3.Acrobatic flying
 
Acrobatic flights are only permitted in Visual Meteorological Conditions (VMC) and with the explicit consent of the Department of Civil Aviation and all persons on board. Acrobatic flights are prohibited at heights of less than 1500 ft (450m) as well as over cities, other densely populated areas, assemblies of persons and airports. The Department of Civil Aviation may grant exemptions in individual cases. Acrobatic flights conducted in the vicinity of aerodromes without an ATS unit require special permission in addition to the air traffic control clearance.
 
4.Towing and advertising flights
 
Advertising flights with towed objects require permission from the Department of Civil Aviation. Permission shall be granted only if:
 
  1. The pilot holds the rating for towing;
  2. The aircraft is equipped with a calibrated barograph for recording altitudes during flight;
  3. During the proposed flight not more than three aircraft are flying in formation, in which case a distance of at least 60 m shall be maintained both between the towed object or the preceding aircraft and the following aircraft, as well as between the aircraft;
  4. The legal liability insurance also explicitly covers the towing of objects.
 
The above applies to the towing of objects for other then advertising purposes and subparagraph; b) does not apply to aerial work of rotorcraft. Towing of gliders also require approval from the Department of Civil Aviation.
 
For reasons of public safety or order and in particular for noise abatement, the Department of Civil Aviation may impose certain conditions such as assigning higher minimum safe altitudes/heights and imposing time limitation.
 
Advertising flights, where advertising e.g. throwing of leaflets, require permission from the Department of Civil Aviation. A flight for advertising with acoustical means is prohibited.
 
 
5.Times and units of measurement
 
Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) and the prescribed units of measurement shall be applied to flight operations.
 
The units of measurement to be used are published in Part 1- GEN, Section 2.
 
6.Airspace structure
 
For the performance of the flight information service and the alerting service, there is established a flight information region, which is published in, Section ENR 1.4.
 
7.Prohibited areas and flight restrictions
 
The Department of Civil Aviation establishes danger areas for the prevention of danger to public safety or order, especially for the safety of air traffic. The Prohibited and Danger Areas are published in ENR 5.1.1 and ENR 5.1.2. There are no restricted areas in Belize.
 
8.Cloud flights with gliders
 
Not applicable.
 
9.Take-offs and landings of aeroplanes, rotorcraft, airships, powered gliders, gliders and parachutists outside aerodromes admitted for them
 
A written approval must be received from the Department of Civil Aviation to conduct any take-off, landing of any airplane, rotorcraft, airships, power gliders and parachutes outside aerodromes permitted for them.
 
10.Ascents of balloons, kites, self-propelled flying models and flying bodies
 
The ascents of balloons, kites, self-propelled flying models, flying bodies including ultra-light aircraft are subject to a written approval by the Director of Civil Aviation - Department of Civil Aviation.