Up in the Air

Every once in a while, visitors at Hard Rock Park will hear a screaming noise overhead, and it won't be coming from the roller coasters.

The park is in the flight path of Myrtle Beach International Airport, and park officials had to take that into consideration when designing the park.

The Led Zeppelin - The Ride roller coaster, the signature white coaster that loops across the north side of the park, tops out at just 13 inches below what the Federal Aviation Administration would allow. That doesn't mean that if you're a foot taller than average, you risk getting a buzz cut from a Boeing 737, but it means that it's essentially as high as the agency considers safe.

The park had to apply to the FAA for a decision on whether their proposed structure interfered with airplanes. It's the same process other builders have to go through, whether they're working on a building, a cell phone tower or a ride.