I just finished mailing off FAA Form 7460-1 Notice of Proposed Construction
or Alteration. So I am somewhat familiar with the process.
The local airport has decided to add a new 4000 foot runway and I am close
enough that I have to file the notice. The FAA Regional Office will evaluate
and get back to me within 30 days.
For those that are interested, the governing regulation for towers near
airports is
FAA Part 77. It can be found on the Web at :
http://www.faa.gov/avr/AFS/FARS/far-77.txt
There has been some debate as to what is a public airport. As a licensed
pilot,
I have always assume any airport that appears on the current airman's VFR
sectional map that is not marked private is an airport where I can land at
any time.
If it is marked private, I can usually call the owner and ask to land
there, and
if I have good enough reason - like looking at a airplane based on his
field - I
have been given permission. Therefore marked private strips would also
qualify.
So as a ham, my first check would be to got to the local airport and ask to
see a sectional (airspace map) and ask two questions:
1.Is this airport on the map and where is it?
2 How long are all the runways and which way do they point?
Well, that may be four questions but you get the idea.
If the airport is not on the map - then don't worry.
If the airport is on the airspace map then you really need to investigate
further.
The best way is to get a US Geological Survey 7.5 minute map of the area.
You can get them from the US Geological Survey in Boulder CO. Some states
have them available, and sometimes you can find them or leads to finding them
at biking or hiking stores. These provide land contours and accurate
geolocation
information. You will need this map, or a copy, to go with the Notice so
may as
well get it. It is also handy for running terrain analysis with your
antenna software.
Locate your tower and the elevation of the land at the base. Locate the
airport
and note its elevation, or better yet get the 'official' elevation from the
air space
map. Next measure the distance from your tower to the closet runway on the
map. Write everything down. You need to calculate a slope from the runway to
the top of your existing or proposed tower.
How long is the longest runway?
If the longest runway, and it doesn't have to be pointed in your direction,
is longer than 3200 feet then the top of your tower must less than
1 foot above the airport elevation for every 100 feet you are from the
edge/end of the closest runway. Please see Part 77 for exact definitions of
the
end and edges of runways. This extends out 10,000 feet.
If the longest runway is less than 3200 feet then you have 1 foot above the
airport elevation for every 50' away. This extends out 5,000 feet.
If you poke above the slope then you have to file a Form 7460-1.
You can get the form off the web in either .PDF or Word Perfect .Doc format.
at http://www.faa.gov/arp/ace/625.htm#part77. I would go with the .pdf.
Even if you poke above the slopes, you may not have to be lighted or marked
(orange and white paint job) depends on where you are. This is why you need
to read and understand Part 77. If you are off the end of a runway, it is
one thing.
If you are off the side of a runway and less than 150 feet above the
airport, then
you may still be OK.
BUT YOU STILL HAVE TO FILE THE FORM AND THE SUPPORTING
DOCUMENTATION IF YOU ARE HIGHER THAN THE REQUIRED SLOPE.
It is awfully hard to hide tower from an airplane and the fines for not
making the
required notification start at $1000 per day until the notice is filed
(civil penalty)
and $500 for a first offense (criminal penalty). This could severely dent
the ham
budget, and then the FCC would get involved concerning your lack of
compliance
with the FAA and things get ugly rather quickly.
Unfortunately, when someone extends a runway, you can have an existing tower
become non conforming and be forced, at your expense, to add lighting and
marking, or take it down. Depends on if there are other higher structures or
terrain in the area, and how far you stickup.
Best to check these things out very carefully.
de n0yvy steve
Steven H. Sawyers PE
ARRL Volunteer Consulting Engineer.
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