Section 2. Processing of Airport Proposals
By
Regional Airports Offices
11-2-1. PROPOSALS
Airport proposals received by any FAA office shall be
forwarded to the appropriate Airports Office for
initial processing and study.
NOTE-
Notification under part 157 is not required for projects on
Federally-assisted airports.
a. General. The Airports Office, after receipt of a
proposal, will check the information submitted for
correctness, clarity, completeness, and proper detail.
The Airports office will verify critical data or require
proponents to verify any data deemed critical. The
proponent may need to be contacted if insufficient
information is submitted or if significant errors
appear in the submission. The Airports Office shall
maintain a record by list, map, or other method so that
the status of new proposals may be easily correlated
with existing airports, airports under construction, or
other airport proposals.
b. Establishment of New Airports. Initial review
concerning the proposed construction of new airports
shall include but is not limited to the following:
1. Determining conformance of the proposal
with agency design criteria.
2. Identifying the objects that exceed the
obstruction criteria of part 77.
3. Anticipating the operational use of the
airport, including the number and type of
aeronautical operations and the number of based
aircraft.
4. Ascertaining whether the airport is for private
or public use.
5. Identifying runway and taxiway layout in
relation to compass rose data, existing or proposed
obstructions, or other airports.
6. Identifying known or anticipated controversial aspects of the proposal.
7. Identifying potential noise aspects.
8. Identifying possible conflict with airport
improvement and/or development or other agency
plans. The Airports Division, in the NRA proposal
processing, will identify all seaplane bases that may
be impacted by part 157 proposals or other
development on public use airports. If the airspace
study reveals that a seaplane base is adversely
impacted, the Airports Division will notify the
seaplane base owner of the NRA proposal and the
potential conflict.
9. Obtaining runway threshold coordinates and
elevations.
c. Alteration of Existing Airports - The nature and
magnitude of an existing airport alteration will
determine the extent of processing and analysis
required. Alteration, such as new runway construction, runway realignment projects, runway
extension; runway upgrading, change in status, such
as VFR to IFR use, and widening of runways or
taxiway/ramp areas normally require the same type of
processing and study as that required for new airport
construction proposals.
d. Deactivation and Abandonment of Airports:
1. Airport owners/sponsors are required to
notify the FAA concerning the deactivation,
discontinued use, or abandonment of an airport,
runway, landing strip, or associated taxiway. On
partial or specific runway deactivation proposals, a
description with a sketch or layout plan and the
anticipated operational changes should be forwarded
together with any other pertinent information needed
to update agency records.
2. When it is believed that an airport is
abandoned or unreported and appropriate notification
has not been received, the Airports Office, after
making a reasonable effort to obtain such notification, shall advise the air traffic office of the situation
by memorandum. The memorandum should contain
a statement that the airport is considered either
abandoned or unreported. Forward a copy of the
memorandum to the airport owner or sponsor, to AIM
and to the Airport Safety Data Branch, AAS-330.
e. Construction safety plans are received as
appropriate for Airport Improvement Program
requests for aid and the Airports Regional Capital
Improvement Program.
f. Other Airport Notices - Occasionally, an airport
owner/sponsor will make alterations or changes to
the airport without filling notice in accordance with
part 157. Generally, this information will be obtained
through the airport safety data program (FAA
Form 5010) and after-the-fact. From a legal
standpoint, this constitutes notice to the FAA and
appropriate action is necessary. The Airports Office
shall initiate a study of such information received in
the same manner as if the notice had been received
under part 157 requirements.
11-2-2. AIRPORT LAYOUT PLANS (ALP)
ALPs generally show the location, character,
dimensions, details of the airport, and the work to be
done. The extent of information needed for any
specific airport development will vary depending on
the scope and character of the project, plus the
anticipated role and category of the airport. Detailed
information on the development of ALPs is
contained in AC 150/5070-6, Airport Master Plans,
and AC 150/5300-13, Airport Design.
a. Non-Federally Assisted Airports. Airports
personnel will take into consideration an ALP or plan
on file in developing a determination with reference
to the safe and efficient use of airspace.
b. Federally Assisted Airports. Projects at Federally assisted airports require review based on
considerations relating to the safe and efficient
utilization of airspace, factors affecting the control of
air traffic, conformance with FAA design criteria, and
Federal grant assurances or conditions of a Federal
property conveyance. The product of this review is
derived from analysis of information supplied in the
ALP. A formal or tentative determination may be
given depending on the complexity of the proposal or
the timing of the request. The review and subsequent
determination shall be made as expeditiously as
possible to facilitate processing of the project request.
Normally a project is not placed under grant nor
Federal property conveyed until a favorable
determination is made and the ALP approved.
c. Extent of Review. A review is normally
required for all proposals involving new construction
or relocation of runways, taxiways, ramp areas,
holding or run-up apron projects, airport and runway
lighting and marking, fire and rescue building
locations, and other projects affecting, or potentially
affecting, the movement of aircraft. At all public-use
airports, projects which conform to a previously
approved non-objectionable airport layout plan for
the construction or resurfacing of existing airport
paving, site preparation work, or paving to overlie
existing unpaved landing strips may be omitted from
the normal review process. For an airport that has a
construction safety plan, the plan needs to undergo
the review process with appropriate FAA offices (see
AC 150/5370-2, Operational Safety On Airports
During Construction).
11-2-3. NON-PART 157 PROPOSED
CONSTRUCTION OR ALTERATION ON
NON-OBLIGATED PUBLIC-USE AIRPORTS
Sponsors/proponents of non-part 157 proposals for
construction or alteration on public-use airports are
required to file notice with the FAA in accordance
with part 77.13 (a)(5). The appropriate Airports
Office will process these proposals in accordance
with procedures established for part 157 proposals.
Generally, these proposals will be submitted on FAA
Form 7460-1 along with appropriate drawings and
necessary supporting documentation. The procedures contained in
Part 2. of this order are not
applicable to such proposals. However the information contained in
Part 2. may be helpful to
airports personnel in applying the obstructions
standards of Sections 77.23(a)(2), 77.23(a)(5), 77.25,
77.28, and 77.29.
11-2-4. FAA COORDINATION
Upon receipt of a part 157 proposal or a change to an
ALP, the appropriate Airports Office shall assign an
aeronautical study number, ensure that the proposal
is complete and correct, review the proposal from an
airport's planning viewpoint and the effect on airport
programs, enter the proposal into the OE/AAA
automation program, and forward a proposal package
with comments to the appropriate FAA offices (e.g.,
air traffic, Flight Procedures, Flight Standards, and
technical operations services offices) for processing.
Other organizations to consider in the review process
are (if applicable) the Airport Traffic Control Tower
(ATCT), System Management Office (SMO),
Security and Hazardous Materials Division, Military
representative and Airports Certification Branch.
Flight Standards or the Flight Standards District
Office (FSDO) will be sent all part 157 proposals for
seaplane bases and heliports depending on regional
preference. Comments will be provided either to the
originating Airports Office or to its respective
divisional offices depending on regional procedures.
Additional internal coordination shall be accomplished, as appropriate, by the responsible division
offices.
a. Part 157. Include a copy of the FAA Form
7480-1 and comments on the effect of existing or
proposed man-made objects on file with the FAA,
plus the effect of natural growth and terrain. Direct
particular attention to, and comment on object
proposals that would exceed the obstruction
standards of part 77. Also, comment if the review
indicated a potential noise problem and, if applicable,
the effect of the proposal on the safety of persons and
property on the ground. Also, enclose, as appropriate,
sketches and other data required for the aeronautical
study and determination. Include a plot of the
proposed runway alignments, associated taxiways or
seaplane alignments, and any obstructions on U.S.
Geological Survey quadrangle map or equivalent.
b. ALPs. Forward a copy of the ALP and include,
when appropriate, an analysis of and rationale for the
plan, as well as the various stages of construction, if
applicable. Include information on the location of
structures that may adversely affect the flight or
movement of aircraft, cause electromagnetic interference to NAVAIDs, communication facilities, or
derogate the line-of-sight visibility from a control
tower. Should review of the plan reveal a potential
noise problem, comment to this effect. Comment, as
applicable, on the proximity of urban congestion and
any potential problem related to the safety of persons
and property on the ground. If the layout plan is a
revision of one previously approved, summarize the
changes for which an airspace determination is
required. Also, include comments on objects that
would exceed the obstruction standards of part 77 and
any other Airports comments that may be
appropriate.
c. Federally Assisted Airport Proposals. Transmit
by letter a description of the work to be done in the
proposed project. If the project is in conformance
with an approved ALP, comment to this effect. If the
project is at variance with the ALP, comment
accordingly and forward a proposed revision to the
ALP or an appropriate programming sketch that
depicts the location and nature of the proposed work.
Also, in the latter event, or if it is a new proposal,
forward information on the appropriate items set
forth in subparagraph b. above.
d. Disposal or Conveyance of Federal Surplus or
Non Surplus Property. Process proposals by public
agencies to acquire property interest in land owned
and controlled by the United States for public airport
purposes as set forth in subparagraph
c.
NOTE-
Military representative notification - The military
representative may review all new landing area proposals
(airports/heliports/seaplane bases), all proposals that
have changes to existing landing areas, and all ALPs.
Normally, the notification will be through the OE/AAA
computer program, unless the military representative
requests a hard copy. The military will review proposals,
indicated by Airports for review, to determine impacts on
military training routes (MTR), MOAs, and restricted
areas.
11-2-5. NEGOTIATION WITH SPONSOR
a. During the course of a study, the Airports Office
may find it necessary to negotiate with the sponsor to
change a proposal. This may be due to a safety
problem, efficient use of the airport, etc. After
coordination by and agreement with the interested
FAA offices (e.g., air traffic, Flight Procedures,
Flight Standards, and technical operations services),
military representatives negotiate with the sponsor
for changes to the proposal as necessary. Advise
interested FAA offices of the results of the
negotiation.
b. When an airport proposal poses a problem with
respect to the safe and efficient use of airspace by
aircraft or with respect to the safety of persons and
property on the ground, negotiate with the sponsor to
revise the proposal, if feasible, so as to resolve the
problem. Should a case involve a proposal for a new
airport that would create problems not resolved by
revisions to the proposal, negotiate with the sponsor
for a relocation of the proposal to a new site to resolve
the problem.
11-2-6. CIRCULARIZATION
The Airports Office should circularize airport
proposals in accordance with nonrulemaking procedures as necessary to obtain comments from
aeronautical interests, municipal, county and state
groups, civic groups, military representatives, and
FAA facilities and offices on proposals located
within their areas of responsibility. All controversial
proposals and those that have a potential adverse
effect on the users of the airspace should be included
in the circularization process. However, do not
circularize a proposal that may compromise the
sponsor's position in land acquisition negotiations.
11-2-7. EVALUATE COMMENTS AND
AERONAUTICAL EFFECT
The Airports Office shall examine comments
received in response to coordination and evaluate
their validity as related to the safe and efficient use of
airspace and to the safety of persons or property on
the ground. If the Airports Office's determination
contains additional items and/or alterations of the
responses previously received from the other FAA
offices, request the appropriate air traffic, Flight
Procedures, Flight Standards, and technical operations services offices to assist in evaluating the
validity of the determination. The guidelines in
Chapter 12 will assist in evaluating the
aeronautical effect of airport proposals.
11-2-8. INFORMAL AIRSPACE MEETINGS
The appropriate Airports Office, with the assistance
of the air traffic office, may convene an informal
airspace meeting with interested parties as set forth in
Part 1. of this order. The informal airspace
meeting provides the opportunity to gather additional
facts relevant to the aeronautical effect of the
proposal, provides interested persons an opportunity
to discuss aeronautical objections to the proposal,
and provides the FAA with the opportunity to
negotiate a resolution to objectionable aspects of the
proposal.
11-2-9. ISSUE DETERMINATION
Upon completion of the airspace study, the Airports
Office shall develop and issue the FAA determination
by letter to the airport sponsor in accordance with the
guidelines in
Chapter 12. Disapprove the
request if a previous airport study determination was
objectionable and remains uncorrected, or if the
determination listed provisions that have not been
complied with by the airport owner or sponsor. The
FAA determination does not constitute a commitment to provide Federal financial assistance to
implement any development contained in the
proposal. Also, if the proposal is not objectionable
but would exceed part 77 obstruction standards,
notify the sponsor of what obstruction marking and
lighting would be required or recommended.
Additionally, advise the sponsor that a separate notice
will be required for any construction equipment, such
as temporary cranes, whose working limits would
exceed the height and lateral dimensions of the
proposed object.
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