Chapter 11. Evaluating Aeronautical Effect

Section 3. Processing of Airport Proposals By ­Regional Flight Standards Offices

11-3-1. EFFECT ON SAFETY OF FLIGHT

The appropriate Flight Standards Office must perform a flight safety review of airport, heliport, and seaplane ­base proposals to determine whether aircraft operations can be conducted safely. This review will include an ­assessment of Visual Flight Rules (VFR) traffic patterns and a review of on airport proposals that affect ­Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) procedures. The Flight Standards Office will review any proposal with runways, ­taxiways, and/or ramp surfaces underlying threshold-siting surfaces and proposals for declared distance ­concepts. Upon completion of the review, the appropriate Flight Standards Office must submit its report to the ­responsible Airports Office. The report must state whether or not safe operations can be conducted or what ­conditions are needed to ensure safe operations. Information provided by Technical Operations Aviation System ­Standards may be used when conducting these reviews.

11-3-2. EFFECT ON SAFETY OF PERSONS AND PROPERTY ON THE GROUND

FAA Order 1000.1, Policy Statement of the FAA, states that the agency will pursue a regulatory policy that ­recognizes the primary right of the individual to accept personal risk. However, the agency balances this right ­against society's interest in the safety of the individual, and limits the individual's right to incur risk when the ­exercise of that right creates a risk for others. Therefore, airport aeronautical studies must consider, for example, ­the proposal's proximity to cities or towns, and its runway alignment with reference to heavily populated areas, ­schools, hospitals, sports stadiums, and shopping centers, etc.

11-3-3. ONSITE EVALUATIONS

  1. Heliports. For proposals to establish new heliports, Flight Standards Service (FS) will determine when to ­conduct an onsite evaluation using risk-based analysis. Proposed heliports to be located in congested areas, ­and/or on a roof-top, should be evaluated by helicopter-qualified operations inspectors or FS-authorized ­equivalent. Included in the process is the development of recommendations for assignment of ingress and egress ­routes, where necessary. FS normally conducts on-site heliport evaluations for hospital heliports, heliports with ­an instrument approach procedure, and general aviation heliports with Title 14, part 135 operations.
  2. Non-Federal Agreement Airport Proposal. The Flight Standards Office performing a flight safety review ­will use information submitted with the FAA Form 7480-1 and any other information as may be available, such ­as charts, aerial photographs, etc. A flight check or an onsite inspection may be advantageous if the proposal ­is controversial or additional information is needed.
  3. Federally Assisted Airport Proposal. The Flight Standards Office should:
    1. Review the proposal from the standpoint of safety of flight operations.
    2. Conduct an on-site evaluation.
    3. Advise the air traffic office when obstructions and/or terrain that prove to cause significant safety ­problems are identified.
  4. The FSDO reviews part 157 seaplane base and heliport proposals.