Chowchilla Municipal Code Ch. 14.04 Airport Regulations

For the purpose of this chapter:

A. "Ag fixed base operator" and/or "Ag fixed base operations" means any individual, firm, corporation, partnership or other organization who engages in the activity of applying agricultural chemicals to farmland and who leases from the city space at the Chowchilla Airport from which such activities are initiated, conducted and/or concluded using such leased facilities or other airport facilities (runways, taxiways, etc.)

B. "Airplane" and/or "aircraft" and/or "airplane access" means any winged vehicles capable of flight, including helicopters and gliders, and access of these vehicles to the Chowchilla Airport; these terms include only those types of airplanes permitted for operation at the Chowchilla Municipal Airport by virtue of its state of California airport classification (Basic Utility II)

C. "Airport" means the Chowchilla Airport in the city of Chowchilla.

D. "Airport hangar tenants" means an individual, firm, corporation, or other organization who leases from the city structures at the Chowchilla Municipal Airport designed to house or store airplanes or aircraft (hangars)

E. "Airport manager" means the city administrator, as appointed by the city council, or his duly authorized representative when so appointed by the city council.

F. "Commercial activities" means the conducting of any profession, trade, or other occupation of every kind and of every calling whatsoever carried on for a fee by anyone, and/or carried out for profit or livelihood by anyone. For the purpose of this chapter, commercial activities exclude the activities of transient ag operations or ag fixed base operations as defined herein.

G. "Day" means a period of time commencing at midnight and ending twenty-four hours later at midnight.

H. "Fixed base operator" means any individual, firm, corporation, partnership or other organization who engages in a business or commercial activity on airport property and who leases from the city space at the Chowchilla Airport from which such activities are initiated, conducted and/or concluded using such leased facilities or other airport facilities (runways, taxiways, etc.)

I. "Park" and/or "parked" means the act of stopping and/or leaving an airplane as defined herein without a pilot or co-pilot at the controls or in the cockpit of the airplane; it also means the act of stopping and/or leaving a vehicle as defined herein without a licensed driver at the controls of the vehicle.

J. "Pedestrian" and/or "pedestrian access" means individuals or groups of individuals walking at the Chowchilla Airport; it also includes where and how such walking takes place when indicated in the context.

K. "Tie-down" and/or "tied down" means fastening and securing aircraft to the earth and/or ground by means of rope, chain, cable, or other means.

L. Reserved.

M. "Vehicles" and/or "vehicular access" means trucks, cars, or other devices designed and used primarily for transportation (on the ground) of people and/or goods; it also includes where and how those devices are used at the Chowchilla Municipal Airport when so indicated in context.

(Ord. 395-95 § 1, 1995; Ord. 356-86 § 1, 1986: Ord. 227-71 § 1 (part), 1971: prior code § 2A-1)

Subject to Section 14.04.210, the airport shall be open for public use in accordance with this section and regulations promulgated pursuant to Section 14.08.140 of this title at all hours of the day and night subject to such restrictions due to inclement weather, the conditions of the landing area, and like causes as shall be determined by the airport manager to be in the interest of safety.

(Ord. 356-86 § 2, 1986: Ord. 227-71 § 1 (part), 1971: prior code § 2A-2)

No aeronautical activity shall be conducted at the airport except in conformance with the current Federal Air Regulations.

(Ord. 227-71 § 1 (part), 1971: prior code § 2A-29)

All airport hangar tenants, airplane owners, and/or operators that use city-designated tie-down facilities at the Chowchilla Municipal Airport, and all fixed base operators who own and store aircraft on airport property shall be required to register such aircraft with the airport manager, and shall change the registration at any time a change in ownership shall occur. "Registration," as used in this section, shall include such information about the owner or operator and aircraft as the airport manager may reasonably require. The requirements of this section may not be satisfied by merely obtaining state or federal licenses or registration certificates.

(Ord. 356-86 § 3, 1986: Ord. 227-71 § 1 (part), 1971: prior code § 2A-23)

A. No individual, firm, corporation, partnership, or other organization shall engage in commercial activities at the airport, or on airport property, without first obtaining authorization to conduct such commercial activities from the city council. In authorizing commercial activities at the airport, the city council may require such individual, firm, corporation, partnership, or organization to pay fees for the privilege of conducting such commercial activity at the airport, and/or fees for the use of airport property, and/or fees for the use of airport facilities, and/or other fees that the city council may determine as appropriate.

B. No individual, firm, corporation, partnership, or other organization shall use the airport, or any airport property without paying the appropriate fees fixed from time to time by the city council.

(Ord. 356-86 § 4, 1986: Ord. 227-71 § 1 (part), 1971: prior code § 2A-9)

A. No persons shall attempt to crank or start an engine of any airplane unless a licensed pilot or mechanic is at the controls of said airplane.

B. No aircraft shall be started or run unless the aircraft is in such a position that the propeller blast will clear all buildings, or groups of people.

(Ord. 227-71 § 1 (part), 1971: prior code § 2A-6)

Pilots shall taxi their aircraft slowly and display extreme caution at all times, subject to the following provisions:

A. In any hangar, shelter or tie-down area, airplanes shall be taxied at speeds not exceeding five miles per hour using minimum engine rpm without the application of brakes to control speed.

B. Taxiing in and out of hangars is prohibited.

C. No airplane shall be operated on the ground so as to create a dust problem or injury to other persons or property.

(Ord. 227-71 § 1 (part), 1971: prior code § 2A-7)

Take-offs from or landings on the airport shall be subject to the following provisions:

A. All cockpit and engine checks shall be made prior to taxiing into position for take-off.

B. Before taxiing an aircraft into position on the runway for take-off, the runway base legs and final approach legs shall be clear.

C. Aircraft landing at the airport shall make the landing runway available to others by leaving the line of traffic as promptly as possible.

D. All take-offs and landings of aircraft shall be made on the runway only.

E. All initial take-offs of aircraft shall be made from the end of the runway.

F. Subsections D and E of this section may be altered by the airport manager in accordance with written regulations approved by the city council pursuant to Section 14.08.140 of this title.

G. Landing and take-off directions shall be determined by the windsock located in the segmented circle and the direction of other traffic visually.

H. Under calm conditions the acceptable runway will be Runway 30.

I. Departures from the airport shall be straight-out departures or turns to conform with the general direction of traffic flow.

J. Low flying within the confines of the traffic pattern, except in emergencies or when necessary to climb to the designated pattern altitude or descent to landing, is prohibited.

(Ord. 356-86 § 5, 1986: Ord. 227-71 § 1 (part), 1971: prior code § 2A-4)

The aircraft traffic patterns applicable to the airport shall be as follows:

A. Traffic patterns will be flown on the east side of the airport—Right pattern when using Runway 30 and left pattern when using Runway 12.

B. The altitude in the patterns will be one thousand feet above mean sea level at a distance from the runway to allow two ninety-degree turns onto final approach.

C. Entry into the traffic pattern shall be made to establish a down-wind leg the full distance of the runway at flap-lowering airspeed or below.

D. Aircraft with flap speed above one hundred twenty knots shall maintain an altitude of one thousand two hundred feet mean sea level while down wind.

(Ord. 395-95 § 2, 1995; Ord. 356-86 § 6, 1986: Ord. 227-71 § 1 (part), 1971: prior code § 2A-3)

Ag fixed based operators, and the fixed base operators shall, at all times, observe the following regulations:

A. Ag fixed base operators and ag fixed base operations may use the airport only in conformance with the terms and conditions contained in a valid lease agreement between the operators and the city and in conformance with laws, rules and regulations governing the use of airport property and facilities as adopted and amended from time to time by the city council, including laws, rules and regulations adopted pursuant to Section 14.08.140 of this title, and other rules and regulations approved by the city council and/or promulgated by the airport manager pursuant to this title.

B. Fixed base operations and fixed base operators may use the airport only in conformance with terms and conditions contained in a valid lease agreement between the operators and the city and in conformance with laws, rules and regulations governing the use of airport property and facilities as adopted and amended from time to time by the city council, including laws, rules and regulations adopted pursuant to Section 14.08.140 of this title and other rules and regulations approved by the city council and/or promulgated by the airport manager pursuant to this title.

(Ord. 395-95 § 3, 1995: Ord. 356-86 § 7, 1986: Ord. 227-71 § 1 (part), 1971: prior code § 2A-8)

No experimental ground or air demonstrations shall be conducted on the airport without the expressed approval of the city council.

(Ord. 356-86 § 8, 1986: Ord. 227-71 § 1 (part), 1971: prior code § 2A-18)

Parking and tying down of aircraft at the airport shall be accomplished in accordance with the following provisions:

A. It shall be the duty of the operator of any airplane using the airport to tie down his airplane at all times when the operator is not present on airport property or the airplane is not parked in a hangar.

B. Aircraft shall be tied down in the "tie-down area" as designated in the city's airport layout plan approved by the Federal Aviation Administration on June 30, 1980, or any amendments to such plan. Fixed base operators, including ag fixed base operators, may tie down their aircraft on property leased to them by the city and shall tie down their aircraft on such property if the operators are not present on airport property and the aircraft is not tied down in the city's designated tie-down area or the aircraft is not housed in a hangar.

C. If necessary to protect the public health and safety, at the direction of the airport manager or any public safety official, the owner or pilot of any aircraft on the airport shall move the aircraft from the place where it is parked or tied down to any place designated on the airport by the airport manager or public safety official. If the operator refuses to comply with such directions, the airport manager or public safety official may tow or cause to be towed such aircraft to such place at the operator's expense, and without liability for damage that may result from such moving.

D. No airplane shall be stopped or parked in any unauthorized area of the airport.

(Ord. 356-86 § 9, 1986: Ord. 227-71 § 1 (part), 1971: prior code § 2A-5)

Obstruction of access to the airport runway shall not be allowed by any aircraft, vehicle or other obstructions unless prior written approval is granted by the airport manager.

(Ord. 333-82 § 1, 1982)

Every aircraft owner, his pilot and/or agents, severally, shall be responsible for the prompt removal, after approval of and by the direction of the airport manager and a representative of the Federal Aviation Agency of wrecked or damaged aircraft.

(Ord. 227-71 § 1 (part), 1971: prior code § 2A-20)

If necessary to protect public health and safety, the airport manager may, with the approval of the city administrator, designate any area on the airport as a restricted area and post appropriate signs. No person shall enter any restricted area without the expressed written permission of the airport manager.

(Ord. 356-86 § 10, 1986: Ord. 227-71 § 1 (part), 1971: prior code § 2A-13)

A. Smoking or lighting of open flames shall be prohibited in the following locations:

1. Places with posted signs;

2. Within fifty feet of fueling facilities.

B. No person shall start an open fire at the airport.

C. Oily waste rags and other similar flammable material shall be stored in closeable containers.

D. Aircraft engines shall not be run in any hangar.

(Ord. 356-86 § 11, 1986: Ord. 227-71 § 1 (part), 1971: prior code § 2A-11)

A. Operation of any motor vehicle, motorcycle or bicycle on airport property is prohibited unless authorized by the airport manager pursuant to rules and regulations duly adopted by the city council in accordance with Section 14.08.140 of this title.

1. When so authorized, vehicles will enter and exit airport property by way of the Avenue 25 access point or by way of the Third Street access point only.

2. When so authorized, vehicles operating on airport property shall yield right-of-way to any aircraft.

3. When so authorized, vehicles operating on airport property shall not exceed ten miles per hour.

4. Vehicles shall not be permitted to operate or park on any taxiway, runway, or the tie-down area identified in 14.04.120B of this chapter.

B. Other provisions of this section to the contrary notwithstanding, airport hangar tenants shall be permitted to park their vehicles in hangars leased to them only while such tenants are flying their airplanes. Vehicular access to airport hangars by airport hangar tenants shall be permitted in accordance with regulations adopted pursuant to Section 14.08.140 of this title.

(Ord. 356-86 § 12, 1986: Ord. 334-82 § 1, 1982; Ord. 227-71 § 1 (part), 1971: prior code § 2A-10)

No pedestrian shall be upon any area of the airport except in accordance with rules and regulations adopted by the city council pursuant to Section 14.08.140 of this title; provided further, that owners of aircraft tied down in the tie-down areas identified in 14.04.120B of this chapter or parked in hangar facilities at the airport shall be permitted pedestrian access to their aircraft.

(Ord. 356-86 § 13, 1986: Ord. 227-71 § 1 (part), 1971: prior code § 2A-19)

Any person on airport property at night between the hours of sunset and sunrise shall properly identify himself and state the purpose of his presence on the property when so requested by the airport manager or any police officer.

(Ord. 356-86 § 14, 1986: Ord. 227-71 § 1 (part), 1971: prior code § 2A-24)

No aircraft shall be operated on the ground or in the air in such a manner as to cause unnecessary or objectionable noise.

(Ord. 227-71 § 1 (part), 1971: prior code § 2A-17)

No aircraft shall be operated on the surface of a landing area, ramp, apron area, or aircraft parking or storage area, at any speed or in a manner which endangers persons or property.

(Ord. 227-71 § 1 (part), 1971: prior code § 2A-15)

A. No aircraft shall be operated on the surface of the landing area, ramp, apron area, aircraft taxiway or aircraft parking or storage area while the pilot, or any persons aboard controlling any part of the operation thereof, is under the influence of intoxicating liquor or any narcotic or habit-forming drug.

B. No person under the influence of intoxicating liquor shall approach closer than fifty feet to any aircraft parking or storage area, landing or taxiing area.

(Ord. 227-71 § 1 (part), 1971: prior code § 2A-16)

Rubbish or trash shall not be thrown, deposited or allowed to be scattered on the airport. Rubbish and trash shall be deposited in waste receptacles provided for that purpose.

(Ord. 227-71 § 1 (part), 1971: prior code § 2A-21)

No person shall post, distribute or display signs, advertisements, circulars or printed or written matter of any kind at the airport without permission of the airport manager.

(Ord. 227-71 § 1 (part), 1971: prior code § 2A-12)

Animals shall not be permitted on the airport unless leashed or restrained in such a manner as to be under control at all times.

(Ord. 227-71 § 1 (part), 1971: prior code § 2A-27)

No person except peace officers, duly authorized, or members of the Armed Forces of the United States on official duty, shall carry any firearms, including BB guns, explosives, bows and arrows, or flammable materials on the airport without the written permission of the airport manager. Such permission may be granted by the airport manager for an indefinite period when circumstances warrant. All persons other than the accepted classes shall surrender all such objects in their possession to the airport manager.

(Ord. 227-71 § 1 (part), 1971: prior code § 2A-26)

The airport manager, with the approval of the city administrator, is authorized to erect and install any signs or notices that he may deem necessary or advisable in connection with the operation and enforcement of the provisions of this title and other rules and regulations promulgated pursuant to Section 14.08.140 of this title.

(Ord. 356-86 § 15, 1986: Ord. 227-71 § 1 (part), 1971: prior code § 2A-14)

The city of Chowchilla, its agents, or employees operating the airport, assumes no responsibility for damage to properties stored thereon, or property thereon of persons using the airport facilities, by reason of fire, theft, vandalism, windstorm, flood, earthquake and/or collision, nor does it assume any liability by reason of injury to persons while on the airport or while using the facilities of same.

(Ord. 227-71 § 1 (part), 1971: prior code § 2A-28)

Any person who shall violate any of the provisions of this chapter shall, upon conviction thereof, be punished in accordance with Section 1.16 of the Municipal Code.

(Ord. 356-86 § 16, 1986: Ord. 227-71 § 2, 1971.