Reedley Municipal Code Ch. 6 Reedley Airport Regulations

AIRPORT: The Reedley municipal airport.

AIRPORT MANAGER: The airport manager, as appointed by the city manager subject to approval of the city council, or the airport manager's duly authorized representative. (Ord. 605, 2-6-1979)

A. The airport shall be open for public use at all hours of the day and night subject to the 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.

B. No aeronautical activity shall be conducted at the airport except in conformance with the current federal airport regulations. (Ord. 605, 2-6-1979)

The owners of all aircraft based on the airport, all tenants and all operators storing aircraft on the premises shall be required to register said aircraft with the airport manager and shall change the registration at any time a change in ownership or operator shall occur. (Ord. 605, 2-6-1979)

A. Traffic Patterns: The aircraft traffic patterns applicable to the airport shall be as follows:

1. Traffic patterns will be flown by the east side of the airport. Right pattern when using runway thirty-four (34) and left pattern when using runway sixteen (16).

2. The altitude in the patterns will be one thousand four hundred feet (1,400') above mean sea level at a distance of one-half (1/2) mile parallel to the runway for the downwind leg.

3. Entry into the traffic pattern shall be from a forty five degree (45°) angle at a point downwind from the center of the runway.

4. The entry leg shall be of sufficient length to determine traffic in the pattern.

5. Operators of aerial applicator aircraft may depart in either direction straight out, with no turns permitted, until reaching one-half (1/2) mile from the end of the runway.

6. Aircraft equipped with a two-way radio shall announce their position when approaching within five (5) miles of the airport and also when within the traffic pattern.

7. Under calm or light and variable wind conditions, the preferred runway will be thirty-four (34).

B. Takeoffs And Landings: Takeoffs and landings from or on the airport shall be subject to the following provisions:

1. All cockpit and engine checks shall be made prior to taxiing into position for takeoff.

2. Before taxiing an aircraft into position on the runway for takeoff, the base leg and final approach shall be clear.

3. Aircraft landing at the airport shall make the landing runway available to others by leaving the active runway as promptly as possible.

4. All takeoffs and landings of aircraft shall be made on the runway only.

5. All initial takeoffs of fixed wing aircraft shall be made from the end of the runway.

6. Landing and takeoff directions shall be determined by the windsock located in the segmented circle and the direction of other traffic visually.

7. Under calm or light and variable wind conditions, the preferred runway will be thirty three (33).

8. Departures from the airport shall be accomplished by maintaining runway heading to at least five hundred feet (500') above ground level and one-half (1/2) mile beyond the end of the runway before making a first turn.

9. Unwarranted low flying within the confines of the traffic pattern is prohibited.

C. Parking Of Aircraft: Parking of aircraft at the airport shall be accomplished in accordance with the following provisions:

1. Privately owned aircraft shall be parked only in a tiedown area or in a hangar or shelter.

2. Transient aircraft shall be parked in the tiedown area in places designated by the airport manager.

3. Flying school and rental aircraft shall be parked only in the flight lines assigned to them by the airport manager.

4. At the direction of the airport manager, the owner or pilot of any aircraft on the airport shall move the aircraft from the place where it is parked or stored to any place designated on the airport. If the operator refuses to comply with directions, the airport manager may tow the aircraft to such place at the operator's expense and without liability for damage that may result from such moving.

5. It shall be the responsibility of the operator of any airplane using the airport to tiedown their airplane.

6. No airplane shall be stopped or parked in any area of the Reedley municipal airport that is so posted or marked by the airport manager.

D. Starting Aircraft Engines:

1. No persons shall attempt to start an engine of any airplane unless a certificated pilot or aircraft mechanic is at the controls of said airplane.

2. No person, unassisted, shall attempt to hand start an engine of any airplane unless such airplane is properly secured.

3. No aircraft shall be started or run unless the aircraft is in such a position that the propeller or rotor blast will clear all buildings or people.

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

1. Near any hangar, shelter or tiedown area, airplanes shall be taxied at speeds not exceeding five (5) mph using minimum engine rpm.

2. Taxiing in and out of hangars is prohibited.

3. No aircraft shall be operated on the ground so as to create a dust problem, injury to persons, or damage to property. (Ord. 2000-01, 2-22-2000; amd. Ord. 2024-011, 12-17-2024)

Operators of agricultural aircraft shall observe the following regulations at all times:

A. Airplanes shall be loaded only in areas designated by the airport manager.

B. Empty sacks, drums and other containers of agricultural chemicals shall be removed from the loading areas daily. All nonreturnable containers shall be removed from the airport property by the applicator and disposed of at the county disposal site when requested by the airport manager.

C. All state and federal rules and regulations regarding the storage and maintenance of agricultural chemicals shall be complied with.

D. Aircraft and ground equipment shall be cleaned and/or flushed in an area designated by the airport manager. (Ord. 605, 2-6-1979)

Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, no person shall engage in any business or commercial activity of any nature on the airport property without appropriate licenses and permits as required by law and under such terms and conditions as may be prescribed by the city. Emergency repair of transient aircraft will be allowed by transient mobile mechanics subject to the airport manager's approval. Mobile mechanics who are working on Reedley based aircraft will be allowed to work under the following conditions:

A. Prior notification shall be given by the aircraft owner to the airport manager.

B. Aircraft repairs shall be done within a hangar, unless permission is granted by the airport manager.

C. Aircraft repairs done outside a hangar shall be done within an area cordoned off for safety and approved by the airport manager.

D. Mechanics must obtain and keep current a Reedley city business license.

E. Mechanics must possess and keep current the proper certification to repair aircraft and, if requested, display the certification to the airport manager.

F. Mechanics shall abide by the city's airport rules and regulations.

G. Mechanics shall provide a certificate of insurance with coverage amounts and applicable endorsements as required by the city, and as amended from time to time. (Ord. 2002-07, 10-8-2002; amd. Ord. 2024-011, 12-17-2024)

When the airport manager determines that public safety or convenience so requires, he may designate any area on the airport as a restricted area and post appropriate signs. No person shall enter any restricted area without the express permission of the airport manager. (Ord. 605, 2-6-1979)

A. Motor Vehicles: The operation of any motor vehicle, motorcycle or bicycle on airport property is subject to the following conditions:

1. All vehicles coming into the airport shall yield right of way to any aircraft.

2. Vehicle speed on the airport property shall not exceed ten (10) mph.

3. No vehicle shall be parked on, or near, any taxiway or runway so as to impede aircraft movement.

4. No vehicle shall be parked in place of an airplane in any tiedown space.

5. Parking next to an airplane to load, unload or perform minor maintenance will be allowed if the driver of the vehicle is present.

6. No vehicle will be driven on a runway or taxiway unless so authorized by the airport manager.

7. Automobiles may be parked in place of an airplane in T-hangars or airplane shelters when the airplane is being used.

B. Fire Regulations: The following precautions and regulations shall apply at all times on the airport property:

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

a. Places with posted signs.

b. Within fifty feet (50') of fuel trucks or fueling facilities.

2. No person shall start an open fire on the airport.

3. No person shall stock, handle or store any fuel, flammable material or equipment in such a manner as to constitute a fire hazard.

4. No person shall use a volatile inflammable material for cleaning purposes inside any hangar, shelter or building.

5. Oily waste rags and other similar inflammable materials shall be stored in closable metal containers.

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

7. All commercial fueling of aircraft shall be from only approved fueling facilities that are authorized by valid lease with the city. Owner refueling shall only be done outside and clear of any hangars or structures and in accordance with national fire protection agency bulletins regarding "Aircraft Fuel Servicing" and "Static Electricity".

C. Signs And Advertising:

1. Post Or Remove: No person shall post or remove signs at the airport without permission of the airport manager. Printed advertisements and informational bulletins may be posted only on approved bulletin boards. (Ord. 2000-01, 2-22-2000)

2. Authorization To Erect: The airport manager is hereby 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 chapter.

D. Pedestrians: No pedestrian shall be upon any landing area of the airport without first having obtained a signed permit from the airport manager, except persons engaged as mechanics, or who, by necessity, are required to be there. (Ord. 605, 2-6-1979)

A. Aircraft Repairs: Aircraft repair may be performed in space rented or leased from the city by the aircraft owner/tenant or his agent in concurrence with the specifications of the rent/lease agreement, federal aviation regulations and airport regulation, section 7-6-6 of this chapter. (Ord. 764, 10-22-1991)

B. Removal Of Damaged Aircraft: Every aircraft owner, his pilot and/or agents, severally, shall be responsible for the prompt removal after approval of and by direction of the airport manager and/or representative of the federal aviation administration, of wrecked or damaged aircraft.

C. Washing, Cleaning, Engine Drain Oil Disposal: Washing, rinsing and other cleaning of aircraft is permitted only on the airport wash rack or in airplane shelter spaces. Washing of engines with emulsifiable cleaners or solvents is prohibited except in approved areas. Drain oil will be disposed of in a manner acceptable to the airport manager. (Ord. 605, 2-6-1979)

A. Aircraft parking, hangar, shelter, tiedown and landing fees are hereby established at such rates as are set from time to time by appropriate resolution of the city council.

B. The airport manager may refuse clearance to any aircraft until all charges for storage and other services rendered by the city have been paid. (Ord. 605, 2-6-1979)

The privileges of using the airport and its facilities shall be conditioned upon the assumption of full responsibility and risk by the user thereof. Neither the city, nor its agents, nor its employees, nor any combination thereof, shall be liable for loss, damage or injury to person or persons or property or properties, including any aircraft arising out of any accident, incident or mishap of any nature whatsoever, or arising out of any cause whatsoever, whether it occurs on the airport or in the use of any of the airport facilities.

No person shall maintain based aircraft at the airport unless such person shall file with the airport manager, and keep in current effect, a certificate of public liability insurance with coverage amounts and applicable endorsements as required by the city, and as amended from time to time.

(Ord. 2000-01, 2-22-2000; amd. Ord. 2024-011, 12-17-2024)

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

B. Intoxicated Persons:

1. No aircraft shall be operated on the surface of the landing area, 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.

2. No person under the influence of intoxicating liquor shall approach closer than fifty feet (50') to any aircraft parking or storage area, landing or taxiing area.

C. Noise: No aircraft shall be operated on the ground or in the air in such a manner as to cause unnecessary or objectionable noise. (Ord. 605, 2-6-1979)

D. Experimental Demonstrations: No experimental ground or air demonstrations shall be conducted on the airport except in accordance with the federal airport regulations. (Ord. 2000-01, 2-22-2000)

E. Rubbish: 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.

F. Unattended Aircraft: No aircraft shall be left unattended unless properly secured or within a hangar.

G. Night Security: No person may enter the airport at night between the hours of sunset and sunrise without properly identifying himself and stating his business when so requested by the airport manager or any police officer.

H. Firearms: No person except peace officers, duly authorized, or members of the armed forces of the United States on official duty shall carry or discharge any firearms, including BB guns, explosives, bows and arrows or flammable materials on the airport without the 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 excepted classes shall surrender all such objects in their possession to the airport manager. (Ord. 605, 2-6-1979)

I. Animals: 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. 2000-01, 2-22-2000)

J. Model/Radio Controlled Aircraft: No model or radio controlled aircraft will be allowed on or above Reedley municipal airport property. (Ord. 2004-01, 5-11-2004)

The city, 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, nor does it assume any liability by reason of injury to persons while on the airport or while using the facilities of same. (Ord. 605, 2-6-1979)

Special permission, when in the opinion of the airport manager unusual conditions exist, to act contrary to the provisions of this chapter or in a broader sense than written may be obtained from the airport manager, provided each exception is petitioned for individually and separately and that permission for such exception is obtained in writing from the airport manager. Such written permission shall state definitely the exception for which the permission is granted, the reason for the special permission and the time, conditions, duration and number of instances for which such exception is granted. (Ord. 2000-01, 2-22-2000)

Any person who shall violate any of the provisions of this chapter shall, upon conviction thereof, be punished as provided in the general penalty in section 1-4-1 of this code. (Ord. 605, 2-6-1979; amd. 2007 Code)