Last week, Jeanne Allen asked for some feedback regarding airpark use of “Neighborhood Watch.”

From Randall Burdette, Director, Virginia Department of Aviation…

“We use neighborhood watch at Dogwood Air Park (VA42) in Fredericksburg VA. It is a good program for us. I think every neighborhood can make it what they need. For us, it is a neighborhood watch sign at the entrance of our neighborhood (along with a no trespassing sign), occasionally an update from the County Sherriff’s Department, a better informed community on who to call when you see something suspicious and a better relationship with our local law enforcement team. Read the full story

Jeanne Allen from Colorado emailed asking about “neighborhood watch” programs. She asks…

…our air park is in a rural community in Colorado and we are considering signing up for a neighborhood watch type program sponsored by the local county sheriff. They call their program Ranch Watch which encompasses the ranches and subdivisions in the county. I would be interested in knowing if any other air park participates in something like this and what their signage says.

Feedback anyone? Reply in the comments section of the website or send me an email.

The comment period on the FAA’s “Policy Regarding Access to Airports from Residential Property” (rTTF) has been extended to September 14, 2012. From the proposed rules summary, “This action proposes a policy, based on Federal law, concerning through-the-fence access to a federally obligated airport from an adjacent or nearby property, when that property is used as a residence.”

FAA’s proposed rule can be read at regulations.gov. So far, 18 people have commented on the proposed policy. You can submit your comment here or read the comments already submitted.

Brent Blue, founder of ThoughTheFence.org, is a leading advocate for rTTF access at federally-obligated airports. His comments can be read at the above noted link or on his website, ThroughTheFence.org. Among Brent’s comments…

FAA policy document: “‘Extend an access’ is defined as an airport sponsor’s consent to renew or extend an existing right to access the airport from residential property or property zoned for residential use, for a specific duration of time, not to exceed 20 years.”

Brent’s comment: “This is also a violation of the spirit and intent of the law.  There is nothing in the legislation which limits the duration of an airport sponsor’s contractual commitment to rTTF access holders.  In fact, it does the opposite by stating in 136 of P.L. 112-95 specifically ‘Applicability—The amendment made by subsection (a) shall apply to an agreement between an airport sponsor and a property owner (or an association representing such property owner) entered into before, on, or after the date of enactment of this Act.’”

The FAA on Friday released it interpretation of its residential through-the-fence (rTTF) policy. AOPA’s Government Advocacy website has more details and background.

The policy applies only to FAA-funded airports with rTTF access. It does not apply to privately-owned, non-obligated airports with rTTF access.

The following came in response to the recent post, “Airpark insurance… is it required?” from Wolf Aviation Fund Executive Director Rol Morrow.

Among other things I am on the board of the Recreational Aviation Foundation, which works to preserve recreational airstrips and promote backcountry flying.

RAF has been working for the last several years to encourage local state volunteers and pilot associations to revise each state’s recreational use statute to include operation of aircraft.

The idea is to encourage owners of private use strips and managers of strips on public lands not to worry about liability and to open, or leave open, their strips for recreational users.

Read the full story

We recently received a question involving airpark homeowners association (HOA) insurance. The founder of the airpark no longer has an ownership interest and the lot owners were in the process of establishing an HOA. Specifically, the lot owner was hoping the HOA could bypass buying insurance, citing among other sources a Recreational Use Statute (see below), to save the quoted $1,500 annual premium. Further, he stated, “I’ve been told that insurance for an airpark is not required. Is this correct?”

Read the full story

By Brent Blue, ThroughTheFence.org

After three and a half years of hard work by many Residential Through The Fence (rTTF) advocates, H.R. 658, the FAA Air Transportation Modernization and Safety Improvement Act containing rTTF preserving language, has passed the House and Senate and sent to President Obama for his expected signature.

Residential Through The Fence (rTTF) access is defined as homes with attached or adjacent aircraft hangars with taxiway access to the airport taxiways and runways. Hangar home owners with rTTF access pay similar use fees as on airport users and support the airport economy with fuel and service purchases.

Read the full story

General Aviation News blogger Jamie Beckett (Politics for Pilots) points out we still have some work to do as he relates sitting through a recent webinar. The moderator, near the end of the session, makes it known that he feels airports and residential development are incompatible. Not so. Stay tuned.

A reader from Idaho called a few days ago wondering about future airpark liability when it comes to newly enacted legislation in Idaho. Following is a follow up email he sent seeking clarification. Post your comments below if you have insight:

Idaho has enacted a statute Recreational Trepass – Landholder Liability Limited. We are trying to make sure it applies to us regarding liability when planes do fly in for visits. It says the purpose of the statute is to make land, airstrips and water areas available to the public without charge for recreational purposes by limiting their liability toward persons entering thereon for such purposes. It is under Title 36, Fish and Game, Chapter 16. Have you heard anything about this? We understand Kansas has also passed a similar statue. Would you have any info on this?

The FAA will issue an interim residential through-the-fence (TTF) policy in the Federal Register on Friday, March 18 and it will remain in effect until a 2014 policy review. Read the complete story at the EAA website.