ABC News posted a story to its website titled, “FAA Says Hangar Homes Won’t Fly at Public Airports” today (Sept. 22, 2010). The story is laughably one-sided. From the story…

“Other problems include pets, people and private vehicles — including golf carts — wandering through fence openings onto airport tarmacs, including taxiways. Buildings and other structures erected by residents have also interfered with navigational radio signals and efforts to keep planes from coming too close together. Some airports have been unable to make “safety critical improvements” to taxiways and runways because of limitations resulting from the through-the-fence arrangements, the briefing paper said.”

As Through-the-Fence.org‘s Brent Blue has said numerous times, show us the evidence of these alleged infractions. This story comes as a result of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee hearing today. Stay tuned.

The Full Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure (U.S. House) will meet on Wednesday, September 22 at 10 am (EDT) to hear “Residential Through-the-Fence Agreements at Public Airports. Action to Date and Challenges”. The hearing will be available as a live webcast. Click the above link and find the graphic (left) in the upper left quarter of the website.

The Oregon Statesman Journal reported on Sunday the FAA is “is proposing a rule that would be welcome in Independence Airpark.” The rule relates to residential through-the-fence operations and agreement and the apparent backing down of the FAA over existing locations.

AOPA’s ePublishing staff is reporting: “The roughly 75 airports nationwide with residential through-the-fence access may continue to offer those operations and remain in compliance with FAA regulations, according to the agency’s new through-the-fence policy released Sept. 9.” Read the full story at AOPA online.

AOPA is reporting a meeting with the FAA has, “described the criteria that will be outlined in the office’s soon-to-be-released revision of its policy on residential through-the-fence access at federally funded airports.” While good news, the story tempers that “good news” with, “However, the FAA plans to eliminate future residential through-the-fence access, a move that AOPA believes should be more flexible.” Clearly, more work needs to be done.

We received the following email from David Blackwell.

My family developed a property in Western NC known as Tusquittee Landing. It has a 1/2 mile grass landing strip. Unlike other airparks, landing rights were attached only to some lots. We currently have 4 landing rights which are not attached to a certain property and we are trying to determine their value. Can you provide us with any information that might help?

My response:

Mr. Blackwell, I don’t have a direct answer for you but hopefully some of our readers can provide some information of value. As you are aware, yours is an unusual arrangement; ie., most airparks have usage assigned directly to lots not unattached landing rights. Have any lots been sold without landing rights recently compared with some landing rights? The difference would be the value, in my thinking. Unfortunately, there are so many variables involved that this becomes art, rather than science. Anyone have any good ideas?

AOPA is reporting Independence (Oregon) Airpark at Independence State Airport has, “access agreements that were consistent with FAA guidance, and that the FAA has no plans to require the department to take any additional corrective action regarding the residential airpark.” This is good news for all of general aviation. Could we be seeing a little bit of flexibility from the FAA?

Jackson Hole Auction Company (866-486-7653)will hold a public auction of 18 fly-in hangar home sites in Afton, Wyo., on Saturday, May 15, according to William Burke, co-founder. “This is an absolute auction with no minimums and no reserves,” he said. “That means these properties will sell to the highest bidders.”

Located 60 miles south of Jackson Hole, Afton Municipal Airport’s (AFO) 7,023-f00t runway can accommodate most piston and turbine aircraft. Afton AirPark features dedicated taxiways, providing access to each of the 54 lots and hangars, and is serviced by Afton Flight Services FBO. Homeowners can arrange for fuel services directly to their homesite hangars. The property is unique in the fact there are no private hangars available at the Jackson Hole airport where tie down costs can run $250 to $750 per day, Burke said.

The auction, which will be at the Jackson Hole Center for the Arts at 240 S Glenwood Street, will be broadcast live on RFDTV starting at 2 p.m. on May 15 with telephone bidding available for pre-registered bidders.

Living With Your Plane reader Jens Torell sent us a note about… “a private airfield in Wichita, Kansas, going up for auction on June 3. It is well suited for an airpark development. Perhaps some of your readers would be interested.” See more auction data at McCurdy Auction and some additional background in a story from The Wichita Eagle.

For more than 30 years, I’ve tracked residential airparks and encouraged their development and encouraged the aviation community to support them.

Most flyin communities are private – owned and private – use but a significant number have been established over the years on property adjacent to public-owned and public-use airports. These residential airparks have provided financial support, security and even helped FBOs with their business.

Unfortunately, the FAA has taken a ridiculous stand against residential airparks at public-owned airports. The result has been threats to restrict grants for airport improvements and demands for repayment of past grants. The FAA has demanded that TTF (through the fence) agreements be canceled, causing property owners to suffer financial loss as they tried to sell a home. Read the full story