EAA hosted, last week, a working group of interested parties in an effort to preserve residential through-the-fence (TTF) on public airports. The efforts of this group are to push back against FAA Order 5190.6B “which contained a new key policy statement: “Under no circumstances is the FAA to support any “through-the-fence” agreement associated with residential use…”.” Read EAA’s  story here.

The Snohomish County (Washington) Council has voted 4-0 to preserve (or at least try to preserve) Frontier Airpark by requiring “a special notice for any new developments within 2,500 feet of airpark communities.” Read the full HeraldNet story here.

If only every news story started like this:

Snohomish County is looking at ways to preserve its lone residential airpark, a community where many people have personal airplane hangars and access to a private airstrip.

Read the rest of the story from the Everett (Washington) Herald.

Chandler, Arizona — Neighbors of Stellar Airpark, in Chandler, have little concern over safety. Even the neighbor who’s house has been crashed into. While not overly flattering, author Megan Boehnke could have done much worse in her AZcentral.com.

ThroughTheFence.org is reporting legislation to reverse FAA Airport Compliance Manual (ACM) Order 5190.6b language has been submitted in both the House and Senate. ACM Order 5190.6b labeled as incompatible use any “through the fence” agreement at an airports receiving federal funds. Many in the industry called bunk to that idea. None louder than ThroughTheFence.org founder Brent Blue.

House Bill H.R. 8415 was introduced by Rep. Sam Graves (R-MO) and Rep. Leonard Boswell (D-IA). On the Senate side, Senate Bill H.R. 1586 Amendement #3465 was sponsored by Sen. James Inhofe (R-OK) and co-sponsored by Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR).

Be sure to contact your Congressmen and Senator and urge them to support this important legislation.

Oneida, Tennessee – Big South Fork Airpark, an aviation and equestrian community adjacent to the Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area 50 miles north of Knoxville, has completed Phase 1 of their development, announcing properties available for sale.

Gary Gallagher, Bill Armstrong and Tom Donald of the Big South Fork Airpark began planning the community in 2006.
Read the full story

The Gympie Times in Australia is reporting the “Kybong aerodrome (map) is set to enter the 21st Century, with council approval of a plan which will ultimately lead to a residential airpark, where flyers can keep their aircraft in the garage, along with their cars.”

The Red Deer Advocate (Alberta, Canada) is reporting that officials in Mountain View County, Alberta will consider developing an airpark on Sundre Airport. From the story:

“Airparks have proven successful elsewhere. Twin Island Airpark, 20 km southeast of Edmonton, and Okotoks Air Ranch, 50 km southeast of Calgary, have offered similar opportunities to those who like to keep their heads in the clouds. The idea has proven popular in the U.S., where more than 600 airparks have been developed.”

By Brent Blue, ThroughTheFence.org

The FAA has consistently justified most of their opposition to “through the fence” residential hangars as being related to noise complaints. They have frequently stated that the FAA has spent $1.8 billion to buy land to mitigate noise sensitive neighbors. However, the FAA has never delineated residential hangars from residences which have no airport connection.

In order to find out exactly how much of a problem noise has been for the FAA from hangar home residents, ThroughTheFence.org asked to FAA, through the Freedom of Information Act, for two items related to noise.
Read the full story

The AOPA, in a letter dated December 18, has asked the FAA for more flexibility in its “proposed ‘one size fits all’ approach to airparks and other residential through-the-fence (TTF) operations at public-use airports”. A story posted to AOPA Online notes:

“The new FAA guidance acknowledges no acceptable residential TTF agreements, a statement that AOPA considers a significant departure from the agency’s past policy.”