I just took a call from Ra Puriri (435-817-6555) from Utah. He’s interested in knowing if there are any airparks with condo-style amenities. Rather than building a home on a lot, Ra is interested in buying a condo unit in a larger complex. Further, his airplane would be housed on the field but not necessarily at his location. If you have, or know of, this configuration, feel free to contact Ra directly, but I’d appreciate your posting your comment on the website and/or emailing me directly as well.

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?

Ken Hewson sent us the following note wondering how to finish the interior of his new hangar next to his home. Any ideas? Post them below in the comments section.

“I have a hangar beside my home (Lynden, WA) that I am building. 2000 sq ft with 17′ walls. Looking for ideas other than sheetrock to clad the interior walls. I’m thinking T1-11 on the bottom 8′ then corrugated metal above that. Any photo’s, ideas or places to get ideas. Thanks.”

We received from the following note from Zeigh Ownesby regarding lenders:

I am a registered user of your web site, but need a little more information. Do you have a packet and/or links to information for bank officials who are familiar with fly-in communities? The bank that I used before on a previous airpark had to be coached extensively on what this concept was. Otherwise, they kept viewing a runway close by as a primary negative detail instead of the biggest positive amenity of the area. Now I am having to do this all over again for a land loan elsewhere. Any information to help would be appreciated.

I directed Zeigh to the Resources section of the website. However, we have just three contacts listed. I’d appreciate any additional contacts we can share with others. Comment below, or email me at ben@generalaviationnews.com.

Ray Brown, or Fredericksburg, Texas wrote with a few questions, followed by my answers:

Q1. How does an airpark protect it’s airspace? The traffic pattern from intrusions such as towers or power lines.
A1. There are a few ways an airpark can protect – or at least attempt to protect – its airspace. One way is an air avigation easement. Basically, this is an agreement between the airport and the neighboring property owners stating such things as height of protrusions, ie, antennas or buildings. If this is done prior to or during the construction stage it is usually easier to obtain for minimal effort or finances. It might be more difficult after the airport is open and operating, but certainly not impossible. Another way to achieve some level of protection is by public action from the public entity (city, county, port, state) that governs the zoning for the area.

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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?

The survey on Airpark Home Financial Data will close July 12. Your response is extremely important to helping make this survey as accurate and complete as possible. It will only take a few minutes to complete the questions so please click here to take our survey.

Sale of homes has picked up recently, according to industry experts. That means residential airpark properties will likely also see increased interest in the coming months. To help buyers and sellers, we’ve prepared a survey on residential airpark transactions. The completed survey will offer important data for appraisers, those trying to establish a price for their property and also a level for those seeking to purchase. You can help provide this important information by completing this short survey.

Ok! All you folks now living on a residential airpark, interested in doing so or just want to make sure the right to have homes on airparks remains valid – please read the following carefully and send me your responses as soon as possible.

Brent Blue is an individual who has been aggressively fighting the FAA over the agency’s recent efforts to eliminate Through The Fence (TTF)
agreements.

He told me that “I met with the FAA today. They have been on a road trip to gather information on TTF airports and to hear from TTF hangar home owners to “possibly change policies.” They met in Erie CO, Independence OR, Sandpoint ID, and Driggs ID.”

Blue said he considers “most of their arguments against hangar homes theoretical or without valid foundation. They continually mentioned children and pets on airport operations areas, driving by unauthorized individuals on the runway (e.g. teenagers drag racing), and residential homes being built near airports because hangar homes are already there (e.g. you cannot fight off non aviation homes if you have aviation homes present).

“I think we are probably both in agreement that these are invalid arguments but as part of the process of supplying comment, I thought it would be good to give them numbers even if they were zero.”

Blue is seeking input from people on airparks relative to the issues the FAA has brought up. Please provide your personal experiences on the following issues so we can tabulate them and provide them to the FAA:

1. Are you aware of any accidents involving children or pets on taxiways or runways? If yes, please provide airpark name and city and approximate date.
2. Are you aware of any incidents of unauthorized use of the runway by autos, 4 wheelers, or other non aviation conveyance? If you are aware of such incidents, how was it dealt with by the homeowners.
3. Are you aware if zoning for single family dwellings used by the airpark encouraged any non aviation homes being built close enough to the airport to present noise issue?

“We know these numbers will be low, but given the large denominator of private airparks, we can use the results as an example of actual experience instead of theoretical risk. We will use these numbers to support our comments which we will be working on with the FAA in two weeks,” Blue concluded.

Can you help? Please send your comments right away to dave@generalaviationnews.com and I’ll tabulate them and get them to Blue.

Sun ‘n Fun (April 13-18, Lakeland, Florida) is coming up soon and I’m planning my residential airparks presentation. This is something I’ve been doing for a lot of years and I want to try something different this year.

Do you have questions about residential airparks? Are there things about possibly Living With Your Plane that you are particularly concerned about? Is your spouse questioning certain aspects of moving to a residential airpark?

I want to hear your questions and concerns or thoughts that you have so I can think about them in advance and attempt to come up with solutions. In addition, over the years, I’ve discovered that when a question is shared with the group sitting in on my program, someone usually can produce a good answer so I plan on sharing your questions with the audience.

Give me your thoughts as soon as you can. Contact me at dave@generalaviationnews.com. I look forward to seeing you all in Lakeland.