Fla. Admin. Code Ann. R. 14-60.006 - Airport Licenses and Registrations

(1) Licensing and Registration Requirement. Except for the exemptions provided in Rule 14-60.003, F.A.C., above, or in the event of an in-flight emergency, the owner or lessee of any airport in the state of Florida shall have either an airport license or airport registration prior to the operation of aircraft at the site. Application for a license or registration shall be made in a format and manner prescribed by the Department. There are no monetary fees required for airport licensing or registration services.

(a) Public Airport. Public airports shall be licensed after the site approval is granted by the Department, including completion of the public announcement and physical airport inspection process, if the Department finds the facility to be in compliance with all requirements for the license. The license shall be subject to any conditions that are necessary to protect the public health, safety, or welfare. Such conditions shall include the requirement to remove natural growth obstructions, relocate aircraft parking sites beyond runway protective boundaries, or provide aircraft warning lights on structures in close proximity to the runway or potential ground hazards.

(b) Private Airport. Private airports shall be registered on the Private Airport Registration and Site Approval Website (http://www.florida-aviationdatabase.com) after the site approval is granted by the Department, including completion of the public announcement process, if the facility is in compliance with all requirements for registration, including self-certification by the registrant of operational and configuration data necessary to ensure compliance with Chapter 330, F.S., and this rule chapter.

1. Private airport owners who have previously received airport site approval through that process will subsequently use their "User ID" and "Password" to access the private airport registration screen available online.

2. The private airport registration screen includes information regarding the private airport: facility name, type of facility, dates related to the site approval process, dates related to the registration process (including expiration date); contact name, address, phone and fax numbers, and e-mail address; facility and runway data.

3. The user certifies the accuracy of the information and data entered on the screen and submits the information to the Department.

4. Private airport owners are encouraged to provide updates of airport and contact information at any time it occurs to ensure the Department has accurate and current information. Any update automatically renews the airport's registration for a two-year period from the date of update and that information will be reflected on the website, including a new expiration date.

5. Information regarding the facility's location with respect to county, latitude, longitude, and field elevation can only be updated directly by the Department in order to ensure compatibility of critical data with the FAA's airport database. Private airport owners should contact the Department to make any changes in this facility data.

(c) Temporary Airport. Temporary public or private airports shall be initially licensed or registered, respectively, after the site approval is granted by the Department, if the Department finds that the airport will not endanger the public health, safety, or welfare and the airport meets the temporary airport requirements established by the Department.

(2) Airport Licensing. The following provisions apply to airport licensing:

(a) Each airport license shall show its effective date and expiration date, which shall be no later than one year after the effective date of the license. However, the Department is authorized to adjust the expiration date of a license to provide a maximum license period of 18 months if necessary to facilitate airport inspections, recognize seasonal operations, or improve administrative efficiency.

(b) The airport owner or lessee is responsible for requesting annual renewal of the airport license, coordinating an airport inspection, and correcting any airport deficiencies in sufficient time in advance to preclude license expiration. Written renewal requests shall be submitted to the Airport Inspection and Safety Manager at the address above in paragraph 14-60.005(3)(a), F.A.C., by the public airport owner, lessee, or manager at least 90 days prior to the license expiration date.

(c) The Department or its authorized representative will coordinate with the airport owner, lessee, or manager to establish a date and time for the annual inspection. The airport owner, lessee, manager, or a designated representative of the airport shall be made available to accompany the inspector at the time of the inspection in order to participate in the airport inspection. The Department's authorized representative shall have the authority to conduct an inspection of the airport at any time with or without advance notification to the airport owner, lessee, or manager and with or without being accompanied by the airport owner, lessee, manager, or designated representative.

(d) An airport license shall be renewed following a favorable physical inspection, if the Department finds the facility to be in compliance with all requirements for the license.

(e) Any anticipated change in ownership of the airport shall be reported, in writing, to the Airport Inspection and Safety Manager in the Department at the address in paragraph 14-60.005(3)(a), F.A.C., above, at least 90 days prior to the effective date of change of ownership or as soon as possible in order to initiate the license renewal process in the name of the new owner and to ensure the airport license is not allowed to expire.

(f) All airport licenses issued under this section, together with any conditions attached thereto, shall be posted in a prominent place at the airport, accessible to the public. Any limitations on the use of the airport shall be posted adjacent to or on the license.

(g) The Department shall only license an airport that meets established standards unless the Department determines that an airport's exception to established standards is justified by unusual circumstances or is in the interest of public convenience and does not endanger the public health, safety, or welfare. Such a license shall bear the designation "Special" and shall state the conditions to which the license is granted.

(h) Any licensed airport limited exclusively to the specific, reasonable conditions stated on its airport license, necessary to protect public health, safety, or welfare, shall be designated a "Limited Airport."

(3) Airport Registration. The following provisions apply to airport registration:

(a) The expiration date of the current registration period will be clearly identifiable from the state aviation facility data system. The ability to re-certify registered airport data shall be available at all times by electronic submittal, using controlled access, via the Department interactive website.

(b) A private airport registration that has not been re-certified in the 24-month period following the last certification shall expire, unless the Department has adjusted the registration period for purposes of informing private airport owners of their registration responsibilities or promoting administrative efficiency.

(c) Registration of an airport shall remain valid provided specific contact information and airport data elements, as required by the Department, are periodically re-certified by the airport registrant; including data related to the airport owner/lessee and facility, e.g., owner/lessee name and mailing address, airport name and physical location address, phone, fax, e-mail, and number of runways with length, width, and surface type.

(d) Any registered airport limited exclusively to the specific conditions stated on its airport registration necessary to protect public health, safety, or welfare, shall be designated a "Limited Airport."

(4) Private Airport "Licensing Option." The following provisions are applicable to the option for a private airport to request airport licensing in lieu of airport registration:

(a) Any private airport with ten or more based aircraft may request to be licensed by the Department, in lieu of registration.

(b) Private airport owners shall provide written correspondence to the Airport Inspection and Safety Manager of the Department at the address in paragraph 14-60.005(3)(a), F.A.C., above, to request this option.

(c) Any eligible private airport, choosing this option, shall be subject to all of the inspection and licensing procedures contained in this rule chapter that are applicable to all licensed airports.

(d) Department airport licensing standards against which a private airport will be evaluated and will be held accountable in the inspection and airport licensing process shall be the same as those airport standards that are applicable to all licensed airports.

(e) In the case of a proposed new private airport choosing this option for inspection and licensing, the site approval process by the Department shall be in accordance with the procedures contained in this rule chapter for all registered private airports.

(f) Airports licensed according to this exception shall be considered private airports, as defined in Section 330.27, F.S., in all other respects and shall not be open for public use.

(g) Any private airport having been previously licensed at its request under this option, which is later unable to continue to comply with airport licensing standards or is unable to maintain the required number of based aircraft shall be reverted by the Department from a licensed airport to registered airport category.

(h) Any private airport having been previously licensed at its request under this option, which subsequently desires to withdraw its prior request to be licensed, shall provide written correspondence to the Airport Inspection and Safety Manager in the Department at the address in paragraph 14-60.005(3)(a), F.A.C., above, to request this private airport be reverted from a licensed airport to the registered airport category.

(5) Temporary Airports. The following provisions apply to temporary, public or private airports:

(a) A temporary, public or private airport license or registration shall be valid only for less than 30 consecutive calendar days.

(b) A temporary, public or private airport license or registration shall not be renewable for any consecutive periods of activation. Recurring requirements for temporary, public or private airport license or registration for an airport at the same general location will be considered by the Department on a case-by-case basis.

(6) Conditions for Revoking a License or Registration. The Department will revoke or refuse to allow or issue any airport license or license renewal, or any airport registration or re-certification, if the Department determines that any of the following conditions exist or apply:

(a) That the airport registration has not been accomplished within 15 days after the date of expiration.

(b) That the Department has not received an application for renewal of an airport license within 15 days after the date of expiration.

(c) That the site has been abandoned as an airport.

(d) That the airport does not comply with the conditions of the license, license renewal, or site approval.

(e) That the airport has become either unsafe or unusable for flight operations due to the physical or legal changes in conditions that were the subject of approval.

Notes

Fla. Admin. Code Ann. R. 14-60.006

Rulemaking Authority 330.29(4), 334.044(2) FS. Law Implemented 330.29, 330.30 FS.

New 10-29-65, Amended 7-13-71, Revised 11-23-72, Amended 6-23-76, 11-19-81, 1-8-85, Formerly 14-60.06, Amended 12-26-95, 2-11-97, 10-10-04.

New 10-29-65, Amended 7-13-71, 11-23-72, 6-23-76, 11-19-81, 1-8-85, Formerly 14-60.06, Amended 12-26-95, 2-11-97, 10-10-04.