§ 8-19. Aircraft landing sites.

(a)

Definitions. The following terms, as used in this section shall have the meanings respectively ascribed to them in this subsection:

Aircraft means any device now known or hereafter invented, used or designed for navigation of or flight in the air except a parachute or other device used primarily for safety equipment.

Airport means the Ralph M. Hall Municipal Airport.

Airport manager means the city manager or a corporation or person granted authority through contract approved by the city council to manage the airport.

Helicopter means any rotorcraft which depends principally for its support and motion upon the lift generated by one or more power-driven rotors rotating on substantially vertical axis.

Heliport means any area or structural surface which is used or intended to be used for the landing and takeoff of helicopters and any adjacent areas or buildings used or intended to be used for heliport buildings and heliport facilities.

(b)

Prohibited acts. Except in case of an emergency, or with permission from the city council, no person shall land any aircraft within the city except upon a regularly established airport, airfield, heliport, or other approved landing site, except as otherwise provided in this section.

(c)

Restrictions on helicopter operation. It shall be unlawful to operate a helicopter within the corporate limits of the city except as follows:

(1)

Unless there is an outstanding airworthiness certificate for each helicopter, issued by the Federal Aviation Administration.

(2)

Unless the pilot has a valid pilots license with a rotocraft-helicopter rating card issued by the Federal Aviation Administration.

(3)

Unless the operation and flight of the helicopter within the corporate limits of the city is in conformance with all applicable rules and regulations of the Federal Aviation Administration and the Civil Aeronautics Board.

(4)

To or from any property other than a heliport approved by the city council; providing, however, the landing and takeoff of helicopters at places other than approved heliports may be authorized by obtaining a temporary helicopter landing permit from the city manager or his assignee, where no federal or local safety regulations are violated and where the owner or person in charge of the area to be used gives his written consent to such use.

(5)

Except when taking off or landing at a duly authorized place, to fly at a height of less than 1,000 feet above the ground level.

(d)

Standards controlling granting of temporary helicopter landing permit. In the granting of temporary permits by the city manager or his assignee as authorized in subsection (c)(4) of this section, the following standards shall be controlling:

(1)

Approach areas to and from the landing area shall be reasonably clear of obstruction, which obstructions should not extend above an imaginary line outward from the landing area at an angle of seven feet to one foot, or one foot of height allowable for each seven feet of distance from the landing area.

(2)

There must be an undeveloped path of approach and takeoff from the take-off area, to facilitate a forced landing in the event of power failure.

(3)

The landing area shall be sufficiently fenced or protected to prevent the public from having access to such landing area during landing or takeoff operations.

(4)

The landing is in conjunction with governmental or quasi-governmental activities, special community or school events, or is related to the news-gathering efforts of a bona fide news reporting organization.

(Code 1982, § 2.5-1; Ord. No. 84-29, §§ 1, 2, 6-4-1984; Ord. No. 91-19, §§ 1, 2, 5-20-1991; Ord. No. 91-59, 9-3-1991; Ord. No. 92-45, 4-20-1992)