Private airstrips...what are the rules?

[Prairie Chicken]

To wander back to the original question, the Aeronautics Act has the definition: "aerodrome" means any area of land, water (including the frozen surface thereof) or other supporting surface used, designed, prepared, equipped or set apart for use either in whole or in part for the arrival, departure, movement or servicing of aircraft and includes any buildings, installations and equipment situated thereon or associated therewith;

The world is your aerodrome, should you choose to use it as such, providing of course that it isn’t within the built-up area of a city or town (CAR 602.13), and the landowner has no objection.

Many municipal governments believe they have the land-use regulations to prohibit the use of land (or water) as an aerodrome, and they may be successful if no one argues or researches the issue, but aviation is federally regulated and municipal governments have no legal authority to prevent someone from building an aerodrome. That’s an issue that TC address frequently, and it’s a darn good thing for us pilots that they do.

For those who have private strips, you may "register" them and have them published in the CFS if you wish, stipulating access, maintenance, etc. if you're so inclined. I don't believe there is any cost and the only requirement is to advise of any changes from what is published.

Light chop, what you’re saying about Quebec challenging the feds is very scary indeed. I can’t see they could be successful, but if dealing with TC can be difficult, can you imagine dealing with not only TC but also additional layers of government???

And yes, Cat, those were the good old days when you could land at an unknown farmer's strip and meet a new friend.

[Cat Driver]

And yes, Cat, those were the good old days when you could land at an unknown farmer's strip and meet a new friend.

And when we wrote exams to become pilots we had to actually write the answers using a pen, and the exam was marked by a human who determined if your answer demonstrated that you actually understood the subject or were just lucky with the multiple choice fiasco like scratch and win players .

By the way when I wrote the ATPL exams the airplane they used for the exam was the Super Connie H model.

Were you around aviation then Prairie Chick?

[GilletteNorth]

Call first and you can fly in for coffee, come unannounced and you'll drive home with no coffee.

You would seize their airplane?

If you seized the aircraft would you be arrested?
http://www.ohio.com/news/36990124.html

Neighbor arrested over ball files lawsuit
88-year-old woman says her health suffered

By Associated Press

Published on Friday, Jan 02, 2009

BLUE ASH: An 89-year-old Cincinnati-area woman arrested for confiscating the neighbor child's football is now suing the boy's parents.

Edna Jester filed a lawsuit in Hamilton County Common Pleas Court claiming she has suffered emotional distress because footballs and other playthings belonging to her next-door neighbors keep landing in her yard, The Cincinnati Enquirer reported.

In October, Jester refused to return a football, was taken to the Blue Ash police station and charged with petty theft. The prosecutor later dropped the case.

The lawsuit against parents Paul and Kelly Tanis seeks unspecified monetary damages.

Kelly Tanis calls the suit "very silly" but says she and her husband also worry because they have five children and can't afford a lawyer.

BLUE ASH: An 89-year-old Cincinnati-area woman arrested for confiscating the neighbor child's football is now suing the boy's parents.

Edna Jester filed a lawsuit in Hamilton County Common Pleas Court claiming she has suffered emotional distress because footballs and other playthings belonging to her next-door neighbors keep landing in her yard, The Cincinnati Enquirer reported.

In October, Jester refused to return a football, was taken to the Blue Ash police station and charged with petty theft. The prosecutor later dropped the case.

The lawsuit against parents Paul and Kelly Tanis seeks unspecified monetary damages.

Kelly Tanis calls the suit "very silly" but says she and her husband also worry because they have five children and can't afford a lawyer.

[Prairie Chicken]

No Cat, I wasn't. I may be old but I'm not THAT old! I did start out when licences had a stripe though, and aviation was a whole lot more fun back then. The Prairies were a friendly place to fly!

PS, marine candidates still sit their captains papers/writen exams by writing essay responses to questions. Very time-consuming to mark, but very effective. I hear now that in some of the big aviation schools the students just make note of which TC exam number they're writing & memorize the answers in series (A, B, C, or D), then report back to their fellow students--makes a whole new mockery of multiple-guess exams! But I digress from the original topic ...

[light chop]

Question for the current private strip owners - if I've got serious mechanical trouble and your strip would be the best option, you wouldn't have a problem with me setting down unannounced, would you? I would've called ahead, but I didn't know I was going to drop in!

[mag check]

I'm pretty sure that there is a section in the regs that state that no one can interfere with the operation of an aircraft, so to me that would include preventing a landing, or takeoff.

[mark_]

Light chop...anyone who has a strip is obviously a pilot and would never be upset if you landed unannounced due to serious mechanical issues...I'm sure they would be more than happy to help.

mark

[Shiny Side Up]

It is amazing how things change in just one lifetime.

Even though I might not be as "eld" as some around here, I can remeber how and why they changed. Unfortunately like a lot of good things, it only took a few or one inconsiderate, rude, ignorant or just plain stupid person (sometimes a terrible combination of all of them) to ruin it for all. For instance I can remember when and why the fences went up around the airport, it had something to do with some kids and some improvised .177 "flak". So much for the kids coming to ask questions and watch.

As much as I like to drop in on local strips, I don't do it randomly. Being someone who has experience in the farmin' business too, many of these strips are still put to use on farm business. While normally your visit might be welcome, suprises sometimes my not be if it happens to be mowing time, or moving cows time. One might also remember that the rural population of Canada is where a majority of its firearms are concentrated at, and an unwelcome visit... well just say that 12 guage HP slugs make nast holes in aluminum.

[Cat Driver]

and an unwelcome visit... well just say that 12 guage HP slugs make nast holes in aluminum.

Which in turn would probably result in a charge of dangerous use of a fire arm.

This charge under the criminal code can be brought under indictment, which can result in jail time..

[E-Flyer]

and an unwelcome visit... well just say that 12 guage HP slugs make nast holes in aluminum.

Which in turn would probably result in a charge of dangerous use of a fire arm.

This charge under the criminal code can be brought under indictment, which can result in jail time..

Welcome back cat ! where were you? I was looking forward to being entertained

[Cat Driver]

Welcome back cat ! where were you? I was looking forward to being entertained

I have been right here at home waiting for spring to arrive.

Things got a little tense with the Jazz guys trying to deal with one of their units becoming a snow plow. So I decided to take some time out just in case they thought I was not sympathetic to their plight.

Now if you really want to get some benefit out of my posts instead of just entertainment you could read my thread about the working conditions at Transport Canada.

You are young and have your whole life ahead of you and you deserve to have a regulator that is run by rule of law, not by thugs who demean the office they hold.

You see I am not all that young anymore and while I still have most of my marbles left I want to have the satisfaction of knowing I am leaving you young'uns an industry where rule of law has been restored.

I can do this because they can not intimidate me with their ability to destroy my career...you can't.

[timexd]

If you had a mechanical issue and were forced to land obviously I would do all I could to help. Take you up to the house, pour you a stiff one, and get you some clean shorts.

[MUSKEG]

Mag check. I'm pretty sure there's a reg out there that allows me to park my tractor anywhere I want on MY property. Or maybe pull a ditch whenever and wherever I want. You see the fact that I paid dearly for that ground gives me the right to do that. If you ask first and I know who you are come on over, but show up unannounced and strut your stuff and think a REG will back you......... think again. It's called respect for other peoples property. The younger generation struggles with that concept. I will add (Many) not all.

[yzfer]

Im thinking I was born a generation too late. I cant imagine the people you could meet, the stories you could hear, and the fun you could have if stopping in at private strips was a common occurence. Reading the replies on here give me an idea of what aviation used to be, and by the sounds of it, what many would like it to still be. It's something im definitely never going to see, but as long as I land a job flying a dc3 before the day I die, I'll be the happiest boy alive.

[mag check]

Mag check. I'm pretty sure there's a reg out there that allows me to park my tractor anywhere I want on MY property. Or maybe pull a ditch whenever and wherever I want. You see the fact that I paid dearly for that ground gives me the right to do that. If you ask first and I know who you are come on over, but show up unannounced and strut your stuff and think a REG will back you......... think again. It's called respect for other peoples property. The younger generation struggles with that concept. I will add (Many) not all.

I'm not saying that I would do that, in fact far from it, as I enjoy my privacy more than most,
but that doesn't change the fact that you can't interfere with the safe operation of an aircraft. "You" could charge "me" a huge landing fee for landing there, and that would definetly make me think twice about doing it again, but if "you" block my landing or take off, with a tractor, that is a criminal offence, which I believe carries up to 5 years in jail, and up to 100 000 fine.

[fleet16b]

I have my own private strip. It is not registered with T/C, Flying farmers or anyone else.
As far as who lands there. I am 100% within my right to refuse anyone access to the strip.
Many times I have had to take my tractor and park it in the middle of the strip to keep people from coming in.
My reason for doing this is because of wet conditions being a safety factor. Either way, I can park the tractor there anytime I choose.
Now if someone came in unannounced with engine problems, I would have no problem but to come in for something to do? Sorry no way this is private property so ask first.
You would not believe the amount of people that simply pull off the highway and just start to wander around because they see two or three airplanes sitting there.
I usually go up to them and ask for their keys, when they ask why I tell them I just want to rummage thru their car and see what is in it.
This gets some pretty amusing reactions, some get quite indignant that they have a right to do as they please. It's unbelievable.

[MUSKEG]

Mag check Come on over unannounced and we will check my theory against your's. Oh and bring your wallet.

[mag check]

Mag check Come on over unannounced and we will check my theory against your's. Oh and bring your wallet.

Please read my post, I said that I wouldn't think about doing it, all I said was that it is illegal to interfere with the operation of an aircraft. The simple fact is that you can't stop an aircraft from taking off or landing. Take it how you want.

Again, I would NOT land at a private field without prior permission, as I'm sure "most" wouldn't.

[_dwj_]

mag check: although I'm not a lawyer and I don't know the exact wording of that rule, I would imagine that it doesn't mean you can't park a tractor on your own property! My guess would be that it would only apply if you deliberately tried to sabotage an aircraft, e.g. by driving your tractor onto the runway when you knew someone was just about to land. I agree with the others here that it is rude to just turn up at someone's private property unannounced. We do fly out to our AME's (unregistered, private) grass strip unannounced, but that's only because he knows us and doesn't mind. But he may or may not feel the same way about some random stranger landing there. It's polite to ask first.

[Cat Driver]

The most simple and also legal method of preventing unwanted landings on your private strip would be to paint or put large X's at each end of the runway.

[Ronner]

Accckkkk this thread is starting to make me want to barf.

So many people talk so much smack... If you are so unfriendly and anti social with your aviation habits why do you even want come to a public forum about aviation.

I find that most people who chase down grass strips to land on are not the squids of the air, and if your strip is not in the CFS how is anyone likely to get your number to call you first.

But then some of you start talking smack by saying I'll put bails out to block your take off or I'll block your plane in with my tractor.... Blah Blah Blah, if I did not want someone on my airstrip I think I would start with a pleasant " sorry sir this facility is private property. Could you please vacate it" But NO!!!! You start right into the shit talk about how hard to deal with you would be.

Any public event or group or forum usually gets equated with the lowest common denominator, and on a friendly scale this one is getting kind of low with some of these comments. Come on guys, your making general threats towards each other for something that has not even happened yet with someone you have not even met.!!!!!!!!!!

I second this. Please do tell us how you want us to contact you so we can ask theses questions............. Would the easiest way not be for me to land and come knock on your door. If I drive up your driveway, park and knock on your door are you going to come block my car in as well. As said before you dont want us there put some X's down. There is no mistake to what that means and it wont stop you from using it plus leaving it open for emergencies. Most people I have met when I just stop in are still quite nice and usually leave you some contact info

[mag check]

mag check: although I'm not a lawyer and I don't know the exact wording of that rule, I would imagine that it doesn't mean you can't park a tractor on your own property! My guess would be that it would only apply if you deliberately tried to sabotage an aircraft, e.g. by driving your tractor onto the runway when you knew someone was just about to land. I agree with the others here that it is rude to just turn up at someone's private property unannounced. We do fly out to our AME's (unregistered, private) grass strip unannounced, but that's only because he knows us and doesn't mind. But he may or may not feel the same way about some random stranger landing there. It's polite to ask first.

Actually, I'm pretty sure that that is what it means.
If it is an "unregistered" runway, then it shoulded be maked as closed with X's if you don't want people landing. If it is a "registered" runway, then you should have a NOTAM filed if you are parking a tractor in the middle of the strip to prevent arcraft from landing.

[timexd]

For Engine Guy and all the others that think us landowners as a##holes well let me put it to you this way. My land is private property . If you land on it and then walk up to the house to ask permission you have already trespassed. Secondly, and in my case more importantly, I own very expensive horses that pasture on my little strip. When I want to go flying I move my horses into the corrals so neither themselves or myself get hurt. If you were to land uninvited and unwittingly cause hurt or damage to anyone of my herd, you would own a horse you probably cannot afford. You would also not be able to move you aircraft until that negotiation ceased.

I cannot paint large X's on my land as the strip os grass and my horses just happen to eat grass.

I reiterate that if I recieve a request to come land and to visit the answer is invariably yes. I don't talk smack but I take very seriously the issue of both my privacy and my liability. Sorry this offends you.

[MrWings]

Makes sense.

A private strip is private. It wasn't paid for by taxpayers dollars so why do pilots feel that they have a right to land there? Do you think it is OK to park your vehicles in your neighbour's driveway without permission too?

If you don't know anything about the aerodome to which you are landing, controlled or uncontrolled, do you really think you should be doing it?

[mag check]

So, you are saying that as long as the aerodrome is paid for by the public, then anyone can land there? I wonder if the hospitals would complain if I land on their heli pads.