Landing on a road?

[DJS]

We've got a vacation house out in the sticks. There are a few other houses on our road, which has no trees (desert), no powerlines and is long and straight. The nearest airport is about 15 miles away. In the past, I've either ridden my bicycle (it just barely fits in the back seat) or taken a cab (expensive!) when I need to fly in. Neither is optimal.

So the idea entered my head...hmmm...I wonder if I could land on the road and park in my driveway. Other than possibly 91.13(?), in my quick pass through the FARs I couldn't find anything that would prohibit this.

Did I miss something obvious, like some FAR that states, "No Landing on Public Roads!"

Of course, even if legal, I'm not going to go charge out and do this. I'd want to talk with the couple other folks on this road and perhaps even measure the straight section just to make sure it was long enough in various density altitudes (it seems it's at least a few thousand feet, but I'd like to be sure)...but the idea of being able to just park a plane in my own driveway is intriguing.

Thanks in advance for any pointers.

 

[A Squared]

We've got a vacation house out in the sticks. There are a few other houses on our road, which has no trees (desert), no powerlines and is long and straight. The nearest airport is about 15 miles away. In the past, I've either ridden my bicycle (it just barely fits in the back seat) or taken a cab (expensive!) when I need to fly in. Neither is optimal.

So the idea entered my head...hmmm...I wonder if I could land on the road and park in my driveway. Other than possibly 91.13(?), in my quick pass through the FARs I couldn't find anything that would prohibit this.

Did I miss something obvious, like some FAR that states, "No Landing on Public Roads!"

Of course, even if legal, I'm not going to go charge out and do this. I'd want to talk with the couple other folks on this road and perhaps even measure the straight section just to make sure it was long enough in various density altitudes (it seems it's at least a few thousand feet, but I'd like to be sure)...but the idea of being able to just park a plane in my own driveway is intriguing.

Thanks in advance for any pointers.

You're not going to find anything in the FARs about landing on roads. You may in your state laws.

 

[aeronautic1]

D'Oh

Buying a old crew car and leaving it at the airport (battery diconnected) may be cheaper than taking the wings off and trucking your aircraft back to your A&P for reassembly.

 

[TR4A]

How about this one:

91.13 Careless or reckless operation.
(a) Aircraft operations for the purpose of air navigation. No person may operate an aircraft in a careless or reckless manner so as to endanger the life or property of another.
(b) Aircraft operations other than for the purpose of air navigation. No person may operate an aircraft, other than for the purpose of air navigation, on any part of the surface of an airport used by aircraft for air commerce (including areas used by those aircraft for receiving or discharging persons or cargo), in a careless or reckless manner so as to endanger the life or property of another.

 

[DJS]

How about this one:

91.13 Careless or reckless operation.
(a) Aircraft operations for the purpose of air navigation. No person may operate an aircraft in a careless or reckless manner so as to endanger the life or property of another.

Yeah, I know about that one

But is landing on a long, straight, mostly house-free, tree-free, powerline-free paved road out in the middle of nowhere "careless" or "reckless"?

The other poster's (vague) point about hauling the plane back to the airport is actually more troubling. As in, what if I land, but I have some issues during my runup for the next takeoff? I suppose I could hire the mechanic at the local airport to drive out to my house...

I will also need to check out state/local laws. I'd be suprised if there are any local issues, but Washington state might have something to say on the subject.

 

[A Squared]

How about this one:

91.13 Careless or reckless operation.
(a) Aircraft operations for the purpose of air navigation. No person may operate an aircraft in a careless or reckless manner so as to endanger the life or property of another.
(b) Aircraft operations other than for the purpose of air navigation. No person may operate an aircraft, other than for the purpose of air navigation, on any part of the surface of an airport used by aircraft for air commerce (including areas used by those aircraft for receiving or discharging persons or cargo), in a careless or reckless manner so as to endanger the life or property of another.

There is nothing inherently reckless about landng and taking off on roads, beaches hayfields, gravel bars, and other off airport locations. True, it could be done in a reckless manner, but the mere act itself isn't necessarily reckless.

 

[TR4A]

There is nothing inherently reckless about landng and taking off on roads, beaches hayfields, gravel bars, and other off airport locations. True, it could be done in a reckless manner, but the mere act itself isn't necessarily reckless.

Just pointing out the FAA's catch-all reg.

Contact Information

3704 172nd Street NE Suite K2
P.O. Box 3367
Arlington WA 98223
(360) 651-6300
(800) 552-0666
(360) 651-6319 Fax
1 (800) 552-0666
www .wsdot.wa.gov/aviation

 

[THE Flying Ace]

Local crop duster near my home town in SD used to use the gravel road frequently for take-offs and landings.

 

[sbav8r]

How much property do you have? Build a dirt strip.

 

[Headwind]

Better check with your insurance carrier before landing anywhere other than an airport.

HEADWIND

 

[Lead Sled]

Better check with your insurance carrier before landing anywhere other than an airport.

That's the key. Most insurance policies will specify what types of runways are acceptable. You also need to check with the respective state department of aeronautics to find out what the applicible state and local laws are.

FWIW, I used to operate a Turbo Commander off of a county highway in Nevada. I flew it for a company that provided those hugh earth moving equipment tires for a large mine in Northern Nevada. It's amazing what government will let you do when you're dealing with the largest single tax-payer in the county. We'd file IFR to a fix, then cancel as we approached the landing area. (It tended to blow a few controller's minds when we'd tell them that we were planning on landing on a state highway. ) The mine manager would pre-arrange with the county Sheriff to have the highway blocked off by the time we arrived. It was pretty cool to touchdown on the highway and pull off into a rest area. The local Sheriff would have one of his deputies guard the airplane until we were ready to take off.

'Sled

 

[MTpilot]

Ag pilots do it all the time

Of course thay have permission from the county or city or state, that's all you really have to get. As far as insurance goes just don't crash! If your road really is as isolated as you say it is, you shouldn't have any trouble. Just be careful, that road looks big when you drivin on it, but I bet it don't look so big when you fly over it. Good Luck!

 

[JAFI]

There is nothing (that I know of) in the CFR's about landing on a road. The "Careless" reg would come into play (as an example) if you knowling tried to land on a road (not in an emergency) that was less than the width of your wings and contacted the telephone poles on the side of the road. I would ask about pre-flight planning and landing runway adequacy. (IMHO, It is just as bad to land on too narrow a runway as to land on too short a runway....)

As stated by other posters the local laws (state, county, town/city) should be considered. In some states it is legal to land on a road but you must get the permission of the state to take off. SO unless you plan on staying there, you may want to look into the take off legality.

JAFI

 

[TDTURBO]

How does one check the local laws for landing on rarely used roads? Say for Michigan. Who would I contact, the local sherriff?

 

[FlyingDawg]

This common practice in Alaska. They even have signs on some roads that state "Aircraft have Right-of-way."


I once watched in disbelief and envy as two patrons from the restaurant I was sitting in, walked ouside and pushed their Taylorcraft up to the road. After starting the engine and looking both ways, they pulled onto the road and tookoff.

Good luck with your airtcraft to door commute!

 

[groundpointsix]

How does one check the local laws for landing on rarely used roads? Say for Michigan. Who would I contact, the local sherriff?

Many states have the state codes online. Try the state website. Local laws may be a little harder to find online, but I would say to try the local library/town hall/courthouse and see what they have. I would imagine asking the local sheriff would be much like asking the local FSDO for an FAR interpretation. That's not to say he won't try to arrest you if it is legal and you try it, but at least you have the actual law on your side.

 

[Lead Sled]

Many states have the state codes online. Try the state website. Local laws may be a little harder to find online, but I would say to try the local library/town hall/courthouse and see what they have. I would imagine asking the local sheriff would be much like asking the local FSDO for an FAR interpretation. That's not to say he won't try to arrest you if it is legal and you try it, but at least you have the actual law on your side.

Actually the best place to start is with the state department of aeronautics. They will have a listing of the applicable state statutes and be able to point you in the right direction to get the statutes for the counties and cities. However, it may all be a mute point if your friendly local aviation insurance underwriter thinks ill of the proposal. Check the fine print of your policy, there will frequently be stipulations such as "hard surfaced, public use airports" etc. In other words, even if you are totally legal, if you ding anything you may be on your own when it comes insurance coverage.

'Sled

 

[TDTURBO]

Actually the best place to start is with the state department of aeronautics. They will have a listing of the applicable state statutes and be able to point you in the right direction to get the statutes for the counties and cities. However, it may all be a mute point if your friendly local aviation insurance underwriter thinks ill of the proposal. Check the fine print of your policy, there will frequently be stipulations such as "hard surfaced, public use airports" etc. In other words, even if you are totally legal, if you ding anything you may be on your own when it comes insurance coverage.

'Sled

Hmmmmm, good point. It sure would be incredibly convenient at the lake. I will look into this further and report back. I doubt highly they will let you do this in lower Michigan, even in rural areas but it's worth a look. I might just have to change my sig at the bottom.

 

[TDTURBO]

Here is some info I copied from the DOT in Michigan.


(7) A person shall not operate an aircraft in a careless or reckless manner so as to endanger, or be likely to
endanger, the life or property of another. Other than at a licensed or approved landing area, a person shall not
fly an aircraft less than 25 feet (7.6 meters) above the ground at the field boundary, or closer than 25 feet (7.6
meters) to any object or structure while landing or taking off.


259.80d Landing aircraft.
Sec. 80d. (1) An aircraft shall not land, except in an emergency, on private property, other than upon
recognized landing areas, unless express permission is secured from the owner or lessee.
(2) A person shall not land an aircraft on a public highway, except in an emergency. A person shall not
operate an aircraft on a public highway unless traffic is controlled by law enforcement officials.
Lighter-than-air and emergency evacuation aircraft may take off and land on any public highway with
prearranged traffic control.


259.89 Private use landing areas.
Sec. 89. Sections 86 and 87a do not apply to landing areas designated and operated for private use if
commercial operations are not performed on the landing areas. A landing area for private use shall not be
established, without commission approval, within 5 nautical miles of a public use facility certified by the
commission or that would violate section 87.


And if you do it anyway, here is the fine and punishment....


259.180 Reckless operation of aircraft as misdemeanor; penalty.
Sec. 180. A person who operates any aircraft within the airspace over, above, and upon the lands and
waters of the state, carelessly and heedlessly in willful or wanton disregard of the rights or safety of others, or
without due caution and circumspection and in a manner so as to endanger or be likely to endanger any person
or property, is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for not more than 90 days, a fine of not
more than $500.00, or community service of not more than 30 days, or any combination of these penalties.

 

[IP076]

If its that important to you, and you think its worth it, why don't you consult your few neighbors, and try to get this road recognized as an "Approved Landing Area", ie, a private airport.

I've seen a few private airport/road combinations out west. I'd guess its possible.

You may be able to convince the neighbors with a few 100 dollar hamburger trips from their new local airport every now and then!