Where can the wheels call home?

[Traumahawk]

Question for everyone...

Could anyone comment on the legalities of landing at places other than public/private airports.....

Example: An abandoned runway in the middle of nowhere, not even charted, can you turn this into your own little touch n go spot every few weeks?

On the Jacksonville, Fl sectional chart, southwest of jax there is Camp Blanding(seemingly charted wrong since a military soft field should be "double circled" but anyways), the base itself consists of 2 sod runways. However, north of the field are some outlying runways, both uncharted. A 2500 asphalt strip, and a 4000 dirt strip, both used by C-130's and AH-64's. These are contained on the very very edge of a restricted area which goes active randomly and often. But when this R area is cold, it doesn't 'exist' as far as airspace goes...could these uncharted strips be fair game to the pilot who wouldn't know anything about them being military property? The base itself is charted incorrectly, and these not at all.
Further examples would be the numerous abandoned fields out west, often uncharted in the middle of nowhere on state land. Or using a road(I think I asked about this a ways back)...besides the private property issue, does it say in the FAR's that the act of takeoff or landing has to be at a 'labeled airport' or can you do it anywhere suitable? Touch n' go or No go?

Thanks for the time guys!
T-hawk

 

[JCJ]

I don't think anything in the FAR's prohibit landing "off airport", but there of could be restrictions on aircraft operation by the owner of the property itself. for example the owner of a private airfield can limit operation there to whoever he wants, and the owner of "non-airport" land certainly could as well

the FAA of always has the "careless and reckless operation" clause to stick you with if they don't like what you did and don't have any other way to do it.

the NG base here just north of little rock has a C-130 assault strip that is only used intermittently. both the LRAFB flight safety folks and the c-130 pilots have told us to not land on it as it is rough enough that it would tear up a light plane.

of course ranchers out west take off and land from their own property (not necessarily an airport) as well

 

[sabreliner]

There are a few potential problems with landing at an uncharted and/or unmaintained runway.

If you ding the a/c the insurance will most likely deny your claim. That could get VERY expensive for you.

Being possibly unmaintained, who's to say that there isn't a big old gopher hole in the middle of the runway that is going to swallow your nose wheel and rip it off your a/c?

The FAA will be certain to zap you with a careless and reckless if you do anything that will catch their attention.

If it is normally used by the military, chances are it is on their property somewhere. I don't think they'd take kindly to you landing there.

 

[Traumahawk]

I was just wondering about the legalities of the issue, although yes, absolutely it would be wise to know the condition of anywhere you intent to land an airplane, unless you had a husky with tundra tires..hehe.

I think JCJ had it right. Float planes somewhat prove this point, anywhere theres water right? Now if it's a private lake, well, then same issue of landplanes on private property too.
T-hawk