Your own Airstrip?

[duksrule]

Wondering what the laws are on this. I live in Va Beach Va and there is a guy about 5 miles from my house that has his own Airstrip. I am wondering what the laws are on this. It is not an airfeild it is just a grass strip in some land. I have enough land to do this but would rather not have the Feds over to the house because I landed in my yard.

 

[dav8or]

Check with the city/county planning and zoning office first. If you can't get it past them you don't need to worry about the feds. BTW plan on spending 5 figures on prep and you will end up with more seat time on your tractor mowing than in the airplane flying.

 

[brett]

AOPA has a free info packet on putting in your own strip.

You may also want to consider an airpark. Advantages of an airpark are: you don't have to mow so much, you can buy a lot for considerably less than what you'd pay for a large tract, most have pooled liability insurance, you have neighbors with like interests, etc.

- Brett

 

[BD King]

Check with the city/county planning and zoning office first. If you can't get it past them you don't need to worry about the feds. BTW plan on spending 5 figures on prep and you will end up with more seat time on your tractor mowing than in the airplane flying.

Also check with the state's Department of Aviation.

 

[sky37d]

I live in/on air airpark. Our airport is 4N0, Newman's field. We get reviewed by the state DOT aviation section. The FAA doesn't come around except during our annual fly-in. The biggest challenge is your local city zoning dept. If they approve you, you are good to go. Around here, the minimum for a private strip is 10 acres. We have more than that. Insurance is a big issue, our premiums went up this year, of course, but it is spread over 16 home owners. If you want the airport to appear on the charts, then you have to get the FAA to approve it.

 

[Flying Fever]

I had a private strip for about 10 yrs, about 10 yrs ago in eastern NC. I spent a little money on a motor grader to smooth it out, seeded it and started landing there. 2700' long. Never said anything to anyone and no one ever bothered me. I built a 40x40 hangar and the tax man did come by and listed it on the property taxes. I flew a PA-12 and C-180 out of there. I flew 3-4 times a week, gave the neighbors rides when they came by and never had any problems. Biggest problem was I started having kids and due to trying to be a responsible adult money wise, the planes flew off and I later moved.

Some considerations. As someone said earlier, you need to enjoy tractor time to keep it cut or afford to have it done. Either way, more expense. Also, a biggie, liablity if someone lands there and has anykind of problem. If you don't have any assets, then maybe no problem. On my deal, I leased the land and in the lease I assumed all liablity and it was for my excusive use only. Owners of the land did not want anyone else in there because of the possible liablity trail. I use to think people that didn't allow others to land on their private strips were unfriendly, but found out they are just protecting themselves.

One of my concerns was hull insurance on my plane. I called the insurance company and asked if something happened, would I be covered. My little airport was not listed with anyone as an airport, so would they consider it a off field landing??? I never could get a answer on that and I think it was with AOPA at the time. So I switched insurance companies to one that said I could land in a cow pasture if I wanted.

I put white reflectors on pvc pipe to start with for landing at night, but later ran some wire with subsoiler behind a tractor and put in some homemade light fixtures made out of pvc fittings, mason jar for a lens and a light socket with a pigtail using 6 1/4 amp blubs. I put 4 lights on each side of the strip, 250' apart centering on the length of the strip. Worked real good and since so low amps, I'd just turn them on when I left and leave them on till I got back if I thought I'd get back after dark.

I did have the power company come by one day and want to run a power line across one end. I asked them to go on the other side of the road and they said it would be easier to go my side. So I asked the power co guy to get in the plane with me and lets go fly close to some power lines and for him to let me know when he started feeling uncomforable about getting close to the wire. He backed up and said he would put the line on the other side of the road. The other side of the road was wooded and they were going to have to clear a little right of way. Worked out good because the line was below the tree tops so I would have had to get into the trees to get in the line.

A few other problems you will probably have.........deer at night. Fourwheelers trespassing. A grass runway makes a nice drag strip. If it is beside a farm field, famer parking equipment on the strip and/or driving across it making ruts.

Just some of my experinces. I miss having my own strip and plane. My advise is if you can land in there now. Start doing it and if after a few weeks or a month and no one says anything, then you are probably ok. But if you want to get in on a sectional, listed in airport directory, etc, then you will sure enough have to get it surveyed, meet certain standards and lot of paperwork to fill out.

 

[duksrule]

Aren't there laws about just landing anywhere? As it is I could land on my driveway. It is blacktop and about 800 feet long.

My advise is if you can land in there now. Start doing it and if after a few weeks or a month and no one says anything, then you are probably ok. But if you want to get in on a sectional, listed in airport directory, etc, then you will sure enough have to get it surveyed, meet certain standards and lot of paperwork to fill out.