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Old December 9th 04, 08:06 PM
TaxSrv
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"Peter Duniho" wrote:
[...] So if such a tower under 500' AGL poses a
hazard to aircraft for an adjoining private airfield, the rights

of
the antenna owner's property may just be superior under common

law.

That in no way alters the right of any aircraft to pass through that
airspace freely. The property owner does not "own" the airspace,

and has no
privilege to prohibit other people from using it where it is not

already
being occupied by something else, as suggested by the person to whom

I was
replying.


It's not really a matter of "ownership," but rather whether use of
airspace down low over other people's property denies them their right
of enjoyment and freedom from hazards. Here's 3 samples of decisions
in various states, concerning private airstrips:

"The court emphasized that in this case the airport was private, not
public, and ruled that "there is nothing to distinguish a private
airport from any other private business with regard to enjoining
operations which create a nuisance."

"The trial court issued an injunction against use of the airstrip, and
the appellate court held the injunction appropriate on the grounds
that use of the airstrip, even without actual invasion of the
utility's land, constituted a nuisance to the utility's transmission
lines." [Note the utility put up the transmission lines; then sued the
adjacent private airport owner!]

"Neighboring property owners sued owners of a private airport for
damages due to aircraft noise. Held: An airport operating in
conformance with state and federal law may nevertheless constitute a
nuisance, and the Federal Aviation Act does not preempt damages for
unreasonable noise from an airport....In addition, plaintiffs may
recover for inconvenience, annoyance, and discomfort caused by
nuisance as long as the interference with use and enjoyment of their
property is unreasonable and substantial."

Fred F.