Where CAN you land your plane??

The guy complaining about the next door airport got me thinking more about
a question that's been rolling around in my head for some time.

I'm not a pilot (yet), don't own a plane, or even any significant land, but
I've kind of wondered..... If I owned enough land somewhere "could" I just
land my plane on an appropriate surface? or would it have to be a
registered airport? Would it matter if it was an Ultralight, or an "N"
registered plane??

What are the rules (federal) that govern this? or is it a state by state
thing (I'm in Texas if it really matters).

I know I here of planes in Alaska that land on a local road, pull up to the
rural gas station to fill up, and take off again (or is that an Urban
Legend?)


--
ET
(Future student pilot and future Sonex builder)


"A common mistake people make when trying to design something
completely foolproof is to underestimate the ingenuity of complete
fools."---- Douglas Adams

"ET" wrote in message ...

I'm not a pilot (yet), don't own a plane, or even any significant land, but
I've kind of wondered..... If I owned enough land somewhere "could" I just
land my plane on an appropriate surface? or would it have to be a
registered airport? Would it matter if it was an Ultralight, or an "N"
registered plane??

The FAA really doesn't have any rules about where you can land as long
as it doesn't violate the general prohibitions on careless/reckless operation.
A few years back the FAA tried to pervert the rule requiring 90 day notice
of intent to construct an airport to mean that any landing site required such
notice, but the helicopter factions quickly quashed that.

You will find that your local laws may very well forbid such use however.

ET wrote:


I'm not a pilot (yet), don't own a plane, or even any significant land, but
I've kind of wondered..... If I owned enough land somewhere "could" I just
land my plane on an appropriate surface? or would it have to be a
registered airport?

You can land on any private land you have permission for. You can land
on any designated Forest Service airport. You cannot land elsewhere on
Forest Service land. You may land anywhere on BLM land. You can never
land in a National Park. You cannot land on Federal highways or
Freeways. You might be able to land on state or local roads. If you
can there are varying regs. Here in Montana I can land on any non
Federal road as long as I look both ways. Check your state regs for
state land.


Would it matter if it was an Ultralight, or an "N"
registered plane??

No.


I know I here of planes in Alaska that land on a local road, pull up to the
rural gas station to fill up, and take off again (or is that an Urban
Legend?)

That's common. An airport near here has a self serve carwash outside
the airport fence. Open the gate and taxi over to wash your plane.

The guy complaining about the next door airport got me thinking more about
a question that's been rolling around in my head for some time.

I'm not a pilot (yet), don't own a plane, or even any significant land,
but
I've kind of wondered..... If I owned enough land somewhere "could" I just
land my plane on an appropriate surface? or would it have to be a
registered airport? Would it matter if it was an Ultralight, or an "N"
registered plane??

What are the rules (federal) that govern this? or is it a state by state
thing (I'm in Texas if it really matters).

I know I here of planes in Alaska that land on a local road, pull up to
the
rural gas station to fill up, and take off again (or is that an Urban
Legend?)


In Texas, you supposedly need Texas Parks & Wildlife Dept permission to land
a seaplane on a lake. At a couple of remote airports, I've taxied off
airport property down to a nearby gas station for fuel, having no idea if it
was legal.

There was a guy down in Borrego Springs that used to always land his plane
on the road and taxi to his driveway. He lived out in the middle of nowhere
(which kind of defines Borrego Springs, anyway), but one day a local sheriff
decided to cite him for illegal operation of a vehicle on the public road --
no license plate, no tail lights, etc. So now he parks his plane at Thermal
and drives to his house.

It varies by state and local governing bodies.

Registered aircraft may have different rules from ultralights.
Where local zoning may ban registered aircraft, it may allow
ultralights.

Some states will allow you to land and take off from interstate
highways, others may require the aircraft to be disassembled and
trucked out.
In Alaska, as you drive down a two lane road, you may see signs that
state "AIRCRAFT HAVE RIGHT OF WAY ON ROAD".

On private land, the owners permission is, as a general rule, required.

The rules are all over the place.

I've kind of wondered..... If I owned enough land somewhere "could" I just
land my plane on an appropriate surface? or would it have to be a
registered airport? Would it matter if it was an Ultralight, or an "N"
registered plane??

About 15 years ago I remember a sign on the side of the road down in the
Florida Keys (Summerland Key to be more specific) that stated that cars must
yield right of way to taxiing aircraft. I don't know if that sign is still
there but it sure was funny to see.
Now up here in Central Florida there's an airstrip called Cedar Key (KCDK)
and at that airstrip it is now illegal to use the taxiway for aircraft
movement.
Go figure!

David (KORL)

ET wrote in
:

The guy complaining about the next door airport got me thinking more
about a question that's been rolling around in my head for some time.

I'm not a pilot (yet), don't own a plane, or even any significant
land, but I've kind of wondered..... If I owned enough land somewhere
"could" I just land my plane on an appropriate surface? or would it
have to be a registered airport? Would it matter if it was an
Ultralight, or an "N" registered plane??

What are the rules (federal) that govern this? or is it a state by
state thing (I'm in Texas if it really matters).

I know I here of planes in Alaska that land on a local road, pull up
to the rural gas station to fill up, and take off again (or is that an
Urban Legend?)



I have a copy of the Flyer's Recreation Guide from 1993. It has a
description of Chico Hot Springs, an uncharted "airport" in the town of
Pray, Idaho.

Coord: N-45-21.5, W-110-37.5
Elev: 5200 feet
RWay: 15/33 5000 x 35' asphalt
Freq: CTAF-122.8
Chart: (not charted)

CAUTION: The runway is an automobile highway. Call on 122.8 and ask
Chico Hot Springs to block the road. Land on 15; depart on 33.

"The airport is a county highway that doubles as a runway. ..

Call Chico in advance at 406-333-4933 to alert them of your arrival.
As them to verify that their radio is on and the volume is up. When you
arrive, circle the runway and contact Chico Hot Springs on 122.8 Wait
until they block the road, as required by the county sheriff."

I've never been to Chico Hot Springs, so this is the only information I
have about it.

--
Marty Shapiro
Silicon Rallye Inc.

(remove SPAMNOT to email me)

Marty Shapiro wrote:


I have a copy of the Flyer's Recreation Guide from 1993. It has a
description of Chico Hot Springs, an uncharted "airport" in the town of
Pray, Idaho.

Actually it's in Pray, Montana.



Coord: N-45-21.5, W-110-37.5
Elev: 5200 feet
RWay: 15/33 5000 x 35' asphalt
Freq: CTAF-122.8
Chart: (not charted)

CAUTION: The runway is an automobile highway. Call on 122.8 and ask
Chico Hot Springs to block the road. Land on 15; depart on 33.

"The airport is a county highway that doubles as a runway. ..

Call Chico in advance at 406-333-4933 to alert them of your arrival.
As them to verify that their radio is on and the volume is up. When you
arrive, circle the runway and contact Chico Hot Springs on 122.8 Wait
until they block the road, as required by the county sheriff."

I've never been to Chico Hot Springs, so this is the only information I
have about it.

You are correct, you land on a portion of the highway.

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--kyler