Section 3. Processing of Airport Proposals By
Regional Flight Standards Offices
11-3-1. EFFECT ON SAFETY OF FLIGHT
The appropriate Flight Standards Office shall
perform a flight safety review of heliport and
seaplane base proposals to determine whether aircraft
operations can be conducted safely. Flight Standards
will review a modification of standard to proposals as
appropriate except for modification to the Runway
Obstacle Free Area (ROFA), Obstacle Free Zone
(OFZ), Taxiway Safety Area (TSA), Taxiway
Obstacle Free Area (TOFA), or penetrations to the
threshold siting surface or part 77 criteria. Also, the
Flight Standards Office will review any proposal
with runways, taxiways, and/or ramp surfaces
underlying threshold-siting surfaces and proposals
for declared distance concepts. Upon completion of
the review, the appropriate Flight Standards Office
shall submit its report to the responsible Airports
Office. The report shall state whether or not safe
operations can be conducted or what conditions are
needed to ensure safe operations. Information
provided by Technical Operations Aviation System
Standards may be used when conducting these
reviews.
11-3-2. EFFECT ON SAFETY OF
PERSONS AND PROPERTY ON THE
GROUND
FAAO 1000.1, Policy Statement of the FAA, states
that the agency will pursue a regulatory policy that
recognizes the primary right of the individual to
accept personal risk. However, the agency balances
this right against society's interest in the safety of the
individual, and limits the individual's right to incur
risk when the exercise of that right creates a risk for
others. Therefore, airport aeronautical studies must
consider, for example, the proposal's proximity to
cities or towns, and its runway alignment with
reference to heavily populated areas, schools,
hospitals, sports stadiums, and shopping centers, etc.
11-3-3. ONSITE EVALUATIONS
a. Heliports. All proposals for the establishment
of heliports must be given an onsite operational
evaluation by operations specialists or inspectors,
preferably those who are qualified on helicopters.
Proposed heliports to be located in congested areas,
and/or on a roof-top, should be evaluated by
helicopter-qualified operations inspectors. Included in the process is the development of
recommendations for assignment of ingress and
egress routes, where necessary.
b. Non-Federal Agreement Airport Proposal. The
Flight Standards Office performing a flight safety
review will use information submitted with the FAA
Form 7480-1 and any other information as may be
available, such as charts, aerial photographs, etc. A
flight check or an onsite inspection may be
advantageous if the proposal is controversial or
additional information is needed.
c. Federally Assisted Airport Proposal. The Flight
Standards Office should:
1. Review the proposal from the standpoint of
safety of flight operations.
2. Conduct an on-site evaluation.
3. Advise the air traffic office when obstructions
and/or terrain that prove to cause significant safety
problems are identified.
d. The FSDO reviews part 157 seaplane base and
heliport proposals.
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