Private Airfield

[ECAM_Actions]

Hi,

What do I need to do to operate out of a private strip? Anything? Nothing? What regulations, if any, apply? Can any field I have permission from the land owner to use, be used to fly out of?

I have a particular field in mind, situated in the middle of nowhere. I will not provide specific details, other than it is flat, short grass, well maintained, and clear of anything that looks like a building for several miles.

Best regards,
ECAM Actions.

[goatface]

This should make interesting reading.

ASIDELINES: Plans for private airstrip taking off - The Star (http://www.thestar.co.uk/diary/ASIDELINES-Plans-for-private-airstrip.5256276.jp)

As far as I know, as long as you're not planning to disturb a site of special scientific interest or similar, there shouldn't be a problem and you shouldn't need planning permission, although it might be prudent to have a word with the local planning office - they're going to find out about it one way or the other.

A couple of friends got around the "hanger" problem, by errecting a "barn", which, at the time didn't need planning permission providing some agricultural equipment was actually kept in it.
Quite an expensive option these days, but it depends how long you intend to operate from your strip and whether you can persuade the landowner to meet you halfway perhaps.

[Blink182]

Have a search of "28 day rule" assuming you are in the UK.

[ECAM_Actions]

Hi,

Chances are I'd exceed that rule. Thanks for making me aware of it though!!

Time to find a few more fields... :}

Best regards,
ECAM Actions.

[Shunter]

The 28 day rule is fairly clear, but if as you say there are no buildings for miles around there's a fairly simple equation to be applied.

F = nb * px

F = feasibility
nb = nosey bastard
px = proximity

[BRL]

Great post mate!!! :D (shunter)

[stiknruda]

Do expect the old-bill around, too. If they appear more than twice each calendar year, it's because they have marked you down as a medium/high risk to the nation's security.

I'd NOT contact the local planners.

Don't do circuits, don't invite all your mates to beat the place up and then land every other weekend, either! Avoid aeros in the overhead - it just gets too much attention from NIMBY and those of a jealous persuasion.

Stik

[IO540]

I looked into this a while ago.

On the one hand one can do what a lot of people have done and work within the 28 day rule, which obviously can be exceeded if you are sure that nobody is around counting all your flights.

Then after 10 years you can apply for full planning. This requires a log to have been kept of all flights, including AIUI those exceeding the 28 day rule. AIUI, exceeding the 28 day rule is not illegal; the rule merely allows you to do the activity without needing permission.

Another approach, usually discouraged by the farm strip based old-timers in this business (who as often as not do have access to a barn which happens to have the obligatory tractor parked in it), is to take it on the chin and go for full planning up front. Allocate a budget of say £20k to the services of a clever (not aggressive) planning consultant and noise survey specialists, and allow a few years to get there. In the meantime, the 28 day rule can be used but in some ways this may not be a good idea because of the increased provocation. If you fail to get planning you can always revert to the 28 day rule (though you will be watched extra carefully by the locals) but if you do get it, nobody can stop the operation so long as you remain within the terms of the planning permission.

This is a kind of thing which almost everybody says is impossible, but then almost nobody has ever tried it. I spoke to some consultants who though it was definitely feasible.

The trick is to find a piece of land long enough. UK farming has tended to divide land into pieces no bigger than ~ 500m, which severely limits the kind of flying one can do from there.

Lots has been written on this, with many useful tips. One tip is to NOT have a windsock because it attracts passing pilots to drop in - this can really cause you a lot of trouble.

[Justiciar]

clearly ignorant of the way the law works with respect to private aviation,or has something to hide.

Spoken like a true expert, where (e)x is the unknown quantity and 'ert is a drip under pressure :=

The (planning) law is not specific to aviation. Aviators fit in to the general rules which govern extensions on your house, new builds etc.

Many people rely on the 28 day rule for a use which would otherwise require permission. In many cases the 28 days is stretched and with no one around to record the days use it is possible to get away with a great deal. The entire Certificate of Lawful Use procedure is based on the assumption that people will do things on their land for which they do not have permission! The Certificate allows for deemed permission where someone can establish 10 years use - in effect it legally rewards the land owner who has "got away" (if you like to view it as that) with his change of use without causing problems for anyone else.

Stik is quite right and I know he/she (:ok:) speaks from personal experience. Once you approach the planners you stir up a hornets' nest. If you do it informally then they are confronted with what may be an unlawful user and it is difficult for them to do nothing. If you make a formal application then as Stik said, every local (and sometimes not so local) NIMBY come out of the closet and makes it their life's work to see that not only do you not get planning consent but what you do currently (legally) is stopped.

My local airfield has no planning consent; it has been operating since the 1960s; the county council have put up aircraft warning signs on the roads and the district council have just given building reg consent for the new clubhouse. We have resisted making an application for a Certificate of Lawful Use or planning consent because in the absence of an enforcement notice what we are doing is lawful (not illegal as goatface is suggesting) and an application would raise all sorts of unwelcomed discussions about how many days of the week we operate and what our movement numbers are or should be. We would rather not have to address that despite the fact that relations with the local village are very good indeed. The longer we continue to operate the stronger our position becomes.

[Them thar hills]

Apart from all the other good suggestions don't put up a windsock. If you must, a green one is best, and only when you are flying.

And fly quietly, this includes NOT using the radio.

Best of luck with the strip, just do it !

tth

[mikegolfpapa]

Stay at least 1000ft downwind whilst you check the strip is clear, use mimimum power on the approach and if the aircraft has a CS prop avoid selecting full fine until after you have reduced speed and power to avoid attracting attention to the aircraft as so many people do by selecting full fine downwind.
On takeoff if the aircraft has a CS prop keep the speed as low as you can by adopting a steep rate of climb; this has a twofold advantage of reducing the tip speed (rotational speed plus forward speed) of the prop (which is often far more irritating than the engine exhaust sound) and also the ground footprint of your noise.
Even without the noise issue from a CS prop a steep climb will still reduce the noise footprint.

[ECAM_Actions]

Interesting... thanks.

Seems a post got deleted on the way...

From somewhere quietly,
ECAM Actions.

[Saab Dastard]

Seems a post got deleted on the way...

Correct - one registered member decided to delete his / her own post. All members are entitled to do so.

SD