steve1 5 #1 April 8, 2003 A friend of mine has a small jump operation at a municipal airport. He's spent years building up this operation, but recently received the news that the airport board decided that they can no longer jump on the airport. We're just wondering if the airport board can legally do this for no reason. There hasn't been any safety violations. At present the club is deciding to say the hell with them and continue jumping. Anyone out there have any experience with this kind of thing? ........Steve1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AggieDave 6 #2 April 8, 2003 It all depends on what the airport contract says and the city regulations of that airport. They need to 1) hirer a lawyer and 2) start patitioning City Hall--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
diverdriver 7 #3 April 8, 2003 QuoteA friend of mine has a small jump operation at a municipal airport. He's spent years building up this operation, but recently received the news that the airport board decided that they can no longer jump on the airport. We're just wondering if the airport board can legally do this for no reason. There hasn't been any safety violations. At present the club is deciding to say the hell with them and continue jumping. Anyone out there have any experience with this kind of thing? ........Steve1 FAR 105 states that you must have the permission of the airport manager in order to jump on an airport. Now, the City Board hires said airport manager so which way do you think he's going to go? I would contact Ed Scott at USPA to get advice on how to fight this. He might have some insight on how to change this. EScott@uspa.orgChris Schindler www.diverdriver.com ATP/D-19012 FB #4125 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skygod7777 0 #4 April 8, 2003 if the city takes any federal money, even 1 penny, they have to allow what they consider a aviation activity (they have a list, i don't know where it is) and skydiving is considered a aviation activity. now, if they can prove that the skydiving on the airport causes a danger to the other activities (and it has to be a legitimate danger) they can stop it, but they have to prove it. and doing all this, and taking it to court (which you buddy will have to) costs a lot of money. i had to go through all this crap with my mom and dad's dz, and we didn't have the money, so we shut down. later Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rapper4mpi 0 #5 April 8, 2003 If it is a federally funded airport, the town officials have signed specific assurances. One of those is to allow access to all aviation activities, Skydiving falls under that designation. However, don't expect the FAA to back you up in court. They do not like to get involved with court cases. I'd like to hear more about why they did this, and who owns the property that your facilities are located on? Are you leasing a hanger or building from the town? -Rap Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
darkwing 5 #6 April 8, 2003 This is an old situation, and I bet USPA can provide major assistance. As others said above, skydiving is a legitimate activity, well recognized by the FAA. I recommend that the approach to the local authorities be as non-hostile as possible, to keep things smooth after the FAA tells them that they must allow it. (based on the assumption that federal funds are used.... etc.) -- Jeff My Skydiving History Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
steve1 5 #7 April 8, 2003 QuoteIf it is a federally funded airport, the town officials have signed specific assurances. One of those is to allow access to all aviation activities, Skydiving falls under that designation. However, don't expect the FAA to back you up in court. They do not like to get involved with court cases. I'd like to hear more about why they did this, and who owns the property that your facilities are located on? Are you leasing a hanger or building from the town? -Rap[/reply I think they are using a building owned by the airport with an agreement to keep the grounds well maintained. The area is kept very neat and clean and the grass is well watered and mowed. I think there is an agreement to allow all aviation activities also, and it would be interesting to see if they receive federal dollars which they probably do. Thanks for all the info. I'll pass it on to my friend....Steve1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites BikerBabe 0 #8 April 9, 2003 Is the city not allowing them to operate? Or is the city not allowing them to LAND on airport property? We have this problem. So several years ago our club members ponied up some dough and bought 5 acres of land 3 miles away from the airport, and that is where we land. We get a van ride back to the airport. Now we just rent a hangar and our plane takes of and lands there. As far as I know, the airport can't FORBID a legal aviation business/activity from operating from the airport, but they can make things very difficult in an under-the-table sort of way (dragging their feet getting av-gas, charging exorbitantly high rent, etc). Hire a lawyer and get someone who knows the city to start going to airport board/city council meetings. Once he/she has been attneding for a while, then they can start talking. Try to find one person on the board/council who is open to the cause.Never meddle in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites steve1 5 #9 April 29, 2003 Good news! My friend who owns the jump operation called USPA for legal advice. He then threatened to sue the airport for lost income, if they refused to allow jumping at the airport. Fortunately the airport board backed right down and they are still jumping in Laurel, Montana. Thanks for the advice!........Steve1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Cajones 0 #10 April 29, 2003 Excellent news! Thanks for the update. The laws of physics are strictly enforced. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites wmw999 2,589 #11 April 29, 2003 Sniff.. I just love a happy ending Wendy W. There is nothing more dangerous than breaking a basic safety rule and getting away with it. It removes fear of the consequences and builds false confidence. (tbrown) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Raefordite 0 #12 April 29, 2003 A good example of our dollars for membership at work for us at USPA! Great news. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites kevin922 0 #13 April 30, 2003 Where I first started jumping, Yazoo City Skydivers (mississippi) it was run in an agricultural area - it was a federally funded airport that was used for crop dusting operations, the crop duster pilots didn't have radios and didn't want to fly patterns so put that together with skydiving it wasn't safe. The board didn't want skydivers in their town.. they passed some kinda law saying you can't land under canopy on the airport.. so what did they do? they took us up in the airplane and dropped us over people's fields.. so technically we weren't landing on the airport.. then they came back and said you can't bring skydiving gear on the airport.. I'm not sure all the fine details but needless to say they aren't running now. (i wasn't too impressed with the business or the owner) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Join the conversation You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account. Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible. Reply to this topic... × Pasted as rich text. Paste as plain text instead Only 75 emoji are allowed. × Your link has been automatically embedded. Display as a link instead × Your previous content has been restored. Clear editor × You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL. Insert image from URL × Desktop Tablet Phone Submit Reply 0
BikerBabe 0 #8 April 9, 2003 Is the city not allowing them to operate? Or is the city not allowing them to LAND on airport property? We have this problem. So several years ago our club members ponied up some dough and bought 5 acres of land 3 miles away from the airport, and that is where we land. We get a van ride back to the airport. Now we just rent a hangar and our plane takes of and lands there. As far as I know, the airport can't FORBID a legal aviation business/activity from operating from the airport, but they can make things very difficult in an under-the-table sort of way (dragging their feet getting av-gas, charging exorbitantly high rent, etc). Hire a lawyer and get someone who knows the city to start going to airport board/city council meetings. Once he/she has been attneding for a while, then they can start talking. Try to find one person on the board/council who is open to the cause.Never meddle in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
steve1 5 #9 April 29, 2003 Good news! My friend who owns the jump operation called USPA for legal advice. He then threatened to sue the airport for lost income, if they refused to allow jumping at the airport. Fortunately the airport board backed right down and they are still jumping in Laurel, Montana. Thanks for the advice!........Steve1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Cajones 0 #10 April 29, 2003 Excellent news! Thanks for the update. The laws of physics are strictly enforced. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wmw999 2,589 #11 April 29, 2003 Sniff.. I just love a happy ending Wendy W. There is nothing more dangerous than breaking a basic safety rule and getting away with it. It removes fear of the consequences and builds false confidence. (tbrown) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Raefordite 0 #12 April 29, 2003 A good example of our dollars for membership at work for us at USPA! Great news. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kevin922 0 #13 April 30, 2003 Where I first started jumping, Yazoo City Skydivers (mississippi) it was run in an agricultural area - it was a federally funded airport that was used for crop dusting operations, the crop duster pilots didn't have radios and didn't want to fly patterns so put that together with skydiving it wasn't safe. The board didn't want skydivers in their town.. they passed some kinda law saying you can't land under canopy on the airport.. so what did they do? they took us up in the airplane and dropped us over people's fields.. so technically we weren't landing on the airport.. then they came back and said you can't bring skydiving gear on the airport.. I'm not sure all the fine details but needless to say they aren't running now. (i wasn't too impressed with the business or the owner) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
