Chapter Trans 55

Trans 55.06(2)(e) (e) An airport owner shall operate the following minimum airfield lighting during periods of darkness, when such facilities exist at the airport:

Trans 55.06(2)(e)1. 1. Low-intensity lighting on one runway.

Trans 55.06(2)(e)2. 2. Airport beacon.

Trans 55.06(2)(e)3. 3. Windsock lighting.

Trans 55.06(2)(e)4. 4. Obstruction lighting.

Trans 55.06(3) (3) Maintain clear and safe approaches.

Trans 55.06(3)(a) (a) An airport owner shall maintain clear and safe runway protection zones as described in FAA advisory circular 150/5300-13, Airport Design, as amended, except for runway lighting fixtures, markers and metrological instruments whose locations are fixed by their functional purposes or a structure approved by the FAA. The owner shall establish positive control of the runway protection zones through the acquisition of fee title or avigation easement. The owner shall prevent the erection or creation of a structure or place of public assembly in the runway protection zone.

Trans 55.06 Note Note: The FAA advisory circular may be obtained from the United States Department of Transportation, Distribution Unit, TAB 443.1, Washington, D.C. 20590, and is on file with the Attorney General’s office and the Legislative Reference Bureau.

Trans 55.06(3)(b) (b) An airport owner shall adequately clear and protect the aerial approaches to the airport by removing, lowering, relocating, marking, or lighting or otherwise mitigating existing airport hazards and by preventing the establishment or creation of future airport hazards.

Trans 55.06(4) (4) Ordinances.

Trans 55.06(4)(a) (a) A public airport owner shall adopt the following ordinances within 6 months after receipt of a sample ordinance from the secretary:

Trans 55.06(4)(a)1. 1. A height limitation zoning ordinance adequately restricting the height of objects near the airport in accordance with s. 114.136, Stats.

Trans 55.06(4)(a)2. 2. An ordinance to provide for the control of vehicular and pedestrian traffic on the surface of the airport.

Trans 55.06(4)(b) (b) A private airport owner shall:

Trans 55.06(4)(b)1. 1. Adopt and enforce a rule to provide for the control of vehicular and pedestrian traffic on the surface of the airport.

Trans 55.06(4)(b)2. 2. Make application for and pursue the passage and acceptance of a compatible ordinance using s. 114.136, Stats., as the primary guide.

Trans 55.06(5) (5) Surveys. An airport owner shall cooperate with the secretary in surveys which may be conducted on topics that include the following:

Trans 55.06(5)(a) (a) Airport rates and charges.

Trans 55.06(5)(b) (b) Airport operations.

Trans 55.06(5)(c) (c) Based aircraft.

Trans 55.06(6) (6) Public access. An airport owner shall provide suitable aircraft parking areas so that aircraft and passengers, scheduled and general aviation, have reasonable access to the airport facilities consistent with security requirements.

Trans 55.06(7) (7) Legal relations. An airport owner shall indemnify and hold harmless the state and all its officers, employes, and agents from and against a suit, cause, action, claims costs, and expenses, including legal fees, and the state’s attorneys fees, in connection with bodily injury to a person or damage to property caused directly or indirectly by failure, malfunction, lack of maintenance, or construction of the airport and its facilities.

Trans 55.06(8) (8) Airport layout plan. An airport owner shall maintain a current layout plan showing all of the following:

Trans 55.06(8)(a) (a) The boundaries of the airport and all proposed additions, together with the boundaries of all off-site areas owned or controlled by the airport owner for airport purposes and proposed additions.

Trans 55.06(8)(b) (b) The location and nature of all existing and proposed airport facilities and structures, such as runways, taxiways, aprons, terminal buildings, hangars and roads, including all proposed extensions and reductions of existing airport facilities.

Trans 55.06(8)(c) (c) The airport layout plan and each amendment, revision or modification to the plan shall be subject to the approval of the secretary, which approval shall be evidenced by the signature of a duly authorized representative of the secretary on the face of the airport layout plan. The airport owner may not make or permit a change or alteration in the airport or in any of its facilities other than in conformity with the airport layout plan as approved by the secretary if the changes or alterations might adversely affect the safety, utility or efficiency of the airport.

Trans 55.06(9) (9) Preserving airport rights and power.

Trans 55.06(9)(a) (a) An airport owner may not enter into transactions which would deprive it of the rights and powers necessary to perform these conditions without the written approval of the secretary. The owner shall act to acquire, extinguish or modify outstanding rights or claims of the right or rights of others which would interfere with such performance by the airport owner.

Trans 55.06(9)(b) (b) The obligation to perform these conditions may be assumed by another public agency found by the secretary to be eligible to assume such obligations and having the power, authority, and financial resources to carry out all such obligations. If an arrangement is made for management or operation of the airport by an agency or person other than the airport owner or an employe of the owner, the owner shall reserve sufficient rights and authority to ensure that the airport shall be operated and maintained in accordance with these conditions.

Trans 55.06(10) (10) Special conditions. In addition to the conditions under this section, the secretary may establish, by written agreement, special conditions in the public interest where required by specific project or airport site circumstances.

Trans 55.06 History History: Cr. Register, May, 1997, No. 497, eff. 6-1-97.

Trans 55.07 Trans 55.07 Compliance assistance. If the department becomes aware of an instance where an airport owner is not in compliance with this chapter, the following steps shall be taken:

Trans 55.07(1) (1) The department shall initiate an informal meeting with the airport owner to clarify the compliance issue and recommend corrective action, if required.

Trans 55.07(2) (2) If the informal meeting fails to resolve compliance disputes, the secretary shall issue a notice to the airport owner detailing such alleged disputes and requesting corrective action.

Trans 55.07(3) (3) An airport owner shall have 45 days to resolve discrepancies or reply in writing explaining a proposed course of action to resolve the discrepancy in a timely fashion.

Trans 55.07(4) (4) If an airport owner’s response does not resolve the issue, the secretary shall then make a compliance determination and issue an appropriate order. The department may pursue appropriate administrative or legal action including suspension from state airport aid eligibility and the recovery of state funds invested in the airport.

Trans 55.07(5) (5) Airport owners in disagreement with the secretary’s order may request an administrative hearing in accordance with ch. 227, Stats.

Trans 55.07 History History: Cr. Register, May, 1997, No. 497, eff. 6-1-97.