Chapter Trans 55

Register May 1997 No. 497

Chapter Trans 55

CONDITIONS OF STATE AID FOR AIRPORT IMPROVEMENT

Trans 55.01   Purpose.

Trans 55.02   Definitions.

Trans 55.03   Applicability.

Trans 55.04   Duration.

Trans 55.05   Request for state aid.

Trans 55.06   Conditions of state aid.

Trans 55.07   Compliance assistance.

Trans 55.01 Trans 55.01 Purpose. The purpose of this chapter is to identify the conditions necessary to the granting of state aid as required in s. 114.31, Stats. This chapter describes owner responsibilities at airports developed with state funding assistance. These conditions protect the public investment and assure that airport improvements developed with state funds are managed to provide maximum public benefit.

Trans 55.01 History History: Cr. Register, May, 1997, No. 497, eff. 6-1-97.

Trans 55.02 Trans 55.02 Definitions. The words and phrases defined in ch. 114, Stats., have the same meaning in this chapter unless a different definition is specifically provided. In this chapter:

Trans 55.02(1) (1) ‘‘Airport improvement project” means a physical improvement to an airport.

Trans 55.02(2) (2) ‘‘Airport owner” means a county, city, village or town, either singly or jointly with one or more counties, cities, villages or towns, or an owner of a public-use airport desiring to sponsor an airport improvement project to be constructed with state aid.

Trans 55.02(3) (3) ‘‘Conditions” means the requirements listed in s. Trans 55.06.

Trans 55.02(4) (4) ‘‘FAA” means federal aviation administration.

Trans 55.02(5) (5) ‘‘Finding” means a document prepared by the secretary and approved by the governor which authorizes funds for an airport improvement project.

Trans 55.02(6) (6) ‘‘Force account” means airport construction work that is accomplished through the use of material, equipment, labor, and supervision provided by the sponsor or by another public agency pursuant to an agreement with the sponsor.

Trans 55.02(7) (7) ‘‘Runway protection zone” means an area off the end of the runway, the use of which is restricted in order to enhance the protection of people and property on the ground.

Trans 55.02 History History: Cr. Register, May, 1997, No. 497, eff. 6-1-97.

Trans 55.03 Trans 55.03 Applicability. The conditions set forth in s. Trans 55.06 apply to airport owners who sponsor a project developed with state aid.

Trans 55.03 History History: Cr. Register, May, 1997, No. 497, eff. 6-1-97.

Trans 55.04 Trans 55.04 Duration.

Trans 55.04(1) (1) Conditions of state aid shall commence on the date of issuance of a finding by the governor providing state funds for an airport improvement project and shall remain in effect for 20 years.

Trans 55.04(2) (2) There is no limit on the duration of conditions with respect to real property interests acquired with state funds.

Trans 55.04 History History: Cr. Register, May, 1997, No. 497, eff. 6-1-97.

Trans 55.05 Trans 55.05 Request for state aid.

Trans 55.05(1) (1) An airport owner may request state aid by resolution of the airport owner’s governing body or board of directors as provided in s. 114.33 (2), Stats.

Trans 55.05(2) (2) The secretary may enter into an agreement with an airport owner in accordance with s. 114.32, Stats., for the following:

Trans 55.05(2)(a) (a) To accept and disburse federal, state and local funds for a project and to make arrangements for the development of the project by contract, agreement, force account or otherwise.

Trans 55.05(2)(b) (b) To acquire property.

Trans 55.05(2)(c) (c) To administer the project including the execution of documents and contracts.

Trans 55.05(3) (3) The secretary may require a written commitment of required airport owner funds before forwarding a finding to the governor for approval.

Trans 55.05 History History: Cr. Register, May, 1997, No. 497, eff. 6-1-97.

Trans 55.06 Trans 55.06 Conditions of state aid.

Trans 55.06(1) (1) Good title to airport.

Trans 55.06(1)(a) (a) An airport owner shall maintain good title to the airport and may not dispose of or encumber its fee title or other property interests as shown on the exhibit “A”, or airport property map, for the duration of these conditions without the written approval of the secretary. Ordinary airport tenant leases for direct, supportive or complementary aviation activities are not considered an encumbrance by the secretary and not subject to review.

Trans 55.06(1)(b) (b) An airport owner may dispose of land when it is no longer needed for airport purposes, after receiving approval from the secretary. The airport owner shall dispose of the land at fair market value. The secretary may authorize that portion of the proceeds, which is proportionate to the state’s share of the cost of acquisition of such land, shall be invested in an airport improvement project or be paid to the secretary for deposit in the transportation fund. Disposition of land shall be subject to the retention or reservation of an interest or right necessary to ensure that the land shall only be used for purposes which are compatible with the operation of the airport.

Trans 55.06(2) (2) Airport operation and maintenance.

Trans 55.06(2)(a) (a) An airport owner shall safely operate and maintain all airport facilities which are necessary to serve the aeronautical users of the airport, other than facilities owned or controlled by the United States.

Trans 55.06(2)(b) (b) An airport owner may not permit an activity on airport property that would interfere with air transportation provided that nothing contained in this chapter shall be construed to require that an airport be operated during temporary periods when snow, flood or other conditions beyond the control of the owner prevent its use.

Trans 55.06(2)(c) (c) An airport owner shall promptly notify pilots of conditions affecting the safe aeronautical use of the airport.

Trans 55.06(2)(d) (d) An airport owner shall establish and maintain a program of both preventative and remedial pavement maintenance. The program shall contain, as a minimum, all of the following:

Trans 55.06(2)(d)1. 1. An inventory of pavements.

Trans 55.06(2)(d)2. 2. A pavement inspection schedule.

Trans 55.06(2)(d)3. 3. A systematic repair schedule to maintain performance and extend pavement life.

Trans 55.06(2)(d)4. 4. A budget sufficient to accomplish the repair schedule.

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.