HomeMy WebLinkAboutORD 2008-38 - Airport Use RegulationsORDINANCE NO. 008 3
An Ordinance of the City Of Georgetown, Texas Amending Sections 12.32.210
"Vehicles in Aircraft Operations Areas;" 12.32.350 "Taxiing Aircraft' 12.32.440
"Take Off, Landing, Flying Rules and Procedures;" 12.32.460 "Helicopter
Operations;" and 12.32.470 "Glider Operations;" of the City of Georgetown Code
Of Ordinances Pertaining to the Georgetown Municipal Airport Use Regulations;
Providing a Severability Clause; and Providing an Effective Date.
WHEREAS, in October 2003, the City Council voted to update the Airport Master Plan and
retained the services of GRW Willis, Inc. to assist the City in that effort; and
WHEREAS, the work done by GRW Willis, Inc. included a review of Chapter 12.32 of the City
Code of Ordinances pertaining to the "Georgetown Municipal Airport Use Regulations," which
had not been updated in many years; and
WHEREAS, GRW Willis, Inc. updated and revised the Georgetown Municipal Airport Use
Regulations, as well as the Minimum Standards for Commercial and Non -Commercial Operators,
which are adopted by reference in the Airport Use Regulations, and the updated and revised
versions of both documents were presented to the Airport Advisory Committee on September 19,
2005 and were approved by the Board; and
WHEREAS, the City Council did replace the existing Georgetown Municipal Airport Use
Regulations and the existing Minimum Standards for Commercial and Non -Commercial Operators
as updated and revised by GRW Willis, Inc. on November 22,2005; and
WHEREAS, the proposed revisions and/or updates to Chapter 12.32 were presented to the Airport
Advisory Board on June 17, 2008, and were approved by the Board; and
WHEREAS, the City Council now desires to revise and/or update Chapter 12.32 of the Georgetown
Municipal Airport Use Regulations as recommended by the Airport Advisory Board.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
GEORGETOWN, TEXAS, THAT:
SECTION 1. The facts and recitations contained in the preamble of this ordinance are
hereby found and declared to be true and correct, and are incorporated by reference herein and
expressly made a part hereof, as if copied verbatim. The City Council hereby finds that this ordinance
implements the following elements of the 2030 Plan and that the enactment of this ordinance is not
inconsistent or in conflict with any other Century Plan Policies, or the Airport Plan
SECTION 2. Section 12.32.210 of the City of Georgetown Code of Ordinances is hereby
amended to provide as follows:
Ordinance No. C-) 0 0
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12.32.210 Vehicles in Aircraft Operating Areas.
No vehicle may proceed on any area defined as an Aircraft Movement Area (see
appendix I) unless in direct radio contact with Georgetown Tower, and having received
proper authorization.
Georgetown Tower may also provide information related to aircraft and/or vehicle
movement on and/or in the loading ramp or parking areas. This information is advisory in
nature and does not imply control responsibility.
Airport vehicles should find alternate routes to keep them off the runways and
taxiways as much as possible.
Personnel unfamiliar with the airport requesting to go out on the airport must be
escorted by the Airport Manager or his representative.
All vehicles unable to communicate with the tower shall be escorted by a vehicle
capable of communicating with the tower.
Pilot's Choice and Gantt Aviation are authorized to operate on taxiway Alpha,
directly adjacent to their leasehold without direct communication with the Georgetown
Airport Traffic Control Tower. These vehicles and personnel shall yield to all aircraft
operating on Taxiway Alpha. The airport owner/operator covenants and expressly agrees
that with regard to any liability which may arise from the operation on Taxiway Alpha as
described herein, that party shall be solely and exclusively liable, for the neglect of if s own
agents, representatives, and/or employees, in accordance with applicable law, and that
neither party looks to the other to save or hold it harmless for the consequences of any
negligence on the part of one of it's own agents, representatives, and/or employees.
SECTION 3. Section 12.32.350 of the City of Georgetown Code of Ordinances is hereby
amended to provide as follows:
12.32.350 Taxiing Aircraft.
A. No aircraft equipped with an anti -collision beacon shall begin to safely taxi before
the beacon has been activated.
B. Aircraft will be taxied at a safe and prudent speed, and in such manner as to be
under the control of the pilot at all times.
C. Aircraft not equipped with adequate brakes will not be taxied near buildings or
parked aircraft unless an attendant is at a wing of the aircraft assisting the pilot.
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D. During the hours the control tower is in operation, all taxi operations in the
movement areas will be as directed by Air Traffic Control instruction. After hours, aircraft
shall not taxi onto the runway from the ramp and taxiway area whenever there is another
aircraft approaching to land, or whenever another aircraft is on the ground in take -off
position.
E. There shall be no taxiing of aircraft by engine power into or out of hangars.
SECTION 4. Section 12.32.440 of the City of Georgetown Code of Ordinances is hereby
amended to provide as follows:
12.32.440. Take -off, Landing, Flying Rules and Procedures.
During the hours the control tower is in operation, pilots must abide by Air Traffic
Control instructions. After hours, the following procedures apply:
Pilots are governed by those regulations promulgated by the FAA and additionally
are requested to observe the procedures set forth in the Fly Friendly Program,
copies of which are available at the Airport Manager's office.
A. Reporting of Traffic Intentions. All pilots are encouraged to call on the published,
local Common Traffic Advisory Frequency (CTAF) to determine the runway
favored by the wind and to announce their position and intentions for take -off and
landing. The final decision as to which runway to use or whether or not to take -off
or land is at the sole discretion of the pilot in command. Any deviation from the
runway in use should be announced to the CTAF and the right of way yielded.
Pilots are also encouraged to utilize the automatic weather observation system
(AWOS) to determine wind and weather information.
B. Take -Offs, Landing Over Certain Objects Prohibited or Restricted. No aircraft shall
land or take off in such manner as to clear any public street or highway at an
altitude of less than one hundred (100) feet nor land or take off on the taxiway or
any turf area or over hangars, or other structures, automobile parking areas or
groups of spectators.
C. Take -Offs, Landing with Calm Winds. If the winds are calm, or at 90 degrees to the
runway, all take -offs and landings will be conducted on Runway 18.
D. Take -Offs, Landings On Apron, Parking Ramp Prohibited, Exception. No take -offs
or landings shall be made on the apron or parking ramp, except by special
permission of the Airport Manager.
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E. Touch -and -Go Landings. Touch-and-go landings may be made at the discretion of
the pilot. All aircraft shall "clear" for incoming and take -off traffic before taxiing
into take -off position.
F. Stop and Go Landings and Take -Offs. Stop and go operations are permitted as long
as they do not present an excessive (over one minute) delay to other aircraft
operating in the traffic pattern and the person making such landings advises his
intentions over the CTAF to allow the other aircraft to space themselves
accordingly. Not more than five stop and go operations will be conducted in
succession.
H. Traffic Pattern Elevation. Traffic pattern altitude is one thousand (1,000) feet above
ground level (AGL).
I. Take -Off Climb. On take -off, all aircraft should climb straight out to a level of four
hundred (400) feet AGL, clear the airport boundary and execute a ninety (90) degree
turn to the left when using Runway 11 or 18, or execute a ninety (90) degree turn to
the right when using Runway 29 or 36. To leave traffic, the aircraft should climb to
five hundred (500) feet AGL before executing or climbing turn out of the traffic
pattern.
J. Traffic Flow.
(1) Any aircraft within three (3) nautical miles of the airport at an altitude of less than
one thousand five hundred (1,500) feet above ground level should conform to the
counter -clockwise (left hand) flow of traffic when the favored runway is 11 or 18, or
a clockwise (right hand) flow of traffic when the favored runway 29 or 36. All
aircraft should establish their traffic pattern altitude before entering the traffic
pattern and should not deviate from this altitude (except in an emergency) until
descent for landing has begun.
(2) All aircraft landing at the Georgetown Municipal Airport shall fly a standard left
hand traffic pattern when the favored runway is 11 or 18; or a right hand traffic
pattern when the favored runway is 29 or 36 at an altitude of one thousand (1,000)
feet above ground level. Pattern entry shall be made an angle of forty-five (45)
degrees to the active runway with the runway to the pilots left (runway 11 or 18) or
to the pilot's right (runway 29 or 36) at all times. Entry shall be made at the
midpoint of either the upwind or downwind leg. The pattern shall be flown in such
a manner that in the event of engine failure a safe landing can be made on airport
property.
(3) Aircraft entering the traffic pattern shall exercise caution and practice courtesy so as
not to cause aircraft already in the pattern to deviate from their course.
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(4) Aircraft (either fixed wing or helicopter) conducting actual Life Flight or other life
threatening operations may deviate from these Traffic Flow regulations as they
deem necessary provided they are in radio contact and they broadcast their
intentions on the CTAF.
K. Straight -In Approaches. Straight -in approaches shall not be used unless radio
contact with the CTAF has been established from at least five (5) miles out. Aircraft
which find it dangerous or difficult to conform to the standard pattern due to their
high speed or other special characteristics may fly a circular pattern
(counterclockwise for runway 11 or 18; clockwise for runway 29 or 36) at not more
than one thousand (1,000) feet above ground level (AGL).
L. Altitude, Acceleration, Deceleration. No aircraft shall be operated over the City of
Georgetown at an altitude of less than one thousand (1,000) feet above ground level.
Aircraft engines shall not be accelerated nor decelerated while over the Georgetown
area in such manner as to distract, excite or disturb persons on the ground,
regardless of altitude.
SECTION 5. Section 12.32.460 of the City of Georgetown Code of Ordinances is hereby
amended to provide as follows:
12.32.460 Helicopter Operations.
During the hours the control tower is in operation, helicopters must abide by Air
Traffic Control instructions. After hours, the following procedures apply:
A. Helicopters operating in the Georgetown area and upon the airport will comply
with applicable federal aviation regulations and with all communications
procedures established herein.
B. Helicopters shall at all times maintain clear separation from other traffic and
operations. All taxi operations shall be conducted with vigilance and shall be
conducted at a safe distance from all structures, obstructions, and persons,
specifically taking into consideration the effect of downwash and noise.
C. Helicopters will not operate below a safe auto -rotation speed or altitude when over
populated areas or buildings and will maintain a minimum altitude, whenever
possible, of at least 500 feet AGL. Flight over residential areas should be at fixed -
wing aircraft altitudes. Departures and arrivals should take into consideration the
effects of any noise being created and shall be made to/from the northeast and
southeast of the airport whenever possible.
D. Training exercises shall be conducted west of Runway 18/36 in the vicinity of the
windsock. Takeoff maneuvers will be made parallel to and at least 200 feet on
Ordinance No. 0 0
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either side of the active runway and will not cross the active runway or taxiway
unless well clear of all traffic. Traffic patterns shall be conducted close to the active
runway at 500 feet AGL utilizing the same direction of traffic as fixed -wing aircraft.
Radio position reports should be announced over the CTAF.
SECTION 6. Section 12.32.470 of the City of Georgetown Code of Ordinances is hereby
amended to provide as follows:
12.32.470 Glider Operations.
Glider Operations Prohibited.
SECTION 7: All ordinances and resolutions, or parts of ordinances and resolutions, in
conflict with this Ordinance are hereby repealed, and are no longer of any force and effect."
SECTION 8: If any provision of this ordinance or application thereof to any person or
circumstance, shall be held invalid, such invalidity shall not affect the other provisions, or application
thereof, of this ordinance which can be given effect without the invalid provision or application, and
to this end the provisions of this ordinance are hereby declared to be severable.
SECTION 9. The Mayor is hereby authorized to sign this ordinance and the City Secretary to
attest. This Ordinance shall become effective in accordance with the provisions of State law and the
Charter of the City of Georgetown.
PASSED AND APPROVED on First Reading on the day of J l I Iy , 2008.
PASSED AND APPROVED on Second Reading on the day ofdL
114
2008.
ATTEST:
NJ r
�: i= 1,10 144!fO io
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
Patricia E. Carls, City Attorney
Ordinance No. o?no 8-3p
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THE CITY OF GEORGETOWN
By: e5z �
George Garver, Mayor