Drag Racing on the Runway at an Airport Community

[swaltner]

I live at an airpark that is privately owned, but Airport Use is "Open to the public".

At big events (the yearly fly-in among other days), it gets kind of crazy. At the town party today, people were doing drag racing down the runway most of the day. The runway was never NOTAM'd closed. Tonight, after dark, people were doing donuts and drag racing on the runway without their headlights on.

The police were called, but the airport owner was upset that they responded to a call from someone else. The airport owner's position is, "I own the runway."

What are the rules in this situation? Does the runway need to be NOTAM'd closed in this situation? Who has jurisdiction?

[swaltner]

At 9:06 PM tonight, the runway was NOTAM'd closed from 9:00 PM to 9:00 AM tomorrow.

[Toobuilder]

What are the "rules" concerning deer on a runway? Would that be more or less of a hazard than cars running up and down? Was there anyone on the ground with a radio to coordinate the mixed traffic?

It's a private Airpark... Public or not, I think "land at your own risk" applies.

[az_gila]

Our Airpark is marked Private and is not public-use.

The FAA cannot issue a NOTAM for it, which becomes a problem when the runway is completely closed for work.

Seems like a defect in the FAA NOTAM system to me...

[krw5927]

Originally Posted by Toobuilder

What are the "rules" concerning deer on a runway? Would that be more or less of a hazard than cars running up and down? Was there anyone on the ground with a radio to coordinate the mixed traffic?

It's a private Airpark... Public or not, I think "land at your own risk" applies.

I think as aviators we all accept that landings (and flight, for that matter) are all at "our own risk". However just because hazards exist which we can't control (wildlife) doesn't mean to me that we should give up on attempting to control the ones we can.

I think Gil hit the nail on the head regarding a void in the system. It may go further than just the NOTAM system, though. If someone wants to hold an airport out as "open to the public" in federal publications to airmen, shouldn't that airport then be subject to a similar expectation of aviation safety as other airports which are open to the public?

Is the owner free to publish an approach which may or may not meet minimum FAR requirements for obstacle clearance? If he chooses to put glideslope lighting on the field, is he free to place whatever non-standard system he likes on the ground? If there's a rotating beacon, does he have to have white/green lighting or can he choose other colors?

I'm not suggesting any of these things exist. But where is the line?

[Toobuilder]

Public use or not, it's still private property and the owner can do with it as he chooses. Plenty of airparks have RC models operating off the runway, cars, golf carts and scooters running all over...

I think we as aviators need to get in our heads is that if we're landing at a private airport we are guests, and NOT necessarily the most important thing going on at the moment. I live at a private airport and I try to keep this in mind when I visit another.

[Gregg Brightwell]

Originally Posted by Toobuilder

Public use or not, it's still private property and the owner can do with it as he chooses. Plenty of airparks have RC models operating off the runway, cars, golf carts and scooters running all over...

I think we as aviators need to get in our heads is that if we're landing at a private airport we are guests, and NOT necessarily the most important thing going on at the moment. I live at a private airport and I try to keep this in mind when I visit another.

A Camaro with no headlights tearing down the runway +100 mph, AFTER dark, with a couple hundred people around all over the airport?

I love the airport, and the freedom and liberties it brings. But some acts are VERY contrary to safety. Legalities aside, THOSE acts are what needs fixin'.

[Toobuilder]

Originally Posted by Gregg Brightwell

... Legalities aside, THOSE acts are what needs fixin'.

Let's keep this in perspective:

A NOTAM isn't going to fix this situation, and the police were apparently called...

What is the VAF collective going to do about it?

[Low Pass]

Originally Posted by Gregg Brightwell

A Camaro with no headlights tearing down the runway +100 mph, AFTER dark, with a couple hundred people around all over the airport?

I love the airport, and the freedom and liberties it brings. But some acts are VERY contrary to safety. Legalities aside, THOSE acts are what needs fixin'.

Really??? OMG, you'd positively fall off that chair if you knew what happened before and after dark at the old private strip where I used to hangar. And to the best of my recollection, no accidents in 30+ years of existence (from mixed use activities).

[krw5927]

Originally Posted by Toobuilder

What is the VAF collective going to do about it?

Well, the OP asked if anyone knew what, if any, regulations applied. And who, if anyone, had authority. If the answer is none, great. But for all the constructive banter, those questions remain unanswered.

I wish I knew.