Drag Racing on the Runway at an Airport Community

[az_gila]

Your insurance company, and the owners liability, has more to do with it that the FAA regulations.

Our airpark got sued after a fatal accident - last words on the radio "watch this" - because our runway was too narrow (44 ft) and did not meet the FAA minimum standards (60 ft).

The insurance company paid out a large amount rather than fight it in court.

If it's a common runway, all of the airpark owners may be held liable.

[bkthomps]

i'd be more concerned about the debris and fluids that a car may drop on the runway

[Gregg Brightwell]

After reading some of these replies, it is obvious that private airparks participate in a 'variety of activities'. That's fine by me, provided that a little common sense and regard for safety is used. It is equally obvious, that a lot of folks don't mind these activities.

In this case, the 'owner's' responses included "I own the runway" and "The taxiway isn't a walking path". Ok....cool. With that logic, the runway isn't a drag strip either. The very word "Airpark" infers airplanes to me....

I bet if a drag car ran off the side of the runway and harvested a dozen runway lights, Mr. "I own the runway" would turn into "We own the runway" to include everyone who has a financial stake in the runway, (I don't) to pay for repairs.

That said, I love it here. I just don't want anyone getting hurt, and to operate safely.

Gregg Out.

[the_other_dougreeves]

"Legal" and "smart" are not always the same thing.

TODR

[XOverZero]

There is a history of drag racing on a municipal airport. When I first moved to this area, the airport here would be closed to air traffic every Sunday so a local group could hold drag races on the runway. The races were a commercial event, open to the public, and they continued for an entire decade. The decade was the 1950s, the local group was the Orange County Timing Association, and the airport was at that time called Santa Ana Airport, which is known today as John Wayne Airport (KSNA).

[turbo]

probably not a bad idea to "clear" the runway with a low pass to ensure there is no activity. especially if it is dark and you cannot see the runway. *be safe. we are learning all the time. good post.

[krw5927]

Originally Posted by XOverZero

There is a history of drag racing on a municipal airport. When I first moved to this area, the airport here would be closed to air traffic every Sunday so a local group could hold drag races on the runway. The races were a commercial event, open to the public, and they continued for an entire decade. The decade was the 1950s, the local group was the Orange County Timing Association, and the airport was at that time called Santa Ana Airport, which is known today as John Wayne Airport (KSNA).

"Closed to air traffic" is the catch. The OP stated that this wasn't the case, and the airport wasn't closed by NOTAM. This is a field that sees an average of 29 operations per day according to Airnav - probably quite a bit busier than your typical "private" field. Most of these operations are on the weekends, and with midwest weather being what it is, the good weekends get extremely busy. Lots of traffic, both local and transient.

There is another airport in the area with regular radio-controlled aircraft activities on the field, and this activity is clearly spelled out in NOTAMs. Everyone is made aware, and the two seem to coexist nicely.

I don't disagree with a private owner closing his runway, or with activities other than general aviation occurring on a field, as long as everyone has an opportunity to be made aware. Due to regular high transient traffic volumes it would be wise (required?) to NOTAM the runway closed when drag racing, and to mark an "X" at each end of the closed runway.

It's becoming clear that the regulations that many of us have come to expect at airports must not apply to privately-owned runways of any sort or size. This is good to know, and will most definitely change how I view private fields, my choices to fly to one, and my procedures when doing so.

[Don]

Originally Posted by Toobuilder

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.

This is a polite way of putting it. All I'd add is on several occasions here in Virginia (and I doubt that we're unique) I've seen public airports allowing activities involving RC aircraft (including drone testing) and automotive demonstrations (for lack of a better description) without any NOTAM. It wasn't just one airport and it wasn't just one time.

My take away is similar to Michael's except I'd expand it to all airports. When I'm setting up for a landing, I'm watching for traffic in the air (and not just full size planes) and I'm watching for all sorts of traffic on the runway and around the runway.

[9GT]

Last week the city owned public airport I base my -10 at had orange coned off the taxi ways and ramp tie down area and fueling pad for EVO (Emergency Vehicle Operations) training. Local law enforcement agencies participate and set up a training course. I did this yearly as a Police Officer prior to retiring and it was a lot of fun and very good stuff to practice. I was surprised though that no NOTAM was issued. I worked on my plane for a couple hours but wanted to do some flying so I finally called the airport manager and asked if the airport was closed. "NO" was the reply. "We just listen for incoming traffic and move the cones when needed". So they moved the cones for me to taxi to the runway and again when I returned a couple hours later and they lost my fuel sale to a neighboring airport. There should have been a NOTAM issued IMHO for this activity.

[cguarino]

The property owner should have complete and total say in what does or does not happen on his property. He paid for it and is responsible for it and therefore his word is final. Thank him for allowing you to use it or go somewhere else. As you can tell, I don't like HOAs either.