I don't see that maintenance is prohibited at all. See 3rd bullet point below. We should be asking that the allowance for the construction phase be expanded. All in all we should view the initiative as a positive. I know of one large hanger at my airport that mostly houses cars, boats and RVs.
I am building in the corner of my hanger that houses my Decathlon. This space could not be used to store another airplane, so my interpretation would be that it would not be prohibited by this rule.
The airport could have more stringent rules if they wanted too, I suppose.
Here is the actual text, for those that have not seen it:
http://www.regulations.gov/#!documen...2014-0463-0001
I. General
The intent of this policy is to ensure that the Federal investment in federally obligated airports is protected by making aeronautical facilities available to aeronautical users, and to ensure that airport sponsors receive fair market value for rental of approved non-aviation use of airport property. Sponsors who fail to comply with grant assurances and this policy may be subject to administrative sanctions such as the denial of funding from current and future AIP grants.
II. Standards for Aeronautical Use of Hangars
Hangars located on airport property must be used for an aeronautical purpose, or be available for use for one, unless otherwise approved by the FAA.
Aeronautical uses for hangars include:
○ Storage of operational aircraft
○ Final assembly of aircraft
○ Short-term storage of non-operational aircraft for purposes of maintenance, repair, or refurbishment.
Provided the hangar is used primarily for aeronautical purposes, an airport sponsor may permit limited, non-aeronautical items to be stored in hangars provided the items are incidental to aeronautical use of the hangar and occupy an insignificant amount of hangar space (e.g., a small refrigerator). The incidental storage of non-aeronautical items will be considered to be of de minimis value for the purpose of assessing rent.
Generally, items are considered incidental if they:
○ Do not interfere with the aeronautical use of the hangar;
○ Do not displace the aeronautical contents of the hangar;
○ Do not impede access to aircraft or other aeronautical contents of the hangar;
○ Do not require a larger hangar than would otherwise be necessary if such items were not present;
○ Occupy an insignificant amount of hangar space;
○ Are owned by the hangar owner or tenant;
○ Are not used for non-aeronautical commercial purposes (i.e., the tenant is not conducting a non-aeronautical business from the hangar including storing inventory);
○ Are not stored in violation of airport rules and regulations.
Hangars should be leased with consideration of the size and quantity of aircraft to be stored therein. To maximize the availability of hangars for all aeronautical users, sponsors should avoid leasing a hangar that is disproportionately large for the aircraft to be stored in the hangar (i.e., hangars built to store multiple aircraft should be used for multiple aircraft storage).
Hangars must not be used as a residence. The FAA differentiates between a typical pilot resting facility or aircrew quarters versus a hangar residence or hangar home. The former are designed to be used for overnight and/or resting periods for aircrew, and not as a permanent or even temporary residence. See FAA Order 5190.6B, Paragraph 20.5.b.
This policy on hangar use applies regardless of whether the hangar occupant leases the hangar from the airport sponsor or developer, or the hangar occupant constructed the hangar at their own expense and holds a ground lease only. When designated aeronautical land is made available for construction of hangars, the hangars built on the land will be fully subject to the sponsor's obligations to use aeronautical facilities for aeronautical use.