Legislation in Oklahoma to streamline regulation of construction near public-use airports was signed into law by Gov. Mary Fallin last week.
The Aircraft Pilot and Passenger Protection Act (APPPA) regulates the height of structures near public-use airports in the state and requires individuals seeking to build structures near those locations to obtain permits through the OAC before construction, installation or alteration of a structure begins.
The legislation was crafted by the Oklahoma Aeronautics Commission (OAC) along with Oklahoma state Rep. Charles Ortega (R-Altus) and state Sen. Joe Newhouse (R-Tulsa).
“The goal of these changes is to streamline the statute, ensuring an efficient permitting process for those who have to apply and to update existing language to ensure it is in line with current airport industry standards,” Ortega said.
APPPA does not require temporary structures that are in place less than 24 months to obtain an OAC permit.
“We ran into this problem at an airport in eastern Oklahoma where someone was placing a piece of mining equipment (that was going to sit idle and not operate as part of the mine) that did not fall within the existing item for mobile or temporary equipment,” Grayson Ardies, airport development division manager with the commission, said. “A permit for such a temporary structure should not be required as APPPA is intended to apply only to permanent structures.”
APPPA also clarifies language defining “incompatible use,” making sure it is in line with national airport standards. That includes the addition of specific terms, such as place of assembly (a golf course, sporting field, etc.), transportation facility (parking lot, roadway, etc.), and storage facility (fuel tanks, waste-water holding tank, etc.).
“Oklahoma’s aerospace industry, including our airports, is vital to Oklahoma’s economic growth. Determining under what circumstances structures must be permitted is a process that is critical for safety. At the same time, burdensome and unnecessary requirements can hinder job growth in other sectors,” Newhouse said. “These changes bring balance to the process without jeopardizing safety.”