[HISTORY: Derived from Art. I-A of Ch. VII of the Charter
and Ordinances, 1974, of the City of Buffalo. Amendments noted where
applicable.]
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
Any contrivance now known or hereafter invented, used or
designed for navigation of or flight in the air, except a parachute
or other contrivance used primarily as safety equipment.
A.
No person, firm or corporation shall fly or permit any aircraft to
be flown over any part of the City at an altitude of less than 1,000
feet above the highest obstacle within a horizontal radius of two
miles from the aircraft, except in landing or on taking off from the
waters of Lake Erie, the Niagara River or the Buffalo Harbor. Such
landings or takeoffs shall be made at such minimum safe altitudes
as will not endanger persons or property on the surface or other aircraft.
B.
Helicopters.
(1)
Helicopters, however, may be flown at less than the minimum prescribed
herein and may land or take off at places of landing within the City
designated as such for temporary or permanent use as hereinafter prescribed,
provided that such operations are conducted without hazard to persons
or property on the surface or to other aircraft and without undue
interference with the use of property on the surface and at an altitude
which will permit an emergency landing without undue hazard to persons
or property on the surface; and provided, further, that the Commissioner
of Public Works, in the interest of safety, may prescribe specific
routes and altitudes for such operations to which helicopters shall
conform; and provided, further, that any person, firm or corporation
desiring to land a helicopter on any site within the City not permanently
designated for said purpose and for no longer than two consecutive
days shall submit said request, in writing, to the Director of Licenses
at least one day in advance of the date of landing. Any person, firm
or corporation which lands a helicopter on any site in the City shall
first submit to the Director of Licenses a certified copy of an insurance
policy covering said person, firm or corporation against public liability
and property damage in connection with said operation, and, in addition,
the person, firm or corporation shall file with the Director of Licenses
an insurance policy of public liability and property damage, in which
policy the City of Buffalo is the named insured. Said policies shall
be in the amounts of $5,000,000 for public liability and $1,000,000
for property damage. Certificates of said insurance policy evidencing
that the above-required insurance is in effect must also be furnished
before the Director of Licenses can approve said request.
(2)
The above regulations shall not apply to helicopters used directly
by governmental agencies for governmental purposes.
C.
It shall be unlawful for any person to operate an aircraft either
on the ground, on the water or in the air within the limits of the
City while under the influence of intoxicating liquor, narcotics or
other habit-forming drugs or to operate an aircraft in a careless
or reckless manner so as to endanger life or property of another.
Violation of the standards for safe operation of aircraft prescribed
by federal or state statutes or regulations shall be deemed careless
or reckless operation of aircraft within the meaning of this chapter.
D.
It shall be unlawful for any person to operate an aircraft within
the limits of the City in any manner prohibited by any provision of
or contrary to the rules and regulations of the Civil Aeronautics
Administration or the Civil Aeronautics Board or the laws of the State
of New York.
[Amended 7-9-2002, effective 7-23-2002]
A.
No person shall hereafter establish a privately owned airport or
make an improvement to an existing privately owned airport except
by authorization of the Common Council. The term "airport" shall mean
and include any landing area used regularly for receiving or discharging
passengers or cargo; any landing area being used for personal or training
purposes; and any locality, either of land or water, which is used
or intended to be used for the landing and takeoff of aircraft, whether
or not facilities are provided for shelter, servicing or repair of
aircraft or for receiving or discharging passengers or cargo. The
term "airport improvement" shall include extension, alteration, modification,
addition to or realignment of the runway(s) of an existing airport
or the modification in any way of the landing or takeoff directions
at such airport.
B.
Any person seeking to establish a privately owned airport or make
an improvement to an existing privately owned airport shall file an
application therefor with the Common Council, which shall contain
at least the following information:
(1)
The name and address of the applicant.
(2)
Detail of the type of aviation service proposed.
(3)
The number and type of aircraft expected to be based at the airport.
(4)
Whether an instrument approach procedure will be requested for the
airport.
(5)
The maximum number of daily operations and the anticipated total
annual operations.
(6)
Evidence that the airport is privately owned and that all owners
of the real property have consented to establishment or improvement
of a privately owned airport.
(7)
One United States Geological Survey topographical map, scale one
to 1:24,000, of the area proposed for the establishment or improvement
of a privately owned airport.
(8)
One plan view map, scale 1:1,000, with the position of the airport
indicated thereon. The airport runway(s), helipad or seaplane operational
area must be plotted thereon accurately. Such map must include the
direction and length of runways and seaplane operational areas. Helipads
must be precisely located, with all approach and departure paths clearly
indicated. The map must be sufficiently large so as to include all
approach and lateral transition zones to the airport.
(9)
A copy of the favorable airspace determination issued by the Federal
Aviation Administration for the proposed airport establishment or
improvement.
C.
Upon receipt of the completed application, the Common Council shall
forward the same to the New York State Commissioner of Transportation
and adopt a resolution requesting the Commissioner to determine whether
the establishment or improvement complies with the standards of the
Department of Transportation pursuant to § 249 of the New
York General Business Law. The application shall also be referred
to the Commissioner of Police, Commissioner of Fire, Commissioner
of Public Works and Director of Licenses for their review and determination
whether the establishment or improvement of the privately owned airport
complies with applicable codes, ordinances and public safety requirements.
D.
Upon receipt of the determination required by this section, the Common
Council shall hold a public hearing on the proposal, upon due notice,
at which all interested parties shall be afforded an opportunity to
present evidence and testimony.
E.
The Common Council may grant permission to establish or improve such
privately owned airport upon consideration of all information before
it; provided, however, that no such permission shall be granted unless
the privately owned airport is in accordance with the standards prescribed
by the New York Commissioner of Transportation or unless such standards
have been waived.
F.
No privately owned airport shall hereafter be established or improved
if the proposed location is within 1,500 feet of property used for
residential purposes. However, this prohibition may be waived upon
presentation to the Common Council of a validated petition requesting
such waiver, signed by 65% or more of those persons having their residence
within 1,500 feet of the proposed location or improvement. This prohibition
and petition process shall not apply to facilities that are New York
State certified emergency trauma centers that propose to use such
airport for medical purposes only.
A.
It shall be unlawful for any person to jump or leap from an aircraft
in a parachute or any other device within the limits of the City,
absent imminent danger, except as provided herein.
B.
No person shall jump from an aircraft using a parachute or similar
device as part of a parachute or skydiving exhibition unless and until
said person has received from the Director of Licenses a permit authorizing
the same.
C.
Application for said permit shall be accompanied by a fee as provided in Chapter 175, Fees, which shall not be refundable.
D.
Each person, firm or corporation applying for a permit to perform
parachute or skydiving exhibitions shall furnish, along with his application,
a United States Department of Transportation, Federal Aviation Administration,
Certificate of Waiver or Authorization Form (FAA 7711-1) or equivalent
document.
E.
Permits for skydiving or parachute exhibitions shall not be granted
unless each participating skydiver or parachutist possesses a United
States Parachute Association Class C (advanced) or Class D (master)
license. Proof of such license held by each prospective participant
must accompany the application. In addition, the applicant shall give
evidence to the Director of Licenses of at least one participant in
said exhibition possessing a United States Parachute Association Class
D license. In addition, adequate proof must be shown to the Director
of Licenses that each named participant in said exhibition shall have
completed a minimum of 450 jumps utilizing the type of parachute referred
to below.
F.
All persons participating in parachuting or skydiving exhibitions
must utilize a ram-air-type main canopy.
G.
Applications for such a permit must be accompanied by a plan filed
which shows a target area no less than 200 feet from a designated
spectator site and a minimum of 150 feet from the closest major obstacle
as defined in the United States Parachute Association guidelines.
H.
The proposed landing area listed in the application and used in the
exhibition shall not involve the participant passing over spectators
at an altitude of less than 300 feet.
I.
Each applicant shall show proof of liability insurance covering personal
injury, property damage and personal liability in an aggregate amount
not less than $1,000,000. In addition, there shall be adequate proof
that such insurance shall list the City of Buffalo as an additional
insured and that the City of Buffalo is held harmless from any claims
arising out of the proposed event, in the same aggregate limits as
above.
