This chapter shall be known as the airport rules and regulations.
(Ord. 383 § 2, 1980)
Unless the context specifically indicates otherwise, the meaning of the terms used in this chapter shall be as follows:
means any Inyo County airport, its buildings and facilities, and all land owned or leased by the county of Inyo for this purpose.
means a device that is used for flight in the air. It includes airplanes, helicopters and gliders, and lighter than air devices such as airships, blimps, or balloons, but does not include hang gliders.
means a person or a representative of a person, firm, partnership, corporation or company who leases from, or who contracts with, the county of Inyo to supervise, care and manage a county airport.
means the board of supervisors of the county of Inyo, state of California.
means any person who, for compensation or hire, engages in the carriage of persons, property or mail in air commerce, or engages in other aerial activity, including but not limited to, flight instruction, aerial photography or firefighting.
means the use of any county airport for revenue-producing commercial activity, including but not limited to, any person who rents or leases buildings or facilities on a county airport and engages in a business activity such as aircraft sales and service, aircraft and avionics maintenance and repair, aviation training, air ambulance service or aircraft rental, charter or leasing.
means the county of Inyo, state of California.
means the Inyo County director of public works or his authorized representative.
means inspection, overhaul, repair, preservation and replacement of parts.
means an individual, firm, partnership, corporation, company, association or governmental entity or a representative of any of them.
means any person, firm, partnership, corporation, company, association, or governmental entity who rents or leases any hangar, building or facility on a county airport.
means the traffic flow that is prescribed for aircraft landing at or taking off from a county airport.
(Ord. 383 § 3, 1980)
These rules and regulations are not intended to amend, modify or supersede any provision of federal and state law, or any specific contractual agreement of the county of Inyo.
(Ord. 383 § 4, 1980)
A.
Any person using a county airport does so at his own risk and the county of Inyo, its officers, agents, and employees shall not be liable for damage or claims for damage for injury including death, as well as from claims for personal property damage which may arise from use of the airport or facilities.
B.
It shall be the responsibility of every user of a county airport, pilot or others, to become familiar with the airport rules and regulations and to obey those rules and regulations.
(Ord. 383 § 5, 1980)
Any permission granted by the county or the airport manager, directly or indirectly, expressly or implied, to any person to enter upon or use the airport or any part thereof, is subject to the following conditions:
A.
There shall be no discrimination against, or segregation of any person or group of persons, on account of race, color, creed, sex, religion, national origin, or ancestry in the use, occupancy, tenure or enjoyment of the airport or facilities; nor shall any person establish or permit any such practice or practices of discrimination or segregation in the use, occupancy, tenure or enjoyment of the airport or facilities.
B.
Services shall be furnished on a fair, equal and nondiscriminatory basis; and charges for such services shall be reasonable and uniform for the same class of privilege or service.
C.
In no case shall any person be deprived of their rightful, equal and uniform use of the landing area or air navigation facilities; nor shall there be an exclusive right for the use of the landing area or air navigation facilities.
(Ord. 383 § 6, 1980)
This chapter is enacted to protect the health, safety and peace, and to promote the welfare and convenience of the general public using a county airport, or affected by the activities related to the airport by providing for the orderly conduct of activities on, or related to, the airport.
(Ord. 383 § 7, 1980)
No person shall utilize a county airport for any revenue-producing commercial activities without first obtaining a permit from the airport manager and paying the fees and charges established for such use; or contract with the county of Inyo to conduct a commercial activity on a county airport when such activity is not the subject of an agreement between the airport manager and the county of Inyo.
(Ord. 383 § 8, 1980)
It is unlawful for any person to solicit in any manner or for any purpose in any building or on any airport without first obtaining written permission of the airport manager.
(Ord. 383 § 9, 1980)
A.
No person shall travel on any portion of the airport except upon roads, walks or places provided for the particular class of traffic, nor occupy the road or walk in such a manner as to hinder or obstruct their proper use.
B.
Motor vehicle traffic shall yield the right-of-way to aircraft.
C.
Vehicles shall be parked only in the manner and in the locations designated by the airport manager.
D.
Motor vehicles shall not be driven on or across runways or other portions of aircraft operating areas, without first obtaining clearance from the airport manager.
E.
No person may operate a motor vehicle in or on any portion of an airport while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or drug.
(Ord. 383 § 10, 1980)
No person shall enter any restricted area which is posted or closed to the public unless authorized by the airport manager, except law enforcement or firefighting personnel.
(Ord. 383 § 11, 1980)
Animals may be permitted on the airport only if on a leash or physically confined in such a manner as to be under full control at all times.
(Ord. 383 § 12, 1980)
A.
Garbage, papers and refuse or other waste material shall be placed in receptacles provided for that purpose.
B.
All tenants shall provide for the removal of their trash and rubbish from the airport.
C.
Junked, unsightly aircraft and parts shall be disposed of or stored under cover and out of sight. The airport manager shall be the sole judge of what is improperly stored or unsightly.
D.
Any violation of this section will result in a written notice of violation by the airport manager. A time period of ten days will be given to correct the violation. If within the ten days the violation is not corrected, the airport manager will correct the violation and any costs incurred by the airport manager charged to the violator.
(Ord. 383 § 13, 1980; Ord. 1192 § 10, 2015)
Aircraft shall only be stored or parked at places designated by the airport manager. The owner or operator of the aircraft shall be responsible for the tying down and securing of his or her aircraft. He or she shall also be responsible for any liability arising from or caused by his or her aircraft or his or her activities. Transient aircraft shall only be parked in the area designated by the airport manager.
(Ord. 383 § 14, 1980)
No aircraft shall be left unattended on an airport unless properly secured or within a hangar. Owners or operators of aircraft left so unattended shall be liable for damage to other aircraft or property resulting from the failure to adequately secure or tie down the aircraft. The airport manager shall have the authority to relocate an aircraft at any time.
(Ord. 383 § 15, 1980)
A.
No person shall repair an aircraft, aircraft engine, propeller or apparatus in any area of an airport other than that specifically designated or approved for such purpose by the airport manager.
B.
No person may perform maintenance on an aircraft on any airport without obtaining a lease, contract or permit from the county, whether or not a fee is accepted by the person for performing such maintenance.
C.
The airport manager may issue permission to a person to perform maintenance on an aircraft under unusual circumstances, such as repair of a transient aircraft to fly-away status by the owner or operator; repair to an aircraft of unusual design, size or age; or maintenance of an aircraft and the components for which there is no qualified person on the airport to perform such maintenance.
(Ord. 383 § 16, 1980)
Every person involved in, or witnessing an aircraft accident on an airport shall report promptly the details of such accident to the airport manager, the Federal Aviation Administration and the local law enforcement agency, as required by law. The owner or operator shall also report fully to the California Division of Aeronautics the details on any accident in which there is death or injury, or in which damage to property of others exceed four hundred dollars. The owner or operator of an aircraft which is damaged in an accident, or wrecked, shall be responsible for the prompt removal of the aircraft as directed by the airport manager. Where the owner or operator is unable to arrange for the removal of such disabled or wrecked aircraft, the airport manager shall have the authority to remove or arrange for removal of the aircraft when released by the Federal Aviation Administration or the National Transportation Board, if applicable. No liability shall be incurred by the airport manager for damage aggravated by or resulting from such removal.
(Ord. 383 § 17, 1980)
No person shall operate any aircraft in flight or on the ground in such a manner as to cause unnecessary noise as determined by applicable federal, state or local laws or regulations.
(Ord. 383 § 18, 1980)
No person shall enter upon any runway or air operational area, except in an aircraft, without the consent of the airport manager.
(Ord. 383 § 19, 1980)
No person shall taxi any aircraft into, out of, or within a hangar or other building on an airport. Nor shall any person move any aircraft under its own power on an airport unless he is in full control and has assured himself that there is no danger of collision with other aircraft, vehicles, equipment, buildings or other obstacles. Aircraft shall be taxied at a safe speed.
(Ord. 383 § 20, 1980)
Every aircraft landing and taking off shall be flown in accordance with the traffic pattern designated for the particular airport where the landing and takeoff is to be conducted, unless a different traffic pattern is authorized by the airport manager.
A.
Arriving aircraft at Bishop Airport will fly left hand traffic for landing, crosswind, downwind, base and final. No straight-in finals are approved unless authorized by the airport manager. Traffic pattern altitude is one thousand feet above ground level (AGL). The wind tee at the Bishop Airport determines the active runway.
(Ord. 383 § 21, 1980; Ord. 433 § 2, 1982)
A.
No aeronautical activity shall be conducted at an airport or within the airport traffic area, except in conformance with current federal air regulations, state of California laws and regulations, and this chapter.
B.
All initial takeoffs shall commence at the end of the runway unless cleared by the airport manager.
C.
No person shall tow or pull a glider by an airplane, motor vehicle or by any other method for the purpose of taking off, until the airport manager finds that it may be done without interfering with the normal operations and use of the airport. Tow planes shall be equipped with a fully functional two-way radio and pilots shall maintain a listening watch on UNICOM for traffic advisories.
D.
Parachute jumping, operation of airships, blimps, balloons, kites, hang gliders and unmanned rockets are prohibited unless prior approval is obtained from the board of supervisors.
(Ord. 383 § 22, 1980)
No person shall start any aircraft engine unless a competent operator is at the controls and the aircraft is equipped with adequate brakes fully applied or the wheels are securely blocked with blocks or chocks that can be removed safely. The aircraft shall not be positioned so that the propeller slipstream or jet blast can cause damage to, or interfere with, the operation of other aircraft, vehicles, hangars, shops, other buildings or can cause injury to passengers, spectators or other personnel.
(Ord. 383 § 23, 1980)
Any person desiring to conduct a glider meet at any airport shall submit a detail plan a minimum of ten days in advance to the airport manager. The plan shall include, but shall not be limited to, control of operation, insurance coverage, uses of the airport for activities other than actual glider operations, provisions for clean up and removal of garbage, trash, or debris, and designation of a liaison to coordinate glider operations with the airport manager in order to safeguard the public, normal air operations, the airport and its facilities.
(Ord. 383 § 24, 1980)
The primary purpose of hangars is storage of aircraft and rental is subject to the following provisions:
A.
Tenants shall not abuse the hangars and will be responsible for any damage other than normal wear and tear;
B.
Tenants will keep the hangars and ramps clear of debris;
C.
Tenants will not attach any hoisting or holding mechanism to any portion of the hangar structure;
D.
Tenants will not paint, remove, deface, bend, drill, cut or otherwise modify any part of a hangar, including the electrical system, without prior approval of the airport manager and the board of supervisors;
E.
The airport manager will maintain a list of aircraft owners requiring or requesting hangar space;
F.
Aircraft based at an airport will be given priority for hangar space;
G.
If an aircraft is sold, the lease or rental of the hangar space will be cancelled unless the aircraft continues to be based at the airport or the tenant can show that he is acquiring another aircraft and will take delivery within sixty days and continues to pay the fees and charges for the hangar space;
H.
The storage of any item, material, equipment or paraphernalia in any hangar, except aircraft, shall be approved by the airport manager. Any unauthorized storage shall be removed from the hangar immediately upon notification by the airport manager;
I.
Hangars may be leased or rented on a month-to-month basis for nonaircraft storage with the approval of the airport manager; provided, that no aircraft are on a waiting list for hangar space;
J.
Tenants of hangars used for nonaircraft storage shall within ten days of the receipt of written notice vacate the hangar space when such space is required for aircraft storage. If, after the ten days, the tenant has not vacated the hangar space, the airport manager shall have the authority to remove or arrange for the removal of all items, materials, equipment or paraphernalia from the hangar space. The tenant shall agree and be responsible for all charges incurred by the airport manager in connection with such removal. The airport manager shall not be liable for any damage to any item, material, equipment or paraphernalia resulting from such removal. There shall be no refund of fees or charge resulting from the cancellation of hangar space for nonaircraft storage.
(Ord. 383 § 25, 1980)
All tenants, rentors, lessees and sublessees shall obey the following fire regulations:
A.
The Inyo County fire marshal will, from time to time, conduct inspection of all premises with regard to handling and storage of all materials, equipment condition and usage, and fire protection devices in the interest of public safety and the protection of property. All orders issued by the fire marshal shall be complied with by all tenants, rentors, lessees and sublessees without undue delay.
B.
All tenants, rentors, lessees and sublessees shall supply and maintain on their rentals or leaseholds adequate and readily accessible approved type fire extinguishers bearing a current inspection tag indicating the most recent date of inspection or servicing.
C.
No person shall keep, store or discard any flammable liquid, oil, gas, signal flare or similar material in a hangar or other building on an airport. Such flammable materials may be stored in an aircraft in approved receptacles installed in the aircraft for this purpose, or in rooms or areas specifically approved for such storage by the fire marshal or in Underwriters' Laboratories, Inc., approved safety receptacles.
D.
No person shall light or use any open flame for any purpose in a hangar or other building on an airport without prior consent of the airport manager.
(Ord. 383 § 26, 1980)
No person shall:
A.
Take or use any aircraft, aircraft parts, instruments or tools which are owned, controlled or operated by any other person when such aircraft, parts, instruments or tools are stored or otherwise left on an airport or within a hangar, building or facility without the written consent of the owner;
B.
Use, climb upon, sit in, push or otherwise handle an aircraft or property of others except authorized personnel;
C.
Land, takeoff, taxi or otherwise operate any aircraft on, at or from an airport when it is known that such aircraft is not operating properly or is equipped with any part or safety device which is defective or unsafe without specific authorization of the airport manager.
(Ord. 383 § 27, 1980)
The airport manager is authorized to close an airport, or portions thereof, or suspend operations relating to landing, takeoff or taxiing of aircraft during any period in which he determines that such operation, or their continuance, would be hazardous. All airport closures shall be made in accordance with federal and state laws, rules and regulations.
(Ord. 383 § 28, 1980)
Any person operating or handling any aircraft, operating any vehicle, equipment or apparatus, or using an airport, or any of its hangars, buildings or facilities, in violation of any of the rules and regulations contained in this chapter, or refusing to comply therewith, may be ordered from an airport by and under the authority of the airport manager. Any person may be deprived of and refused the further use of an airport for such length of time as the airport manager deems necessary in order to safeguard the public, the airport and its facilities.
(Ord. 383 § 29, 1980)
Any person deprived and refused the use of the airport on the order of the airport manager may appeal said denial of airport use to the board of supervisors within ten days of said order by the airport manager.
(Ord. 383 § 30, 1980)
A.
The director of public works is authorized to execute on behalf of the county the following county standard leases and agreements pertaining to airport property and facilities:
1.
County of Inyo Standard Lease — Public Works No. 201;
2.
County of Inyo Standard Lease Agreement Hanger and Tie Down Space at Bishop Airport — Public Works No. 202;
3.
County of Inyo Standard Lease Agreement Hangar and Tie Down Space at Lone Pine Airport — Public Works No. 203;
4.
County of Inyo Standard Lease No. 204 Bishop Airport Office and Commercial Space; and
5.
County of Inyo Standard Airport Auto Parking License Agreement.
B.
The director of public works is authorized to execute leases set forth in subsection A upon the following terms and conditions:
1.
The duration of these leases or agreements shall not exceed five years;
2.
The actual monthly rental of any of these leases or agreements shall not exceed two thousand dollars per month;
3.
The lease or agreement is not renewable;
4.
Notice describing the property proposed to be leased or licensed, the terms of such lease or agreement, the location where the leases will be executed, and the name of the county officer authorized to execute such lease will be published one time each calendar year in the month of January in a newspaper of general circulation in the county and posted in the office of the county clerk.
5.
The authority delegated to the director of public works to execute the above specified leases and agreements extends to those leases and agreements as they may be from time to time revised and updated by the office of county counsel.
(Ord. 907 § 3, 1991)