"Acrobatic flying,"
as used herein, means any intentional airplane maneuver or stunt not necessary to air navigation, or operation of aircraft in such manner as to endanger human life or safety by the performance of unusual or dangerous maneuvers.
"Aircraft,"
as used in this chapter, means any airplane, gas bag, flying machine, balloon, or any contrivance now known or hereafter invented, used or designated for navigation of flight in air, except a parachute or other contrivance used primarily as safety equipment.
(Ord. 13177 § 1, 1947-08-20)
No person, firm or corporation shall fly or permit any aircraft to be flown over any part of the City of Tacoma at an altitude of less than 1,000 feet above the terrain, except while taking off or landing at an established landing field or airport, and except while taking off or landing on the waters of Commencement Bay or Puget Sound. The provisions of this section may be deviated from when special circumstances render a departure necessary to avoid immediate danger, or when such departure is required because of stress of weather conditions or other unavoidable cause or pursuant to the provisions of Section 8.06.085 of this chapter. Upon making application to the Chief of Police to take aerial photographs, permission may be granted by him to make flights over the City of Tacoma at an altitude of less than 1,000 feet.
(Ord. 13177 § 3, 1947-08-20; Ord. 20446 § 1, 1975-06-10)
No person shall operate any aircraft within or over the corporate limits of the City of Tacoma unless such person has an appropriate effective airman certificate, permit, rating or license issued by the United States authorizing him to engage in the particular class of aeronautics in which he is engaged, and unless such aircraft has an appropriate effective certificate, permit or license issued by the United States.
(Ord. 13177 § 4, 1947-08-20)
It shall be unlawful for any person to operate an aircraft in the air, or on the ground or water, while under the influence of intoxicating liquor, narcotics, or other habit-forming drug, or to operate an aircraft in the air or on the ground or water, in a careless manner so as to endanger the life or property of another. In any proceeding charging careless or reckless operation of aircraft in violation of this section, the court, in determining whether the operation was careless or reckless, may consider the standards for safe operation of aircraft prescribed by Federal statutes or regulations governing aeronautics.
(Ord. 13177 § 5, 1947-08-20)
No person shall operate any aircraft over or within the City of Tacoma in violation of any valid air traffic or other rule or regulation established by the Federal Aviation Administration.
(Ord. 13177 § 6, 1947-08-20; Ord. 20446 § 2, 1975-06-10)
Except in case of emergency, or pursuant to a special permit as provided in Section 8.06.085, no person shall land any aircraft within the corporate limits of the City of Tacoma, except upon a regularly established airport field, or landing place, or helicopter landing pads which are to be used by governmental subdivisions for official business.
(Ord. 13177 § 8, 1947-08-20; Ord. 18259 § 1, 1967-04-11; Ord. 19333 § 1, 1971-04-06)
The City Manager is authorized to issue a special landing permit for helicopter landings at locations other than regularly established airports or helicopter landing pads. Said permit will extend for a period of one year and be issued to a helicopter operator, upon written application and after the applicant has filed with the City of Tacoma an aircraft liability insurance policy naming the City of Tacoma as an additional insured. The policy must provide not less than 30 days' notice of cancellation prior to the effective date thereof, with a combined single limit of not less than $1,500,000.00. The permit, and subsequent operations thereunder, shall be subject to such terms and conditions as the City Manager may impose. Any helicopter operator holding said permit will be required to report any planned landing to the City Manager and receive verbal authorization prior to landing. The permit will be renewable on a yearly basis only if the helicopter operator has demonstrated responsible operations and adequate concern for public health and safety.
(Ord. 19333 § 2, 1971-04-06; Ord. 20446 § 3, 1975-06-10)
All aircraft, when flying within or over the corporate limits of the City of Tacoma at night, shall have lights and other equipment required for such flying by the rules, regulations, or orders of the Federal Aviation Administration.
(Ord. 13177 § 9, 1947-08-20; Ord. 20446 § 4, 1975-06-10)
(Unnecessary noise prohibited. Ord. 13177 § 10, 1947-08-20; repealed by Ord. 27673 § 8, 2008-02-19)
No person in any aircraft shall cause or permit to be thrown out, discharged or dropped within the corporate limits of the City of Tacoma, any object or thing, except loose water or loose sand ballast when absolutely essential to the safety of the occupants of the aircraft.
(Ord. 13177 § 11, 1947-08-20)
It is the intention of the City Council that each separate provision of this chapter shall be deemed independent of all other provisions herein, and it is further the intention of the City Council that, if any provision of this chapter be declared invalid, all other provisions thereof shall remain valid and enforceable.
(Ord. 13177 § 14, 1947-08-20)
Any person, firm or corporation violating any provision of this chapter shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined in a sum not exceeding $500.00, or be imprisoned in the Pierce County Jail for a period of not more than six months, or be both so fined and imprisoned.
(Ord. 13177 § 13, 1947-08-20; Ord. 22600 § 3, 1981-12-29)