The AHA Airport Hazard Area overlay shall include
the approach zones to New Hanover Airport shown on Figure 1, the Airport
Hazard Area Map for New Hanover Airport, and the approach zones to
Pottstown Municipal Airport shown on Figure 3, the Airport Hazard
Area Map for Pottstown Municipal Airport.
The following words and phrases when used in
this article shall have the meaning given to them in this section
unless the context indicates otherwise:
AIRCRAFT
Any contrivance, except an unpowered hang-glider or parachute,
used for manned ascent into or flight through the air.
AIRPORT
New Hanover Airport and Pottstown Municipal Airport. Any
area of land or water which is used, or intended to be used, for the
landing and takeoff of aircraft and any appurtenant areas which are
used, or intended to be used for airport buildings or air navigation
facilities or rights-of-way, together with all airport buildings and
facilities thereon. As used herein, the term "airport" includes public
airports but excludes private airports and heliports. Public and private
airports are defined separately in this section.
AIRPORT ELEVATION
The highest point of an airport's usable landing area measured
in feet above sea level. For New Hanover Township Airport, the airport
elevation is 280 feet above sea level. For Pottstown Municipal Airport,
the airport elevation is 256 feet above sea level.
AIRPORT HAZARD
Any structure or object, natural or man-made, or use of land
which obstructs the airspace required for flight or aircraft in landing
or taking off at an airport or is otherwise hazardous as defined by
"airport hazard" in 74 Pa.C.S.A. § 5102.
AIRPORT HAZARD AREA
Any area of land or water upon which an airport hazard might
be established if not prevented as provided for in this article and
Act 164 of 1984 (Pennsylvania Laws Relating to Aviation).
APPROACH SURFACE
A surface longitudinally centered on the extended runway center line, extending outward and upward from the end of the primary surface and at the same slope as the approach surface zone height limitation slope set forth in §
350-127 of this article. In plan, the perimeter of the approach surface coincides with the perimeter of the approach surface zone.
CONICAL SURFACE
A surface extending outward and upward from the periphery
of the horizontal at a slope of 20 to one for a horizontal distance
of 4,000 feet.
FAA
Federal Aviation Administration of the United States Department
of Transportation.
HEIGHT
For the purpose of determining the height limits in all zones
set forth in this article and shown on the Zoning Map, the datum shall
be mean sea level elevation unless otherwise specified.
HORIZONTAL SURFACE
A horizontal plan 150 feet above the established airport
elevation, the perimeter of which in plan coincides with the perimeter
of the horizontal surface zone.
LARGER THAN UTILITY RUNWAY
A runway that is constructed for and intended to be used
by propeller-driven aircraft of greater than 12,500 pounds maximum
gross weight and jet-powered aircraft.
NONPRECISION INSTRUMENT RUNWAY
A runway having an existing instrument approach procedure
utilizing air navigation facilities with only horizontal guidance,
or area type navigation equipment, for which a straight-in nonprecision
instrument approach procedure has been approved or planned.
OBSTRUCTION
Any structure, growth, or other object, including a mobile object, which exceeds a limiting height set forth in §
350-127 of this article.
PRECISION INSTRUMENT RUNWAY
A runway having an existing instrument approach procedure
utilizing an instrument landing system (ILS) or a precision approach
radar (PAR). It also means a runway for which a precision approach
system is planned and is so indicated on an approved airport layout
plan or any other planning document.
PRIMARY SURFACE
A surface longitudinally centered on a runway. When the runway has a specially prepared hard surface, the primary surface extends 200 feet beyond each end of that runway. For military ways or when the runway has no specially prepared hard surface, or planned hard surface, the primary surface is set forth in §
350-127 of this article. The elevation of any point on the primary surface is the same as the elevation of the nearest point on the runway center line.
PRIVATE AIRPORT
An airport which is privately owned and which is not open
or intended to be open to the public as defined in 74 Pa.C.S.A. § 5102.
PUBLIC AIRPORT
An airport which is either publicly or privately owned and
which is open to the public as defined in 74 Pa.C.S.A. § 5102.
RUNWAY
A defined area on an airport prepared for landing and takeoff
of aircraft along its length.
STRUCTURE
An object, including a mobile object, constructed or installed
by man including, but without limitation, buildings, towers, cranes,
smokestacks, earth formations and overhead transmission lines.
TRANSITIONAL SURFACES
These surfaces extend outward at 90° angles to the runway
center line and the runway center line extended at a slope of seven
feet horizontally for each foot vertically from the sides of the primary
and approach surfaces to where they intersect the horizontal and conical
surfaces. Transitional surfaces for these portions of the precision
approach surfaces, which project through and beyond the limits of
the conical surface, extend a distance of 5,000 feet measured horizontally
from the edge of the approach surface and at 90° angles to the
extended runway center line.
TREE
Any object of natural growth.
UTILITY RUNWAY
A runway that is constructed for and intended to be used
by propeller-driven aircraft of 12,500 pounds maximum gross weight
or less.
VISUAL RUNWAY
A runway intended solely for operation of aircraft using
visual approach procedures.
In order to carry out the provisions of this
article, there are hereby created and established certain zones which
include all of the land lying beneath the approach surfaces, transitional
surfaces, horizontal surfaces and conical surfaces as they apply to
New Hanover Airport and Pottstown Municipal Airport. Such zones are
shown on Figure 2, an explanatory diagram of visual and utility nonprecision
runway zones with corresponding height limitations, and on Figure
1, the Airport Hazard Area Map for New Hanover Airport and Figure
3, the Airport Hazard Area Map for Pottstown Municipal Airport, each
of which is attached to this article and made a part hereof. An area
located in more than one of the following zones is considered to be
only in the zone with the more restrictive height limitation. The
various zones are hereby established and defined as follows:
A. Utility runway visual approach surface zone. Established
beneath the visual approach surface. The inner edge of this zone coincides
with the width of the primary surface and is 250 feet wide. The zone
expands outward uniformly to a width of 1,250 feet at a horizontal
distance of 5,000 feet from the primary surface. Its center line is
the continuation of the center line of the runway.
B. Utility runway nonprecision instrument approach surface
zone. Established beneath the nonprecision instrument approach surface.
The inner edge of this zone coincides with the width of the primary
surface and is 500 feet wide. The zone expands outward uniformly to
a width of 2,000 feet at a horizontal distance of 5,000 feet from
the primary surface. Its center line is the continuation of the center
line of the runway.
C. Runway larger than utility visual approach surface
zone. Established beneath the visual approach surface. The inner edge
of this zone coincides with the width of the primary surface and is
500 feet wide. The zone expands outward uniformly to a width of 1,500
feet at a horizontal distance of 5,000 feet from the primary surface.
Its center line is the continuation of the center line of the runway.
D. Runway larger than utility with a visibility minimum
greater than 3/4 mile nonprecision instrument approach surface zone.
Established beneath the nonprecision instrument approach surface.
The inner edge of this zone coincides with the width of the primary
surface and is 500 feet wide. The zone expands outward uniformly to
a width of 3,500 feet at a horizontal distance of 10,000 feet from
the primary surface. Its center line is the continuation of the center
line of the runway.
E. Runway larger than utility with a visibility minimum
as low as 3/4 mile nonprecision instrument approach surface zone.
Established beneath the nonprecision instrument approach surface.
The inner edge of this zone coincides with the width of the primary
surface and is 1,000 feet wide. The zone expands outward uniformly
to a width of 4,000 feet at a horizontal distance of 10,000 feet from
the primary surface. Its center line is the continuation of the center
line of the runway.
F. Precision instrument runway approach surface zone.
Established beneath the precision instrument approach surface. The
inner edge of this zone coincides with the width of the primary surface
and is 1,000 feet wide. The zone expands outward uniformly to a width
of 16,000 feet at a horizontal distance of 50,000 feet from the primary
surface. Its center line is the continuation of the center line of
the runway.
G. Transitional surface zones. Established beneath the
transitional surfaces adjacent to each runway and approach surface
as indicated on Figures 1, 2, and 3.
H. Horizontal surface zone. Established beneath the horizontal
surface, 150 feet above the established airport elevation, the perimeter
of which is constructed by swinging arcs of 5,000 feet radii from
the center of each end of the primary surface of each runway and connecting
the adjacent arcs by drawing lines tangent to those arcs. The horizontal
surface zone does not include the approach surface and transitional
surface zones.
I. Conical surface zone. Established beneath the conical
surface. This zone commences at the periphery of the horizontal surface
and extends outward therefrom a horizontal distance of 4,000 feet.
Except as otherwise provided in this article,
no structure shall be erected, altered, or maintained, and no tree
shall be allowed to grow in any zone created by this article to a
height in excess of the applicable height limit herein established
for such zone. Such applicable height limitations are hereby established
for each of the zones in question as follows:
A. Utility runway visual approach surface zone. Slopes
20 feet outward for each foot upward beginning at the end of and at
the same elevation as the primary surface and extending to a horizontal
distance of 5,000 feet along the extended runway center line.
B. Utility runway nonprecision instrument approach surface
zone. Slopes 20 feet outward for each foot upward beginning at the
end of and at the same elevation as the primary surface and extending
to a horizontal distance of 5,000 feet along the extended runway center
line.
C. Runway larger than utility visual approach surface
zone. Slopes 20 feet outward for each foot upward beginning at the
end of and at the same elevation as the primary surface and extending
to a horizontal distance of 5,000 feet along the extended runway center
line.
D. Runway larger than utility with a visibility minimum
greater than 3/4 mile nonprecision instrument approach surface zone.
Slopes 34 feet outward for each foot upward beginning at the end of
and at the same elevation as the primary surface and extending to
a horizontal distance of 10,000 feet along the extended runway center
line.
E. Runway larger than utility with a visibility minimum
as low as 3/4 mile nonprecision instrument approach surface zone.
Slopes 34 feet outward for each foot upward beginning at the end of
and at the same elevation as the primary surface and extending to
a horizontal distance of 10,000 feet along the extended runway center
line.
F. Precision instrument runway approach surface zone.
Slopes 50 feet outward for each foot upward beginning at the end of
and at the same elevation as the primary surface and extending to
a horizontal distance of 10,000 feet along the extended runway center
line; thence slopes upward 40 feet horizontally for each foot vertically
to an additional horizontal distance of 40,000 feet along the extended
runway center line.
G. Transitional surface zones. Slopes seven feet outward
for each foot upward beginning at the sides of and at the same elevation
as the primary surface and the approach surface, and extending to
a height of 150 feet above the airport elevation which is 280 feet
above mean sea level for New Hanover Airport and 256 feet above mean
sea level for Pottstown Municipal Airport. In addition to the foregoing,
when an airport has a precision instrument runway approach zone, there
are established height limits sloping seven feet outward for each
foot upward beginning at the sides of and at the same elevation as
the approach surface, and extending to where they intersect the conical
surface. Where the precision instrument runway approach zone projects
beyond the conical zone, there are established height limits sloping
seven feet outward for each foot upward beginning at the sides of
and at the same elevation as the approach surface, and extending a
horizontal distance of 5,000 feet measured at 90° angles to the
extended runway center line.
H. Horizontal surface zone. Established at 150 feet above
the established airport elevation or at a height of 430 feet above
mean sea level for New Hanover Airport and 406 feet above mean sea
level for Pottstown Municipal Airport.
I. Conical surface zone. Slopes 20 feet outward for each
foot upward beginning at the periphery of the horizontal surface and
at 150 feet above the established airport elevation and extending
to a height of 350 feet above the established airport elevation.
J. Excepted height limitations. Nothing in this article
shall be construed as prohibiting the construction or maintenance
of any structure, or growth of any tree to the maximum height permitted
by this chapter for the principal use. The Board of Commissioners
may grant additional height as allowed by the applicable zoning district
after consideration of the Airport Hazard Area.
Notwithstanding any other provisions of this
chapter, no use may be made of land or water within any zone established
by this article in such a manner as to create electrical interference
with navigational signals or radio communication between the airport
and aircraft, make it difficult for pilots to distinguish between
airport lights and other, result in glare in the eyes of pilots using
the airport, impair visibility in the vicinity of the airport, create
bird strike hazards, or otherwise in any way endanger or interfere
with the landing, takeoff, or maneuvering of aircraft intending to
use the airport.
In the event of conflict between any airport
zoning regulations applicable to the same area, whether the conflict
be with respect to the height of structures or trees, and the use
of land, or any other matter, and whether the other regulations were
adopted by the municipality which adopted the airport zoning regulations
or by some other municipality or otherwise, the more stringent limitation
or requirement shall govern and prevail.