FAA Proposal Adds Teeth to Obstruction Rule

Rules governing the construction of objectsthat could be an obstruction to safe aircraft operations might get a little more bite. Under proposed amendments to FAR Part 77 published last week, obstruction standards for the so-called “imaginary surfaces” of airports would be revised, resulting in more structures that could be classified as obstructions. The FAA also proposes to require proponents to file a notice of proposed construction or alteration of structures near private-use airports that have an FAA-approved instrument approach procedure. This proposal, if adopted, would also increase the number of days in which a notice must be filed before beginning construction, remove the provisions for public hearings, re-title the rule, reformat it and simplify its language. Comments are due September 11. Proposed amendments and revisions to Part 77 have been under discussion and proposed several times over the last two decades, but no significant changes have since been adopted.