In Wake of GA Ban Exemption, FAA Defines ‘Based Aircraft’

The FAA moved quickly to define “based aircraft” after exempting them in its order temporarily banning general aviation and nonscheduled commercial operations at 12 U.S. airports due to controller staffing issues. Based aircraft counts are also one of the data points used by the FAA to determine eligibility for inclusion in the National Plan of Integrated Airport System (NPIAS), which is a requirement to receive federal funds.

In a letter issued Tuesday, the FAA listed four criteria that must be met to be considered based: the aircraft is based at a specific airport with an agreement for storage, spends more than six months a year at a specific airport, must be operational and capable of performing takeoffs and landings, and has a current FAA airworthiness certificate.

Expressly excluded from the criteria are through-the-fence agreements, which allow people who own property with aircraft storage facilities near an airport to access the airport from off-airport property. Aircraft that are stored off airport but are allowed to access airfield facilities via through-the-fence should not be reported as “based" at the airport, the FAA said.

According to the agency, accurate based aircraft information will help it in planning and forecasting the growth in the general aviation community, especially for runway approaches and other system-wide improvements. While important, the FAA noted that aircraft counts are rarely the sole criterion in its decision-making.