Private Airstrip On My Property

[Alaska170A]

I have some questions about building my own airstrip on my property, I do not know if this is legal to do or the people that need to be contacted in order to do so. I have a 650ft area with small trees across the road i would be taken off from about 30ft tall. I would be crossing over other private property on takeoff and landing but would not fly over any houses, i do not live in the city limits but i am in the Mat-SU Borough. Can anyone please point me in the right direction to get started on this. Thanks

[Bruce Fenstermacher]

Well the first thing you should know it the Feds do not license airstrips, states do. Don't know a thing about Alaska but I suspect it might be more liberal about what it allows lots of places in the lower 48. It may also come down to local ordinance. I'll bet you get some advice from others in Alaska but you will probably end up talking to your states Department of Aviation.

[GAHorn]

You might contact AOPA legal services for assistance.
In Texas, a property owner has the right to the enjoyment of his property,
a long as it does not infringe the rights of others.
Airspace above property its regulated by FAA, so a long as no FARs are violated
then generally you are good to go, provided no local ordinances are affected.
Rural property is generally unaffected by local ordinances.
In other words, as long as you're not in a subdivided neighborhood,
go for it (in TX at least. I'll bet rural Alaska is similar.)

[Bruce Fenstermacher]

In other words, as long as you're not in a subdivided neighborhood,
go for it (in TX at least. I'll bet rural Alaska is similar.)

For contrast in PA sans any local ordinance you can land "infrequently" on private property with permission of the land owner. At one time "infrequently was defined at 2 operations a year and that was further understood by some PennDOA officials as one landing and one takeoff. I understand the latest definition is 2 landings and takeoffs per quarter. Of course if no one complains then no one is counting and if anyone complains you will be told to cease and desist.

In NJ you can not land anywhere anytime unless the landing zone is licensed by the state. All the police departments know it and they will respond and act accordingly.

[marathonrunner]

I think there are going to be some restrictions in the future. I know now that if you have an engine failure just close your eyes and glide and you are most likely going to land in someones airstrip up here. I remember reading that there were going to be restrictions...not sure what they were

[mit]

Contact Tom George at AOPA. And there are already so many down there that there is a problem.

[Blue4]

In Alaska, state law allows you to take off and land anywhere that's not expressly prohibited. Check the Alaska statutes online for lots of fun reading.

Borough laws may be more restrictive. Based on the popularity of aviation in our great state, I can't imagine they'd be terribly so.

Before you undertake such an expensive and laborious project, with concerns like these hiring an attorney would be money well spent. We live in an overly litigious society, but feeding the vultures on occasion seems to help keep them at bay.