265-3. General.
(a) All persons using any County airport shall be subject to, and governed by, these rules and regulations, all County ordinances and resolutions, State and Federal laws and FAA regulations.
(b) All aeronautical activities at the County airports and all flying of aircraft departing from or arriving at said airports, shall be conducted in conformity with the current pertinent provisions of the Federal Aviation Regulations.
(c) The County airports shall be open for public use subject to the rules and regulations set forth herein, and subject to such restrictions due to inclement weather, or the condition of the landing area, as may be determined by the County.
(d) The privilege of using any County airport and its facilities shall be conditioned on the assumption of full responsibility and risk by the user thereof and he shall release, hold harmless, and indemnify the County and its officers and employees from such use as well as against claims of third persons against the person using an airport.
No person shall obstruct, impair or unreasonably interfere with the use of any County airport by any other person, or obstruct, impair, or unreasonably interfere with the passage of safe, orderly and efficient use of any County airport by any other person, vehicle or aircraft.
(e) Subject to applicable orders, certificates or permits of the FAA or CAB, or their successors, no person shall use a County airport or any portion thereof, or any of its improvements or facilities, for revenue-producing commercial business or activities who has not first complied with the Humboldt County Code and applicable ordinances and airport minimum standards. Such business or commercial activity shall include, but not be limited to, any solicitation of data or statistical information; any advertisement or promotion of goods or services; any offer to sell, rent or lease goods or services; or any offer to buy, rent or lease goods or services directed to the public, whether by a profitable or charitable organization.
(f) Commercial operations shall be conducted by operators having current valid contracts which have been approved by the Board.
(1) Such contracts shall define the areas of airport land and facilities to be used by the tenant or operator.
(2) Such contracts shall stipulate services to be rendered and the operator may charge reasonable fees for such services.
(g) Any person not so authorized by contract or permit as aforesaid shall not engage in any activities on a commercial basis, or operate, service or repair aircraft on County airport premises for hire or carry on any business of any nature whatsoever on any County airport.
(h) The Director of Aviation shall act as Airport Manager, and when the term “Director” is used herein, it means the person currently in charge of the airport, or his/her authorized agent. The Director of Aviation shall represent the County at all times in regard to all County-owned and operated airports as follows:
(1) He/she shall at all times have authority to take such action as may be necessary to safeguard the public in attendance at any County airport. Every tenant, pilot, mechanic or other person employed on or using a County airport shall cooperate to enforce these rules and to see that all persons upon the premises use care and caution to prevent injury to persons or damage to property.
(2) He/she may suspend or restrict any or all operations at any County airport without regard to weather conditions whenever such action is deemed necessary in the interest of safety.
(3) He/she may suspend, as a means of safeguarding a County airport and the public, the privileges of a County airport and its facilities to any person refusing to comply with these rules.
(4) He/she shall have authority to restrict operations to such portion or portions of any County airport as he/she may deem necessary or desirable. Any part of a County airport temporarily unsafe for aircraft operations which is not available for any cause, shall be clearly marked in accordance with recommendations of the FAA.
(5) He/she may issue permits for special events and/or demonstrations, provided FAA requirements are met, and no such event or demonstration shall be conducted by anyone without such written permission.
(6) In any contingencies or emergencies not specifically covered by these rules, the Director is authorized to make such decisions as to him may seem proper.
(i) Radio contacts between pilots and fixed base operators at any County airports shall be conducted in accordance with the procedures and by means of the phraseologies recommended by the FCC wherever practicable.
(j) Flight instructors shall fully acquaint their students with these rules and shall be responsible for the conduct of their students under their direction during dual instruction. When a student is flying solo, it shall be his/her sole responsibility to observe and abide by these rules.
(k) No person shall enter any County airport terminal or landing area with any animal (Seeing Eye dogs and animals being transported excepted). Animals may be permitted in other areas of County airports if restrained by leash or confined in such a manner as to be under control.
(l) No person involved in an accident at any County airport which results in damage to persons or property shall fail to report promptly such occurrences to the County.
(m) No person shall enter any portion of any County airport designated a restricted area unless authorized to do so by the Director.
(n) No person, except peace officers, duly authorized government employees, or members of the Armed Forces of the United States, when such person is on official duty which authorizes the possession of a firearm, shall carry or possess any firearm, explosive, or inflammable material on any County airport. This section shall apply to persons carrying firearms in cases, broken down, or unloaded when said firearms are being transported for the purpose of sale, demonstration, hunting or other sport activities.
(o) No person shall post, distribute or display signs, advertisements, circular, or any other printed or written matter at any County airport, except as authorized in writing by the Director or his/her designee.
(p) No person shall solicit fares, contributions or funds for any purpose on any County airport without the permission of the Director or his/her designee.
(q) No person shall dispose of garbage, papers, refuse or other material on any County airport except in receptacles provided for that purpose.
(r) No person, except representatives of the press on duty or during official assignment, shall take still, motion, or sound pictures for commercial purposes on any County airport without permission of the Director or his/her designee.
(s) All commercial photographers, whether still or motion picture, shall, before arriving at the airport, advise the Director, in writing, of the number of personnel and items of equipment to be used, and probable time and location of the work. They shall advise the Director of any changes in plans at the earliest possible moment.
The company shall execute a hold harmless agreement with the County and shall furnish the Director a certificate of insurance naming the County of Humboldt as an additional insured and shall add insurance in favor of the County, and evidencing such insurance coverage in such amounts and of such kinds as may be required by the County’s Risk Manager.
The Director may, by written notice, specify the hours during which the facilities can be used and impose such conditions as are necessary to insure that the activities approved shall not interfere with the operation or safety of the airport, nor unduly inconvenience the public using the facilities, and the Director shall have the right to terminate such activities at any time without cause.
The determination as to the necessity for the use of airports personnel shall rest with the Director, and his/her decision shall be final and conclusive. No photographic work shall be done on the airfield area without arranging for operations escort.
Fees and charges for the use of the airport for photographic purposes shall be set by the Board of Supervisors by resolution, and such fees and charges may be changed by the Board of Supervisors from time to time in the same manner.
(t) Experimental Aircraft. Demonstrations or testing of experimental aircraft or motor vehicles shall not be conducted on an airport without the express approval of the Director.
(u) Aircraft Storage and Parking. Aircraft shall only be stored or parked at places designated by the Director.
(v) Hang Gliders, Powered Hang Gliders, Ultra Light Aircraft. Aircraft of the ultra light category covered by the Federal Aviation Rules and Regulations, Part 103, shall operate in accordance with those rules and must have express written approval of the Director.
(w) Model Aircraft. Model aircraft shall not be operated from, on or over the airport, under the airport pattern, within the Arcata Airport Control Zone (five (5) mile radius) or at an altitude more than 400 feet above ground level. (Ord. 1603, § 2, 7/12/1983; Ord. 2609, § 2, 8/28/2018)