The FAA’s final policy on the non-aeronautical use of airport hangars appears in the June 15th edition of the Federal Register and will take effect on July 1, 2017.
The FAA is issuing the policy to clarify how aviation facilities — including hangars — can be used on airports that receive federal funds. The final policy strikes a balance between hangar use for aviation and non-aviation purposes, according to FAA officials.
“The policy ensures hangars are available when there is an aviation need, and if demand is low, allows hangars to be used for non-aviation activities,” FAA officials said in a prepared release.
“The FAA recognizes that non-aviation hangar space rental allows airport sponsors to be economically independent when hangars are not being used to fulfill aviation needs,” the release continued.
Airport sponsors must receive approval from the FAA before hangars can be used for non-aviation purposes.
In addition, the policy outlines the type of aircraft that can be built in a hangar, the equipment and items that can be stored in hangars, and the role of the airport sponsors to ensure tenants pay fair market value for hangar space.
All interesting and good comments; thanks. It’s my opinion that if indeed there are so many hangars in situations where either the hangars themselves or the land they sit on where at least partially funded with public funds, why are the rental fees so high? I have contacted numerous airports in numerous states and with few exceptions, there were no hangars available or the monthly rental fees were in excess of $500. Incredible, especially when every one of these airports were built with tax dollars. Often was the case that many hangars were being used for purposes other than aviation.
If someone bought outright or built the hangar, then it’s their hangar to do as they please and I concur. But if taxpayer funds bought or built or helped build, then the hangar space was meant to ne and should be used for aviation and airplanes.
Just one person’s opinion (and speaking as a taxpayer, proud citizen and combat veteran). 🙂
WE lease the land from the City. By leasing the land they give up certain rights in exchange for cash. The City of Longmont Colorado however chooses to ignore the fact that I built and maintain the Hangar and reserve the right to sublease or not sublease to others. They assert that they have the right for any City official they designate to enter the buildings at any time! They also are imposing a requirement for any commercial operator to submit a yearly operationa and financial report and if it satisfies them they may issue a Yearly Permit.
Welcome to the USSA.
I own a hangar out airport. I have my airplane in there a long with other personal belongings. I would like to see the FAA tell me what I can or can’t do with the hangar that I own!!
The article says facilities that are receiving federal funds. If it is being funded by the government, then they do have a say in how it is used. If you own it outright, then it doesn’t apply to you.
THANK GOD! I don’t have to take my Refrigerator filled with beer or the kegerater out of the Hangar. It’s a great hang out after we fly. Can’t beat the price of beer, sure it’s not HOOTERS but it’s cheaper! LOL!!
Frankly, this only CONFIMS the major problem aviation (recreational) has for the most part : OVER supply – ZIP demand?) Perhaps a “Storage Plus” located on airport property unneeded for aeronautical related use?
“Build and THEY (aircraft owners?) will come” – pragmatic – hardly!
They have never been HANGERS; they have always been HANGARS. Even when using them for car repairs or living accommodations, Jed.
if I want to park a motorcycle, or a boat, or a car under the wing of my plane, then I should be able to do that. There is an airworthy, active aircraft in there and I’m not going to let big brother dictate what I can or can’t do. This is FAA “Policy” not law. it is only law for the airports that accepted our aviation tax dollars for improvements to the airport, it then be comes regulatory. The FAA’s backdoor way of making law.
You should be able to do that, as long as it doesn’t interfere with the movement of the aircraft & that the FBO/airport manager allows you to do so.
Quote from the website listed above for the response of question 4:
“…the final policy deletes the criteria of “incidental” or “de minimis” use and simply requires that non-aviation storage in a hangar not interfere with movement of aircraft in or out of the hangar, or impede access to other aeronautical contents of the hangar. The policy lists specific conditions that would be considered to interfere with aeronautical use. Stored non-aeronautical items would be considered to interfere with aviation use if they:
○ Impede the movement of the aircraft in and out of the hangar;
○ Displace the aeronautical contents of the hangar. (A vehicle parked at the hangar while the vehicle owner is using the aircraft will not be considered to displace the aircraft);
○ Impede access to aircraft or other aeronautical contents of the hangar;
○ Are used for the conduct of a non-aeronautical business or municipal agency function from the hangar (including storage of inventory); or
○ Are stored in violation of airport rules and regulations, lease provisions, building codes or local ordinances.”
To me, it should greatly depend on who owns and paid for the hangar. If it was built with FAA funds, then they have the right to dictate “NO non-aviation use”. If I paid for the hangar, then pay taxes and land leases payments, I should be able to include some non-aviation items as well.
As for those that are against apartments in the hangar: Why not? I think an apartment above and behind the airplane is a cool as it gets! At least, I’ve never seen a hangar completely turned into living space.
Ask your local FOSDO about there use?
I am at a county airport in Texas. I have been tied down for over a year because of no hangar space available. What rankles my feathers is the county uses the main hangar for parking trucks inside which are used for spraying mosquitoes. I would assume the county receives federal funds.
Hi Robert, that is the problem, “County Airport” and probably run by county public servants who no longer serve the public. And yes it most likely has received public financing. It always is a prickly subject when dealing with unaccountable bureaucrats.
Dear Determined Insurrectionist, Isn’t killing deadly mosquitoes and storing/maintaining equipment to do so “serving the public”? Your relentless Trump/teabagger nitpicking of government for making necessary compromises and failing to achieve perfection fails to appreciate the third world anarchy and chaos that would emerge ( especially involving cheap, greedy aircraft owners and egomaniacal pilots ) without it.
FRED,
Hangars are built for the PRIMARY purpose of storing aircraft, not trucks. When those people desiring to rent space in a hangar are forced to park on the ramp due to the whims of bureaucrats, there IS A PROBLEM.
And there is no reason to be such an insufferably arrogant LIBERAL
We have an airport in Apopka where roughly half of the hangers are used for non-aviation purposes. There are such things as classic car restoration shops in them. Some hangers actually have apartments in them with full time residents. The airport has more than enough space to meet aviation based needs such as the storage and servicing of aircraft.