Section 3527 - DefinitionsExcept as provided in this section, the terms in these regulations are defined in the FARs; FAA ACs; and the PUC, State Aeronautics Act, Sections 21001 et seq.
(a) Agricultural Airport: An airport restricted to use only by agricultural aerial applicator aircraft (FAR Part 137 Operators).(b) Approach Surface: A surface which begins at the end of the primary surface, with the same width as the primary surface, and extends outward and upward for a horizontal distance, width, and slope in accordance with FAR 77.25(d) for airports only and FAR 77.29(b) for heliports only.(c) Approach/Takeoff Path: The flight track, centered within an approach surface, which helicopters follow when landing at or taking off from a heliport.(d) Commercial Activities: Those activities which may offer a facility, service or commodity for sale, hire, profit, or any other business purpose. Examples of commodities for sale are: food, lodging, entertainment, real estate, petroleum products, parts and equipment. Examples of services are: flight training, charter flights, maintenance, aircraft storage and tie-down. Examples of a facility used for a business purpose are: facility used for the transport of persons for a corporate business purpose and a facility used to transport persons for compensation or hire.(e) Design Helicopter: A generic helicopter which, for helicopters expected to operate at a heliport, reflects the maximum of the following design characteristics: weight, overall length, main rotor diameter, height, and length/width of the undercarriage.(f) Displaced Threshold: A threshold at the approach end of a runway, not located at the physical end of a runway, which designates the beginning of the portion of the runway useable for landing.(g) Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Landing Site: A site used for the landing and taking of of EMS helicopters that is located at or as near as practical to a medical emergency or at or near a medical facility and (1) has been designated an EMS landing site by an officer authorized by a public safety agency, as defined in PUC Section 21662.1, using criteria that the public safety agency has determined is reasonable and prudent for the safe operation of EMS helicopters and(2) is used, over any twelve month period, for no more than an average of six landings per month with a patient or patients on the helicopter, except to allow for adequate medical response to a mass casualty event if that response causes the site to be used beyond these limits, and(3) is not marked as a permitted heliport as described in Section 3554 of these regulations and(4) is used only for emergency medical purposes.(h) Emergency Use Facility: An area for accommodating helicopters in support of emergency public safety agency operations, but it is not used as a heliport for any other purpose.(i) Final Approach and Takeoff Area (FATO): The area of a heliport over which the final phase of the approach to a hover or a landing is completed and from which the takeoff is initiated.(j) Heliport: an area of land, water, or structure used or intended to be used for the landing and takeoff of helicopters.(k) Obstruction to Air Navigation: Any object that is higher than any of the heights defined in FAR 77.23.(l) Offshore Oil Platform: A structure in the ocean, not connected to the shore by pier, bridge, wharf, dock or breakwater, used in the support of petroleum exploration or production.(m) Operation: Either the landing or takeoff of an aircraft.(n) Owner: The person with the authority to possess the facility, which may be in "fee simple" or a leasehold for a period of at least one year.(o) Personal-Use Airport: An airport limited to the noncommercial activities of an individual owner or family and occasional invited guests.(p) Primary Surface: (1) For airports only: A surface longitudinally centered on a runway with a width and length determined in accordance with FAR 77.25(c).(2) For heliports only: The area of the primary surface, in accordance with FAR 77.29(a), coincides in size and shape with the designated FATO of a heliport. This surface is a horizontal plane at the elevation of the established heliport elevation.(q) Public-Use Airport: An airport that is open for aircraft operations to the general public and is listed in the current edition of the Airport/Facility Directory that is published by the National Ocean Service of the U.S. Department of Commerce.(r) Relocated Threshold: Defines the start of the usable portion of a runway, but is not located at the physical end of a runway.(s) Runway (airports only): A defined rectangular area of an airport prepared for the landing and takeoff of aircraft.(t) Safety Area: (1) For airports only: A defined surface surrounding the runway or taxiway prepared or suitable for reducing the risk of damage to airplanes in the event of an undershoot, overshoot, or excursion from the runway or taxiway.(2) For heliports only: A defined area on a heliport surrounding the FATO which is free of objects at or above the elevation of the closest point of the TLOF, other than those required for air navigation purposes, and is intended to reduce the risk of damage to helicopters accidentally diverging from the FATO. Objects required for air navigation purposes within this area shall be on frangible mounts and shall not penetrate the approach or transitional surfaces by more than two inches.(u) Seaplane Landing Site: An area of water used, or intended for use, for landing and taking off of seaplanes.(v) Site Approval Permit: A written approval issued by the Department authorizing construction of an airport in accordance with approved plans, specifications, and conditions.(w) Special-Use Airport: An airport not open to the general public, access to which is controlled by the owner in support of commercial activities, public service operations and/or personal use.(x) Taxiway: A designated, but not necessarily paved, path or route for aircraft to taxi from one airport area to another.(y) Temporary Helicopter Landing Site: A site, other than an emergency medical service landing site at or near a medical facility, which is used for landing and taking off of helicopters and (1) is used or intended to be used for less than one year, except for recurrent annual events, and(2) is not marked or lighted to be distinguishable as a heliport and(3) is not used exclusively for helicopter operations.(z) Threshold: The beginning of that portion of the runway available and suitable for landing of aircraft.(aa) Touchdown and Liftoff Area (TLOF): The load bearing area of a heliport that is centered within the FATO and upon which a helicopter lands or takes off.(bb) Transitional Surface: Surface which extends outward and upward from the lateral boundaries of the primary surface and from the approach surfaces in accordance with FAR 77.25(e) for airports only or FAR 77.29(c) for heliports only.Cal. Code Regs. Tit. 21, § 3527
1. New section filed 12-14-88; operative 1-1-89 (Register 88, No. 53).
2. Amendment filed 3-21-97; operative 4-20-97 (Register 97, No. 12). Note: Authority cited: Section 21243, Public Utilities Code. Reference: Sections 21661- 21668.2 and 21006, Public Utilities Code.
1. New section filed 12-14-88; operative 1-1-89 (Register 88, No. 53).
2. Amendment filed 3-21-97; operative 4-20-97 (Register 97, No. 12).