Building Private Airstrip

Hi Keith -

If you haven't, you might want to get in touch with the Sclairs at http://livingwithyourplane.com/. While I can't say if they have the specific AOPA package you're asking about, they publish a lot of relevant material.

This post in particular, while a bit dated, looks like a good starting point:

http://livingwithyourplane.com/2005/11/15/building-a-residential-airpark/

Some good info on building a private airport can be found here .

Cheers!

Joe

That is very cool - I've been thinking of putting a strip on my back 40 one of these days. I've already got a slab that would work for a hanger and it's 2800 feet from fence to fence. But first I need an airplane.

I picked up another 2.2 acres that abut the 20 acres that I plan to build a house on. I told everyone during the purchase process that I wanted it to serve as a suplemental driveway for the back side of my property. Its 1320'X 75' , level and dry with a pond at the south end. A county dirt road with a 25' power line at the north. Good approaches. It is about 1500' from my homesite.

I plan for a flag pole at the homesite that can serve as a wind indicator. I do not plan to register it as an airport. My taxes for this 2.2 acres (zoned as agricultural) are $12 per year. I do not plan on holding any open house fly-ins. If anyone ever asks, it is just a driveway. It will always be "just a driveway."

I have experience evaluating and inspecting heliports for oil companies, so this should be a piece of cake.

Cool stuff!  It's a goal of mine to one day have my own strip... for now still dreaming.

  With the price of Land now days.... you  buy the land you can't afford an airplane.....buy the plane first and you  won't have any money for Land ! Umm Catch 22 anyone ?

Lets see, I paid $1,000 plus legal expenses for this otherwise useless 2.2 acres. Taxes are $12.00/year. I paid much more for the 20 acre homesite five years ago. This is in rural Florida. I haven't run out of money for my homebuilt project yet, but my wife says that I'm closing in on it. (?)

Until I clear the land, the deer and turkey hunting is good.

Hi Robert!

My husband, Jim, and I live in Land O Lakes, Pasco County, Florida. We currently keep our RV-9A at South Lakeland Airport -- about a 45 minute-drive away. We are interested in learning more about your idea of a driveway.

Thanks, Jeanne

Hi Jeanne.

Not much to it. My existing 20 acres are mostly on a hillside. Strange for Florida. Only other alternative was my 70 X 900 ft right of way and it was aimed at my neighbor's house.  This odd 2.2 acre parcel was contested (adverse possesion) by another neighbor who fenced it off and wrongfully claimed it. 200 ft of it abuted my property. I made an offer to the rightful out of state owner and it was accepted. After 1 1/2 year, the legal mess was over and I got a deed. I have started what clearing that I can do with my 23 HP Mahindra. I don't have a house built on it yet.

State laws don't  prohibit landing on unimproved areas as long as the owner (me) doesn't care. It is far enough away from military and civilian air ports so they don't enter into the picture. County land use code does not prohibit the "occasional" landing/ take off. Usage will be low. It WILL be used as a second driveway. When the house gets built, it may be a challenge to taxi up and down "Nanny goat hill" so I will tow until past the hill. It is 100 feet elevation change in 1500 feet.

I have decided to change projects because existing kit plane may not be the best choice. An RV-9 would do it. 75 X 1370 "driveway" with 30 ft power line at the N end.

Picking away at clearing.

Bob

If you're interested in building an airstrip, I highly recommend checking this site out:

http://t14airport.com/home_t14progress.htm 

Walt, the owner, bought the land a couple years ago and has documented every step of the process of building the airport - runways, drainage, buildings, and everything else. I have no intentions of building an airport and just visit the site because I find the photos and information fascinating.

Hope you enjoy it too!