§ 18-56. Definitions.

The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this article, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:

Airport means the Palestine Municipal Airport.

Airport elevation means the established elevation of the highest point on the usable landing area measured in feet from mean sea level.

Airport hazard means any structure or tree or use of land which:

(1)

Obstructs the airspace required for the flight of aircraft or which obstructs or interferes with the control, tracking or data acquisition in the landing, taking off or flight at an airport or at any installation or facility relating to flight and tracking or data acquisition of the flight craft;

(2)

Is hazardous, interfers with or obstructs such landing, taking off or flight of aircraft; or

(3)

Is hazardous to or interferes with the tracking or data acquisition pertaining to flight and flight vehicles.

Airport hazard area means any area of land or water upon which an airport hazard might be established if not prevented as provided in this article.

Airport reference point means the point established as the approximate geographic center of the airport landing area and that is so designated.

Approach surface means a surface longitudinally centered on the extended runway centerline, extending outward and upward from the end of the primary surface and at the same slope as the approach zone height limitation slope set forth in section 18-61. In plan the perimeter of the approach surface coincides with the perimeter of the approach zone.

Approach, transitional, horizontal, and conical zones means the zones that are set forth in section 18-60.

Centerline means a line extending through the midpoint of each end of a runway.

Conical surface means a surface extending outward and upward from the periphery of the horizontal surface at a slope of 20:1 for a horizontal distance of 4,000 feet.

Hazard to air navigation means an obstruction determined to have a substantial adverse effect on the safe and efficient utilization of the navigable airspace.

Height. The height limits in all zones set forth in this article and shown on the zoning map which is on file in the city secretary's office, shall be determined by the datum of mean sea level elevation, unless otherwise specified.

Horizontal surface means a horizontal plane 150 feet above the established airport elevation, the perimeter of which in plan coincides with the perimeter of the horizontal zone.

Instrument runway means a runway of at least 4,000 feet for which there is or is planned to be an instrument landing procedure published by a defense agency of the federal government or by the Federal Aviation Administration. Runways 17/35 are instrument runways at the airport.

Landing area means the surface area of the airport used for landing, takeoffs or taxiing of aircraft.

Nonconforming use means any preexisting structure, object of natural growth or use of land which is inconsistent with this article.

Nonprecision instrument runway means a runway having an instrument approach procedure utilizing air navigation facilities with only horizontal guidance or area-type navigation equipment for which a straight-in nonprecision instrument approach procedure has been approved or planned.

Obstruction means any structure, growth or other object, including a mobile object, which exceeds a limiting height set forth in section 18-61.

Precision instrument runway means a runway having an instrument approach procedure utilizing an instrument landing system (ILS) or a precision approach radar (PAR). It also means a runway for which a precision approach system is planned and is so indicated on an approved airport layout plan or any other planning document.

Primary runway means a paved runway, as shown in the official airport layout plan (ALP), of at least 5,000 feet on which a majority of the approaches to and departures from the airport occur. Runways 17/35 are primary runways at the airport.

Primary surface means a surface longitudinally centered on a runway. When the runway has a specially prepared hard surface, the primary surface extends 200 feet beyond each end of that runway; but when the runway has no specially prepared hard surface or planned hard surface, the primary surface ends at each end of that runway. The width of the primary surface of a runway will be that width prescribed in federal aviation regulations (FAR) part 77, for the most precise approach for either end of that runway. The elevation of any point on the primary surface is the same as the elevation of the nearest point on the runway centerline. The width of a primary surface is as follows:

(1)

For utility runways having only visual approaches, 250 feet.

(2)

For utility runways having nonprecision instrument approaches, 500 feet.

(3)

For other than utility runways the width is as follows:

a.

For visual runways having only visual approaches, 500 feet.

b.

For nonprecision instrument runways having visibility minimums greater than three-fourths statute mile, 500 feet.

c.

For nonprecision instrument runways having a nonprecision instrument approach with visibility minimums as low as three-fourths statute mile and for precision instrument runways, 1,000 feet.

Runway means a defined area on an airport prepared for landing and takeoff of aircraft along its length.

Structure means an object, including a mobile object, constructed or installed by man, including but not limited to buildings, towers, cranes, smokestacks, earth formations and overhead transmission lines.

Transitional surfaces means the surfaces that extend outward at 90-degree angles to the runway centerline and the runway centerline extended at a slope of seven feet horizontally for each foot vertically from the sides of the primary and approach surfaces to where they intersect the horizontal and conical surfaces. Transitional surfaces for those portions of the precision approach surfaces, which project through and beyond limits of the conical surface, extend a distance of 5,000 feet measured horizontally from the edge of the approach surface and at 90-degree angles to the extended runway centerline.

Tree means any object of natural growth.

Utility runway means a runway that is constructed for and intended to be used by a propeller-driven aircraft that is 12,500 pounds maximum gross weight.

Visual runway means a runway intended solely for the operation of aircraft using visual approach procedures.

(Code 1968, § 4-22)

State law reference

Definitions, V.T.C.A., Local Government Code § 241.003.

Cross reference

Definitions generally, § 1-2.