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653 

Federal Aviation Administration, DOT 

§ 77.1 

the FAA officials designated in para-
graph (a) of this section. 

(Secs. 307 and 313(a), Federal Aviation Act of 
1958 (49 U.S.C. 1348 and 1354(a))) 

[Doc. No. 15379, 42 FR 54798, Oct. 11, 1977, as 
amended by Amdt. 73–5, 54 FR 39292, Sept. 25, 
1989; Amdt. 73–6, 58 FR 42001, Aug. 6, 1993; 
Amdt. 73–8, 61 FR 26435, May 28, 1996; Amdt. 
73–8, 63 FR 16890, Apr. 7, 1998; Docket No. 
FAA–2022–1355, Amdt. No. 73–9, 87 FR 75845, 
Dec. 9, 2022] 

E

DITORIAL

N

OTE

: The restricted areas for-

merly carried as §§ 608.21 to 608.72 of this title 
were transferred to part 73 as §§ 73.21 to 73.72 
under subpart B but are not carried in the 
Code of Federal Regulations. For F

EDERAL

 

R

EGISTER

citations affecting these restricted 

areas, see the List of CFR Sections Affected, 
which appears in the Finding Aids section of 
the printed volume and at 

www.govinfo.gov. 

Subpart C—Prohibited Areas 

§ 73.81

Applicability. 

This subpart designates prohibited 

areas and prescribes limitations on the 
operation of aircraft therein. 

§ 73.83

Restrictions. 

No person may operate an aircraft 

within a prohibited area unless author-
ization has been granted by the using 
agency. 

§ 73.85

Using agency. 

For the purpose of this subpart, the 

using agency is the agency, organiza-
tion or military command that estab-
lished the requirements for the prohib-
ited area. 

E

DITORIAL

N

OTE

: Sections 73.87 through 

73.99 are reserved for descriptions of des-
ignated prohibited areas. For F

EDERAL

R

EG

-

ISTER

citations affecting these prohibited 

areas, see the List of CFR Sections Affected, 
which appears in the Finding Aids section of 
the printed volume and at 

www.govinfo.gov. 

PART 75 

[

RESERVED

PART 77—SAFE, EFFICIENT USE, 

AND PRESERVATION OF THE 
NAVIGABLE AIRSPACE 

Subpart A—General 

Sec. 
77.1

Purpose. 

77.3

Definitions. 

Subpart B—Notice Requirements 

77.5

Applicability. 

77.7

Form and time of notice. 

77.9

Construction or alteration requiring 

notice. 

77.11

Supplemental notice requirements. 

Subpart C—Standards for Determining Ob-

structions to Air Navigation or Naviga-
tional Aids or Facilities 

77.13

Applicability. 

77.15

Scope. 

77.17

Obstruction standards. 

77.19

Civil airport imaginary surfaces. 

77.21

Department of Defense (DOD) airport 

imaginary surfaces. 

77.23

Heliport imaginary surfaces. 

Subpart D—Aeronautical Studies and 

Determinations 

77.25

Applicability. 

77.27

Initiation of studies. 

77.29

Evaluating aeronautical effect. 

77.31

Determinations. 

77.33

Effective period of determinations. 

77.35

Extensions, terminations, revisions 

and corrections. 

Subpart E—Petitions for Discretionary 

Review 

77.37

General. 

77.39

Contents of a petition. 

77.41

Discretionary review results. 

A

UTHORITY

: 49 U.S.C. 106 (g), 40103, 40113– 

40114, 44502, 44701, 44718, 46101–46102, 46104. 

S

OURCE

: Docket No. FAA–2006–25002, 75 FR 

42303, July 21, 2010, unless otherwise noted. 

Subpart A—General 

§ 77.1

Purpose. 

This part establishes: 
(a) The requirements to provide no-

tice to the FAA of certain proposed 
construction, or the alteration of exist-
ing structures; 

(b) The standards used to determine 

obstructions to air navigation, and 
navigational and communication fa-
cilities; 

(c) The process for aeronautical stud-

ies of obstructions to air navigation or 
navigational facilities to determine the 
effect on the safe and efficient use of 
navigable airspace, air navigation fa-
cilities or equipment; and 

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654 

14 CFR Ch. I (1–1–24 Edition) 

§ 77.3 

(d) The process to petition the FAA 

for discretionary review of determina-
tions, revisions, and extensions of de-
terminations. 

§ 77.3

Definitions. 

For the purpose of this part: 
Non-precision instrument runway 

means a runway having an existing in-
strument approach procedure utilizing 
air navigation facilities with only hori-
zontal guidance, or area type naviga-
tion equipment, for which a straight-in 
non-precision instrument approach 
procedure has been approved, or 
planned, and for which no precision ap-
proach facilities are planned, or indi-
cated on an FAA planning document or 
military service military airport plan-
ning document. 

Planned or proposed airport is an air-

port that is the subject of at least one 
of the following documents received by 
the FAA: 

(1) Airport proposals submitted under 

14 CFR part 157. 

(2) Airport Improvement Program re-

quests for aid. 

(3) Notices of existing airports where 

prior notice of the airport construction 
or alteration was not provided as re-
quired by 14 CFR part 157. 

(4) Airport layout plans. 
(5) DOD proposals for airports used 

only by the U.S. Armed Forces. 

(6) DOD proposals on joint-use (civil- 

military) airports. 

(7) Completed airport site selection 

feasibility study. 

Precision instrument runway means a 

runway having an existing instrument 
approach procedure utilizing an Instru-
ment Landing System (ILS), or a Pre-
cision Approach Radar (PAR). It also 
means a runway for which a precision 
approach system is planned and is so 
indicated by an FAA-approved airport 
layout plan; a military service ap-
proved military airport layout plan; 
any other FAA planning document, or 
military service military airport plan-
ning document. 

Public use airport is an airport avail-

able for use by the general public with-
out a requirement for prior approval of 
the airport owner or operator. 

Seaplane base is considered to be an 

airport only if its sea lanes are out-
lined by visual markers. 

Utility runway means a runway that 

is constructed for and intended to be 
used by propeller driven aircraft of 
12,500 pounds maximum gross weight 
and less. 

Visual runway means a runway in-

tended solely for the operation of air-
craft using visual approach procedures, 
with no straight-in instrument ap-
proach procedure and no instrument 
designation indicated on an FAA-ap-
proved airport layout plan, a military 
service approved military airport lay-
out plan, or by any planning document 
submitted to the FAA by competent 
authority. 

Subpart B—Notice Requirements 

§ 77.5

Applicability. 

(a) If you propose any construction 

or alteration described in § 77.9, you 
must provide adequate notice to the 
FAA of that construction or alteration. 

(b) If requested by the FAA, you 

must also file supplemental notice be-
fore the start date and upon comple-
tion of certain construction or alter-
ations that are described in § 77.9. 

(c) Notice received by the FAA under 

this subpart is used to: 

(1) Evaluate the effect of the pro-

posed construction or alteration on 
safety in air commerce and the effi-
cient use and preservation of the navi-
gable airspace and of airport traffic ca-
pacity at public use airports; 

(2) Determine whether the effect of 

proposed construction or alteration is 
a hazard to air navigation; 

(3) Determine appropriate marking 

and lighting recommendations, using 
FAA Advisory Circular 70/7460–1, Ob-
struction Marking and Lighting; 

(4) Determine other appropriate 

measures to be applied for continued 
safety of air navigation; and 

(5) Notify the aviation community of 

the construction or alteration of ob-
jects that affect the navigable air-
space, including the revision of charts, 
when necessary. 

§ 77.7

Form and time of notice. 

(a) If you are required to file notice 

under § 77.9, you must submit to the 
FAA a completed FAA Form 7460–1, 
Notice of Proposed Construction or Al-
teration. FAA Form 7460–1 is available 

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655 

Federal Aviation Administration, DOT 

§ 77.9 

at FAA regional offices and on the 
Internet. 

(b) You must submit this form at 

least 45 days before the start date of 
the proposed construction or alteration 
or the date an application for a con-
struction permit is filed, whichever is 
earliest. 

(c) If you propose construction or al-

teration that is also subject to the li-
censing requirements of the Federal 
Communications Commission (FCC), 
you must submit notice to the FAA on 
or before the date that the application 
is filed with the FCC. 

(d) If you propose construction or al-

teration to an existing structure that 
exceeds 2,000 ft. in height above ground 
level (AGL), the FAA presumes it to be 
a hazard to air navigation that results 
in an inefficient use of airspace. You 
must include details explaining both 
why the proposal would not constitute 
a hazard to air navigation and why it 
would not cause an inefficient use of 
airspace. 

(e) The 45-day advance notice re-

quirement is waived if immediate con-
struction or alteration is required be-
cause of an emergency involving essen-
tial public services, public health, or 
public safety. You may provide notice 
to the FAA by any available, expedi-
tious means. You must file a completed 
FAA Form 7460–1 within 5 days of the 
initial notice to the FAA. Outside nor-
mal business hours, the nearest flight 
service station will accept emergency 
notices. 

§ 77.9

Construction or alteration re-

quiring notice. 

If requested by the FAA, or if you 

propose any of the following types of 
construction or alteration, you must 
file notice with the FAA of: 

(a) Any construction or alteration 

that is more than 200 ft. AGL at its 
site. 

(b) Any construction or alteration 

that exceeds an imaginary surface ex-
tending outward and upward at any of 
the following slopes: 

(1) 100 to 1 for a horizontal distance 

of 20,000 ft. from the nearest point of 
the nearest runway of each airport de-
scribed in paragraph (d) of this section 
with its longest runway more than 

3,200 ft. in actual length, excluding hel-
iports. 

(2) 50 to 1 for a horizontal distance of 

10,000 ft. from the nearest point of the 
nearest runway of each airport de-
scribed in paragraph (d) of this section 
with its longest runway no more than 
3,200 ft. in actual length, excluding hel-
iports. 

(3) 25 to 1 for a horizontal distance of 

5,000 ft. from the nearest point of the 
nearest landing and takeoff area of 
each heliport described in paragraph 
(d) of this section. 

(c) Any highway, railroad, or other 

traverse way for mobile objects, of a 
height which, if adjusted upward 17 feet 
for an Interstate Highway that is part 
of the National System of Military and 
Interstate Highways where over-
crossings are designed for a minimum 
of 17 feet vertical distance, 15 feet for 
any other public roadway, 10 feet or 
the height of the highest mobile object 
that would normally traverse the road, 
whichever is greater, for a private 
road, 23 feet for a railroad, and for a 
waterway or any other traverse way 
not previously mentioned, an amount 
equal to the height of the highest mo-
bile object that would normally tra-
verse it, would exceed a standard of 
paragraph (a) or (b) of this section. 

(d) Any construction or alteration on 

any of the following airports and heli-
ports: 

(1) A public use airport listed in the 

Airport/Facility Directory, Alaska 
Supplement, or Pacific Chart Supple-
ment of the U.S. Government Flight 
Information Publications; 

(2) A military airport under construc-

tion, or an airport under construction 
that will be available for public use; 

(3) An airport operated by a Federal 

agency or the DOD. 

(4) An airport or heliport with at 

least one FAA-approved instrument ap-
proach procedure. 

(e) You do not need to file notice for 

construction or alteration of: 

(1) Any object that will be shielded 

by existing structures of a permanent 
and substantial nature or by natural 
terrain or topographic features of equal 
or greater height, and will be located 
in the congested area of a city, town, 

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656 

14 CFR Ch. I (1–1–24 Edition) 

§ 77.11 

or settlement where the shielded struc-
ture will not adversely affect safety in 
air navigation; 

(2) Any air navigation facility, air-

port visual approach or landing aid, 
aircraft arresting device, or meteoro-
logical device meeting FAA-approved 
siting criteria or an appropriate mili-
tary service siting criteria on military 
airports, the location and height of 
which are fixed by its functional pur-
pose; 

(3) Any construction or alteration for 

which notice is required by any other 
FAA regulation. 

(4) Any antenna structure of 20 feet 

or less in height, except one that would 
increase the height of another antenna 
structure. 

§ 77.11

Supplemental notice require-

ments. 

(a) You must file supplemental no-

tice with the FAA when: 

(1) The construction or alteration is 

more than 200 feet in height AGL at its 
site; or 

(2) Requested by the FAA. 
(b) You must file supplemental no-

tice on a prescribed FAA form to be re-
ceived within the time limits specified 
in the FAA determination. If no time 
limit has been specified, you must sub-
mit supplemental notice of construc-
tion to the FAA within 5 days after the 
structure reaches its greatest height. 

(c) If you abandon a construction or 

alteration proposal that requires sup-
plemental notice, you must submit no-
tice to the FAA within 5 days after the 
project is abandoned. 

(d) If the construction or alteration 

is dismantled or destroyed, you must 
submit notice to the FAA within 5 days 
after the construction or alteration is 
dismantled or destroyed. 

Subpart C—Standards for Deter-

mining Obstructions to Air 
Navigation or Navigational 
Aids or Facilities 

§ 77.13

Applicability. 

This subpart describes the standards 

used for determining obstructions to 
air navigation, navigational aids, or 
navigational facilities. These standards 
apply to the following: 

(a) Any object of natural growth, ter-

rain, or permanent or temporary con-
struction or alteration, including 
equipment or materials used and any 
permanent or temporary apparatus. 

(b) The alteration of any permanent 

or temporary existing structure by a 
change in its height, including appur-
tenances, or lateral dimensions, includ-
ing equipment or material used there-
in. 

§ 77.15

Scope. 

(a) This subpart describes standards 

used to determine obstructions to air 
navigation that may affect the safe and 
efficient use of navigable airspace and 
the operation of planned or existing air 
navigation and communication facili-
ties. Such facilities include air naviga-
tion aids, communication equipment, 
airports, Federal airways, instrument 
approach or departure procedures, and 
approved off-airway routes. 

(b) Objects that are considered ob-

structions under the standards de-
scribed in this subpart are presumed 
hazards to air navigation unless fur-
ther aeronautical study concludes that 
the object is not a hazard. Once further 
aeronautical study has been initiated, 
the FAA will use the standards in this 
subpart, along with FAA policy and 
guidance material, to determine if the 
object is a hazard to air navigation. 

(c) The FAA will apply these stand-

ards with reference to an existing air-
port facility, and airport proposals re-
ceived by the FAA, or the appropriate 
military service, before it issues a final 
determination. 

(d) For airports having defined run-

ways with specially prepared hard sur-
faces, the primary surface for each run-
way extends 200 feet beyond each end of 
the runway. For airports having de-
fined strips or pathways used regularly 
for aircraft takeoffs and landings, and 
designated runways, without specially 
prepared hard surfaces, each end of the 
primary surface for each such runway 
shall coincide with the corresponding 
end of the runway. At airports, exclud-
ing seaplane bases, having a defined 
landing and takeoff area with no de-
fined pathways for aircraft takeoffs 
and landings, a determination must be 
made as to which portions of the land-
ing and takeoff area are regularly used 

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657 

Federal Aviation Administration, DOT 

§ 77.19 

as landing and takeoff pathways. Those 
determined pathways must be consid-
ered runways, and an appropriate pri-
mary surface as defined in § 77.19 will 
be considered as longitudinally cen-
tered on each such runway. Each end of 
that primary surface must coincide 
with the corresponding end of that run-
way. 

(e) The standards in this subpart 

apply to construction or alteration 
proposals on an airport (including heli-
ports and seaplane bases with marked 
lanes) if that airport is one of the fol-
lowing before the issuance of the final 
determination: 

(1) Available for public use and is 

listed in the Airport/Facility Direc-
tory, Supplement Alaska, or Supple-
ment Pacific of the U.S. Government 
Flight Information Publications; or 

(2) A planned or proposed airport or 

an airport under construction of which 
the FAA has received actual notice, ex-
cept DOD airports, where there is a 
clear indication the airport will be 
available for public use; or, 

(3) An airport operated by a Federal 

agency or the DOD; or, 

(4) An airport that has at least one 

FAA-approved instrument approach. 

§ 77.17

Obstruction standards. 

(a) An existing object, including a 

mobile object, is, and a future object 
would be an obstruction to air naviga-
tion if it is of greater height than any 
of the following heights or surfaces: 

(1) A height of 499 feet AGL at the 

site of the object. 

(2) A height that is 200 feet AGL, or 

above the established airport ele-
vation, whichever is higher, within 3 
nautical miles of the established ref-
erence point of an airport, excluding 
heliports, with its longest runway 
more than 3,200 feet in actual length, 
and that height increases in the pro-
portion of 100 feet for each additional 
nautical mile from the airport up to a 
maximum of 499 feet. 

(3) A height within a terminal obsta-

cle clearance area, including an initial 
approach segment, a departure area, 
and a circling approach area, which 
would result in the vertical distance 
between any point on the object and an 
established minimum instrument 
flight altitude within that area or seg-

ment to be less than the required ob-
stacle clearance. 

(4) A height within an en route obsta-

cle clearance area, including turn and 
termination areas, of a Federal Airway 
or approved off-airway route, that 
would increase the minimum obstacle 
clearance altitude. 

(5) The surface of a takeoff and land-

ing area of an airport or any imaginary 
surface established under § 77.19, 77.21, 
or 77.23. However, no part of the take-
off or landing area itself will be consid-
ered an obstruction. 

(b) Except for traverse ways on or 

near an airport with an operative 
ground traffic control service furnished 
by an airport traffic control tower or 
by the airport management and coordi-
nated with the air traffic control serv-
ice, the standards of paragraph (a) of 
this section apply to traverse ways 
used or to be used for the passage of 
mobile objects only after the heights of 
these traverse ways are increased by: 

(1) 17 feet for an Interstate Highway 

that is part of the National System of 
Military and Interstate Highways 
where overcrossings are designed for a 
minimum of 17 feet vertical distance. 

(2) 15 feet for any other public road-

way. 

(3) 10 feet or the height of the highest 

mobile object that would normally tra-
verse the road, whichever is greater, 
for a private road. 

(4) 23 feet for a railroad. 
(5) For a waterway or any other tra-

verse way not previously mentioned, 
an amount equal to the height of the 
highest mobile object that would nor-
mally traverse it. 

§ 77.19

Civil airport imaginary sur-

faces. 

The following civil airport imaginary 

surfaces are established with relation 
to the airport and to each runway. The 
size of each such imaginary surface is 
based on the category of each runway 
according to the type of approach 
available or planned for that runway. 
The slope and dimensions of the ap-
proach surface applied to each end of a 
runway are determined by the most 
precise approach procedure existing or 
planned for that runway end. 

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14 CFR Ch. I (1–1–24 Edition) 

§ 77.19 

(a) 

Horizontal surface. A horizontal 

plane 150 feet above the established air-
port elevation, the perimeter of which 
is constructed by swinging arcs of a 
specified radii from the center of each 
end of the primary surface of each run-
way of each airport and connecting the 
adjacent arcs by lines tangent to those 
arcs. The radius of each arc is: 

(1) 5,000 feet for all runways des-

ignated as utility or visual; 

(2) 10,000 feet for all other runways. 

The radius of the arc specified for each 
end of a runway will have the same ar-
ithmetical value. That value will be 
the highest determined for either end 
of the runway. When a 5,000-foot arc is 
encompassed by tangents connecting 
two adjacent 10,000-foot arcs, the 5,000- 
foot arc shall be disregarded on the 
construction of the perimeter of the 
horizontal surface. 

(b) 

Conical surface. A surface extend-

ing outward and upward from the pe-
riphery of the horizontal surface at a 
slope of 20 to 1 for a horizontal distance 
of 4,000 feet. 

(c) 

Primary surface. A surface longitu-

dinally centered on a runway. When 
the runway has a specially prepared 
hard surface, the primary surface ex-
tends 200 feet beyond each end of that 
runway; but when the runway has no 
specially prepared hard surface, the 
primary surface ends at each 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 the primary surface is: 

(1) 250 feet for utility runways having 

only visual approaches. 

(2) 500 feet for utility runways having 

non-precision instrument approaches. 

(3) For other than utility runways, 

the width is: 

(i) 500 feet for visual runways having 

only visual approaches. 

(ii) 500 feet for non-precision instru-

ment runways having visibility mini-
mums greater than three-fourths stat-
ute mile. 

(iii) 1,000 feet for a non-precision in-

strument runway having a non-preci-
sion instrument approach with visi-
bility minimums as low as three- 
fourths of a statute mile, and for preci-
sion instrument runways. 

(iv) The width of the primary surface 

of a runway will be that width pre-
scribed in this section for the most pre-
cise approach existing or planned for 
either end of that runway. 

(d) 

Approach surface. A surface longi-

tudinally centered on the extended 
runway centerline and extending out-
ward and upward from each end of the 
primary surface. An approach surface 
is applied to each end of each runway 
based upon the type of approach avail-
able or planned for that runway end. 

(1) The inner edge of the approach 

surface is the same width as the pri-
mary surface and it expands uniformly 
to a width of: 

(i) 1,250 feet for that end of a utility 

runway with only visual approaches; 

(ii) 1,500 feet for that end of a runway 

other than a utility runway with only 
visual approaches; 

(iii) 2,000 feet for that end of a utility 

runway with a non-precision instru-
ment approach; 

(iv) 3,500 feet for that end of a non- 

precision instrument runway other 
than utility, having visibility mini-
mums greater that three-fourths of a 
statute mile; 

(v) 4,000 feet for that end of a non- 

precision instrument runway, other 
than utility, having a non-precision in-
strument approach with visibility 
minimums as low as three-fourths stat-
ute mile; and 

(vi) 16,000 feet for precision instru-

ment runways. 

(2) The approach surface extends for 

a horizontal distance of: 

(i) 5,000 feet at a slope of 20 to 1 for 

all utility and visual runways; 

(ii) 10,000 feet at a slope of 34 to 1 for 

all non-precision instrument runways 
other than utility; and 

(iii) 10,000 feet at a slope of 50 to 1 

with an additional 40,000 feet at a slope 
of 40 to 1 for all precision instrument 
runways. 

(3) The outer width of an approach 

surface to an end of a runway will be 
that width prescribed in this sub-
section for the most precise approach 
existing or planned for that runway 
end. 

(e) 

Transitional surface. These sur-

faces extend outward and upward at 
right angles to the runway centerline 
and the runway centerline extended at 

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Federal Aviation Administration, DOT 

§ 77.25 

a slope of 7 to 1 from the sides of the 
primary surface and from the sides of 
the approach surfaces. Transitional 
surfaces for those portions of the preci-
sion approach surface which project 
through and beyond the limits of the 
conical surface, extend a distance of 
5,000 feet measured horizontally from 
the edge of the approach surface and at 
right angles to the runway centerline. 

§ 77.21

Department of Defense (DOD) 

airport imaginary surfaces. 

(a) 

Related to airport reference points. 

These surfaces apply to all military 
airports. For the purposes of this sec-
tion, a military airport is any airport 
operated by the DOD. 

(1) 

Inner horizontal surface. A plane 

that is oval in shape at a height of 150 
feet above the established airfield ele-
vation. The plane is constructed by 
scribing an arc with a radius of 7,500 
feet about the centerline at the end of 
each runway and interconnecting these 
arcs with tangents. 

(2) 

Conical surface. A surface extend-

ing from the periphery of the inner 
horizontal surface outward and upward 
at a slope of 20 to 1 for a horizontal dis-
tance of 7,000 feet to a height of 500 feet 
above the established airfield ele-
vation. 

(3) 

Outer horizontal surface. A plane, 

located 500 feet above the established 
airfield elevation, extending outward 
from the outer periphery of the conical 
surface for a horizontal distance of 
30,000 feet. 

(b) 

Related to runways. These surfaces 

apply to all military airports. 

(1) 

Primary surface. A surface located 

on the ground or water longitudinally 
centered on each runway with the same 
length as the runway. The width of the 
primary surface for runways is 2,000 
feet. However, at established bases 
where substantial construction has 
taken place in accordance with a pre-
vious lateral clearance criteria, the 
2,000-foot width may be reduced to the 
former criteria. 

(2) 

Clear zone surface. A surface lo-

cated on the ground or water at each 
end of the primary surface, with a 
length of 1,000 feet and the same width 
as the primary surface. 

(3) 

Approach clearance surface. An in-

clined plane, symmetrical about the 

runway centerline extended, beginning 
200 feet beyond each end of the primary 
surface at the centerline elevation of 
the runway end and extending for 50,000 
feet. The slope of the approach clear-
ance surface is 50 to 1 along the runway 
centerline extended until it reaches an 
elevation of 500 feet above the estab-
lished airport elevation. It then con-
tinues horizontally at this elevation to 
a point 50,000 feet from the point of be-
ginning. The width of this surface at 
the runway end is the same as the pri-
mary surface, it flares uniformly, and 
the width at 50,000 is 16,000 feet. 

(4) 

Transitional surfaces. These sur-

faces connect the primary surfaces, the 
first 200 feet of the clear zone surfaces, 
and the approach clearance surfaces to 
the inner horizontal surface, conical 
surface, outer horizontal surface or 
other transitional surfaces. The slope 
of the transitional surface is 7 to 1 out-
ward and upward at right angles to the 
runway centerline. 

§ 77.23

Heliport imaginary surfaces. 

(a) 

Primary surface. The area of the 

primary surface coincides in size and 
shape with the designated take-off and 
landing area. This surface is a hori-
zontal plane at the elevation of the es-
tablished heliport elevation. 

(b) 

Approach surface. The approach 

surface begins at each end of the heli-
port primary surface with the same 
width as the primary surface, and ex-
tends outward and upward for a hori-
zontal distance of 4,000 feet where its 
width is 500 feet. The slope of the ap-
proach surface is 8 to 1 for civil heli-
ports and 10 to 1 for military heliports. 

(c) 

Transitional surfaces. These sur-

faces extend outward and upward from 
the lateral boundaries of the primary 
surface and from the approach surfaces 
at a slope of 2 to 1 for a distance of 250 
feet measured horizontally from the 
centerline of the primary and approach 
surfaces. 

Subpart D—Aeronautical Studies 

and Determinations 

§ 77.25

Applicability. 

(a) This subpart applies to any aero-

nautical study of a proposed construc-
tion or alteration for which notice to 
the FAA is required under § 77.9. 

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14 CFR Ch. I (1–1–24 Edition) 

§ 77.27 

(b) The purpose of an aeronautical 

study is to determine whether the 
aeronautical effects of the specific pro-
posal and, where appropriate, the cu-
mulative impact resulting from the 
proposed construction or alteration 
when combined with the effects of 
other existing or proposed structures, 
would constitute a hazard to air navi-
gation. 

(c) The obstruction standards in sub-

part C of this part are supplemented by 
other manuals and directives used in 
determining the effect on the navigable 
airspace of a proposed construction or 
alteration. When the FAA needs addi-
tional information, it may circulate a 
study to interested parties for com-
ment. 

§ 77.27

Initiation of studies. 

The FAA will conduct an aero-

nautical study when: 

(a) Requested by the sponsor of any 

proposed construction or alteration for 
which a notice is submitted; or 

(b) The FAA determines a study is 

necessary. 

§ 77.29

Evaluating aeronautical effect. 

(a) The FAA conducts an aero-

nautical study to determine the impact 
of a proposed structure, an existing 
structure that has not yet been studied 
by the FAA, or an alteration of an ex-
isting structure on aeronautical oper-
ations, procedures, and the safety of 
flight. These studies include evalu-
ating: 

(1) The impact on arrival, departure, 

and en route procedures for aircraft op-
erating under visual flight rules; 

(2) The impact on arrival, departure, 

and en route procedures for aircraft op-
erating under instrument flight rules; 

(3) The impact on existing and 

planned public use airports; 

(4) Airport traffic capacity of exist-

ing public use airports and public use 
airport development plans received be-
fore the issuance of the final deter-
mination; 

(5) Minimum obstacle clearance alti-

tudes, minimum instrument flight 
rules altitudes, approved or planned in-
strument approach procedures, and de-
parture procedures; 

(6) The potential effect on ATC radar, 

direction finders, ATC tower line-of- 

sight visibility, and physical or elec-
tromagnetic effects on air navigation, 
communication facilities, and other 
surveillance systems; 

(7) The aeronautical effects resulting 

from the cumulative impact of a pro-
posed construction or alteration of a 
structure when combined with the ef-
fects of other existing or proposed 
structures. 

(b) If you withdraw the proposed con-

struction or alteration or revise it so 
that it is no longer identified as an ob-
struction, or if no further aeronautical 
study is necessary, the FAA may ter-
minate the study. 

§ 77.31

Determinations. 

(a) The FAA will issue a determina-

tion stating whether the proposed con-
struction or alteration would be a haz-
ard to air navigation, and will advise 
all known interested persons. 

(b) The FAA will make determina-

tions based on the aeronautical study 
findings and will identify the fol-
lowing: 

(1) The effects on VFR/IFR aero-

nautical departure/arrival operations, 
air traffic procedures, minimum flight 
altitudes, and existing, planned, or pro-
posed airports listed in § 77.15(e) of 
which the FAA has received actual no-
tice prior to issuance of a final deter-
mination. 

(2) The extent of the physical and/or 

electromagnetic effect on the oper-
ation of existing or proposed air navi-
gation facilities, communication aids, 
or surveillance systems. 

(c) The FAA will issue a Determina-

tion of Hazard to Air Navigation when 
the aeronautical study concludes that 
the proposed construction or alteration 
will exceed an obstruction standard 
and would have a substantial aero-
nautical impact. 

(d) A Determination of No Hazard to 

Air Navigation will be issued when the 
aeronautical study concludes that the 
proposed construction or alteration 
will exceed an obstruction standard but 
would not have a substantial aero-
nautical impact to air navigation. A 
Determination of No Hazard to Air 
Navigation may include the following: 

(1) Conditional provisions of a deter-

mination. 

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Federal Aviation Administration, DOT 

§ 77.37 

(2) Limitations necessary to mini-

mize potential problems, such as the 
use of temporary construction equip-
ment. 

(3) Supplemental notice require-

ments, when required. 

(4) Marking and lighting rec-

ommendations, as appropriate. 

(e) The FAA will issue a Determina-

tion of No Hazard to Air Navigation 
when a proposed structure does not ex-
ceed any of the obstruction standards 
and would not be a hazard to air navi-
gation. 

§ 77.33

Effective period of determina-

tions. 

(a) The effective date of a determina-

tion not subject to discretionary re-
view under 77.37(b) is the date of 
issuance. The effective date of all other 
determinations for a proposed or exist-
ing structure is 40 days from the date 
of issuance, provided a valid petition 
for review has not been received by the 
FAA. If a valid petition for review is 
filed, the determination will not be-
come final, pending disposition of the 
petition. 

(b) Unless extended, revised, or ter-

minated, each Determination of No 
Hazard to Air Navigation issued under 
this subpart expires 18 months after 
the effective date of the determination, 
or on the date the proposed construc-
tion or alteration is abandoned, which-
ever is earlier. 

(c) A Determination of Hazard to Air 

Navigation has no expiration date. 

[Doc. No. FAA–2006–25002, 75 FR 42303, July 
21, 2010, as amended by Amdt. 77–13–A, 76 FR 
2802, Jan. 18, 2011] 

§ 77.35

Extensions, terminations, revi-

sions and corrections. 

(a) You may petition the FAA official 

that issued the Determination of No 
Hazard to Air Navigation to revise or 
reconsider the determination based on 
new facts or to extend the effective pe-
riod of the determination, provided 
that: 

(1) Actual structural work of the pro-

posed construction or alteration, such 
as the laying of a foundation, but not 
including excavation, has not been 
started; and 

(2) The petition is submitted at least 

15 days before the expiration date of 

the Determination of No Hazard to Air 
Navigation. 

(b) A Determination of No Hazard to 

Air Navigation issued for those con-
struction or alteration proposals not 
requiring an FCC construction permit 
may be extended by the FAA one time 
for a period not to exceed 18 months. 

(c) A Determination of No Hazard to 

Air Navigation issued for a proposal re-
quiring an FCC construction permit 
may be granted extensions for up to 18 
months, provided that: 

(1) You submit evidence that an ap-

plication for a construction permit/li-
cense was filed with the FCC for the as-
sociated site within 6 months of 
issuance of the determination; and 

(2) You submit evidence that addi-

tional time is warranted because of 
FCC requirements; and 

(3) Where the FCC issues a construc-

tion permit, a final Determination of 
No Hazard to Air Navigation is effec-
tive until the date prescribed by the 
FCC for completion of the construc-
tion. If an extension of the original 
FCC completion date is needed, an ex-
tension of the FAA determination 
must be requested from the Obstruc-
tion Evaluation Service (OES). 

(4) If the Commission refuses to issue 

a construction permit, the final deter-
mination expires on the date of its re-
fusal. 

Subpart E—Petitions for 

Discretionary Review 

§ 77.37

General. 

(a) If you are the sponsor, provided a 

substantive aeronautical comment on a 
proposal in an aeronautical study, or 
have a substantive aeronautical com-
ment on the proposal but were not 
given an opportunity to state it, you 
may petition the FAA for a discre-
tionary review of a determination, re-
vision, or extension of a determination 
issued by the FAA. 

(b) You may not file a petition for 

discretionary review for a Determina-
tion of No Hazard that is issued for a 
temporary structure, marking and 
lighting recommendation, or when a 
proposed structure or alteration does 
not exceed obstruction standards con-
tained in subpart C of this part. 

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14 CFR Ch. I (1–1–24 Edition) 

§ 77.39 

§ 77.39

Contents of a petition. 

(a) You must file a petition for dis-

cretionary review in writing and it 
must be received by the FAA within 30 
days after the issuance of a determina-
tion under § 77.31, or a revision or ex-
tension of the determination under 
§ 77.35. 

(b) The petition must contain a full 

statement of the aeronautical basis on 
which the petition is made, and must 
include new information or facts not 
previously considered or presented dur-
ing the aeronautical study, including 
valid aeronautical reasons why the de-
termination, revisions, or extension 
made by the FAA should be reviewed. 

(c) In the event that the last day of 

the 30-day filing period falls on a week-
end or a day the Federal government is 
closed, the last day of the filing period 
is the next day that the government is 
open. 

(d) The FAA will inform the peti-

tioner or sponsor (if other than the pe-
titioner) and the FCC (whenever an 

FCC-related proposal is involved) of 
the filing of the petition and that the 
determination is not final pending dis-
position of the petition. 

§ 77.41

Discretionary review results. 

(a) If discretionary review is granted, 

the FAA will inform the petitioner and 
the sponsor (if other than the peti-
tioner) of the issues to be studied and 
reviewed. The review may include a re-
quest for comments and a review of all 
records from the initial aeronautical 
study. 

(b) If discretionary review is denied, 

the FAA will notify the petitioner and 
the sponsor (if other than the peti-
tioner), and the FCC, whenever a FCC- 
related proposal is involved, of the 
basis for the denial along with a state-
ment that the determination is final. 

(c) After concluding the discre-

tionary review process, the FAA will 
revise, affirm, or reverse the deter-
mination. 

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