Create Your Very Own Airport or Hangar: Possibilities and Challenges in the USA

For aircraft enthusiasts, the dream of having a personal airport or hangar on their property is not just a dream. Depending on your location and adherence to regulations, it is indeed possible to have a private airfield or hangar next to your home in the USA.

Possibilities

Several homeowners in the USA have successfully created their own airports or hangars, making it a realistic option for those who love flying. If you live in the appropriate area, where regulations and zoning allow, building an airport or hangar can be a viable solution for housing your aircraft.

Challenges and Location

While it is possible, the process and success of creating a personal airfield or hangar can vary significantly based on your location:

Urban/Suburban Areas: The typical suburban lot size may not be sufficient to accommodate a full-fledged airfield, leading to challenges in fitting all necessary components such as runways, hangars, and other infrastructure.

Rural Areas: Life in the countryside offers more room and fewer neighbors, making it a more feasible option for setting up a personal airstrip. If your neighbors are relatively far away, you are much more likely to succeed in building a hangar and airstrip on your property.

Private Airstrips: The landscape is dotted with various private airstrips, many of which have hangars. Whether paved or grassy, these airstrips can be found in rural areas and can be privately owned. Commonly, these airstrips are just grassy turf strips that are mowed on a regular basis.

Zoning Regulations and Ordinances

Once you decide on the location, zoning regulations and local ordinances play a crucial role in your ability to build a personal airport or hangar. While most airports in the USA are grass runways that are privately owned, there are several considerations you need to keep in mind:

Grass Runways: These are commonly used private runways. They may or may not have control towers, and only a few have them.

Noisy Disruptions: If your airstrip is too close to neighbors and is used frequently, disturbing them, there may be local ordinances preventing such activities. In such cases, you need to ensure that your activities do not violate the local laws.

Visible Examples: You can drive past several private airstrips in wooded areas that occasionally have small planes parked there, sometimes even with a hangar nearby.

Country Airports and Neighboring Residences

Many county and larger airports have residences adjacent to their taxiways, meaning that there are areas where you can find both airports and residential zones combined. Some examples include:

Airports Adjacent to Residential Areas: One such example is the country airport where the writer flew, which had numerous houses with hangars alongside the taxiway. The airport in Elkins, West Virginia, featured a mountain-top runway with houses and hangars off the taxiway, large enough for a DC3 to taxi over.

Potential Issues and Solutions

While the idea of having a personal airfield or hangar sounds idyllic, several issues can arise, primarily related to maintenance and access:

Mechanic Access: Landing and storing your aircraft at a remote location may be convenient, but it can be challenging to access a specialist mechanic if needed. It often makes more sense to hangar your aircraft in a location with a shop, unless you are a skilled aircraft mechanic.

Convenience: Choosing a location near a more accessible airport or hangar can offer greater convenience for maintenance and repairs, despite the higher costs or longer distances.

In conclusion, while having a personal airfield or hangar aligns with the capabilities and desires of many aircraft owners, it requires careful consideration of your location and adherence to local regulations and zoning laws. The process can be challenging but with thorough planning and the right location, it is indeed possible to make your dream of a personal airport or hangar a reality.