Ron Cooke, COPA director for Northern Ontario, raised a question regarding obstructions near airports.
“Two new communications towers have sprouted up adjacent to registered aerodromes in our area this month. (North Bay, Ont.) One is 660 feet (1,310 ft asl) above the landing surface at the Trout Lake Seaplane Base, and above the glide path for landing to the south. It also presents a hazard for floatplanes departing from Trout Lake to the north, as it is midway between the Seaplane Base and North Bay’s Jack Garland Airport (CYYB). Hazard lighting appears to be a single, red, non-flashing light at the top of the tower and one lower, low intensity red light. Neither Nav Canada nor the operators of Jack Garland Airport or Trout Lake Seaplane Base were consulted prior to the construction of the tower.
“The second tower (ONTEL) is one mile southwest of the Mattawa Airport and approximately 400 feet above the runway and water landing elevations. It is on the downwind leg of the normal traffic pattern and high enough that it presents a hazard especially to aircraft with a low climb rate. Lighting is similar to the above mentioned tower. Again the airport owner / operator was not consulted prior to construction.
“What is the law in this regard? Is there a formal consultation requirement? Are there regulations limiting the height and proximity of towers to airports? What are the lighting requirements?
“Presumably zoning regulations take into account airport factors / restrictions for the major airports but I suspect a gap exists between the smaller airports and local zoning regulations. Is there anything we can do to reduce the hazard of these particular towers? Is there anything we can, or should, be doing to prevent construction of towers in the immediate vicinity of airports elsewhere in Canada?
Transport Canada’s response to these questions comes from Dave Bayliss, Aerodrome Safety.
“Land use planning is a matter of provincial jurisdiction and thus, Transport Canada only assesses obstacles with respect to the lighting and marking requirements as defined in the “Standards Obstruction Markings Manual” (TP 382). Transport Canada has no means to restrict the development or location of any structure within the vicinity of an aerodrome (whether the airport is registered or not) or an airport (certified aeodrome).
“Only at airports with airport zoning regulations can the height of structures be restricted within the areas as defined in that regulation. Aerodromes which have been successful in controlling the development around their property have a very close working relationship with their neigbours and local planning office.
“The aerodrome must ensure their requirements are made known to their local government and at local or regional master planning meetings and/or reviews.
“Reference the two sites in Ontario, these locations were not governed by any airport zoning regulations and were marked in accordance with TP 382.”