by Kelly Akhund
Airport Program Administrator
MnDOT Aeronautics
Published in Midwest Flyer Magazine
October/November 2022 Digital Issue
There are many beautiful airports in Minnesota, in different sizes and designs to meet many users’ needs. Some of the airports pilots and passengers will find include large commercial-operator airports that service airlines, general aviation airports that have flight schools, and airparks used by a community of pilots whose homes can sometimes surround the runway.
There are five different license designations for airports in Minnesota: public, private, personal use, special purpose airports, and unlicensed landing areas. Every type of airport is designed to specific specifications and safety standards. Pilots are taught about public and private airports during ground school training. However, many pilots haven’t heard of the “other three” airports that are specific to Minnesota licensing and might not be familiar with who is allowed to use them.
Most general aviation pilots are familiar with public airports. Public airports are open to all pilots and do not require prior notice or permission to fly into or out of them. Runways at public airports are designed using FAA safety standards and their sizes are based on certain aircraft using them. The design of public airports is thought through by engineers who intentionally calculate the length and width of a runway, test pavement strength, and follow safety standards based on the largest airplane that will land on that runway. Everything about a public airport’s design is chosen purposefully to ensure it remains safe for public use.
There are also private airports – those that show up as an “R” on the sectional and require permission from the owner before landing at it. The reason that pilots must communicate with the airport owner is to ensure they obtain safety information about the airport. The owner will provide pilots with specifics regarding the airport design and how it could potentially affect aircraft performance. This information allows pilots to calculate the risks when landing or taking off at that airport.
Minnesota also has many designated personal use airports. Although many pilots may be unfamiliar with personal use airports, it’s likely they have seen one while flying. Have you even been flying on a beautiful VFR day and noticed a runway beneath you that is not on the sectional? It’s very likely that airport is designated as personal use.
Personal use airports are similar to private airports in that they are usually on private land. Yet, their design is typically much different from private airports. Where private airports are licensed and designed to a certain safety standard to allow permission-based public aircraft to land, most personal use airports don’t require a license and are designed by the airport owner based on only their aircraft’s performance. Because the airport is not held out to the public, it is also not held to public or private airport safety standards. Personal use airport owners assume their own risk when using their own airport. Since these airports are not intended to be used by others, personal use airports are not displayed on any chart for public distribution.
The last two types of airports are far less common in Minnesota. Special purpose airports are used for light sport category aircraft and are open to the public. These types of airports are held to certain safety criteria to ensure safe operations for all public light sport users. Yet, the standards are different than those of a public airport since special purpose airports are used by smaller, slower and lighter aircraft. Special purpose airports are designed to have shorter and narrower runways and are identified on a sectional with an “F.” There are currently no airports with a special purpose designation in the state of Minnesota.
An unlicensed landing area is essentially a temporary airport – a location used to land aircraft for less than 30 days. The location can be used only by persons holding at least a private pilot’s certificate when the landing area is for private use. If the landing area is used for commercial operations, the business using that location must hold a commercial operator license. For example, an unlicensed landing area might be used at a remote construction site that needs to use helicopters to tether equipment directly to the construction location. Unlicensed landing areas are not published on sectional charts.
It’s important to note that a pilot’s choice of an emergency landing site should not be based on airport designation type.
Minnesota has some of the most well-known airports in the nation. Pilots must always take a cautious approach (pun intended) before deciding to land at an airport they are not familiar with. Before making the decision to land at an airport, be sure to understand what type of airport it is, find out if you need permission to land there, and know that the airport might not be designed for your aircraft.
