FAA published its proposed policy on residential through-the-fence agreements at general aviation airports to comply the FAA reauthorization bill. Comments on the proposal are due on or before August 29, 2012.
The FAA policy had been to discourage residential-through-the-fence agreements at general aviation airports. In March 2011, the agency adopted an interim policy that allowed existing through-the-fence agreements to continue on the condition that airports develop access plans. The interim rule also shut the door on new residential through-the-fence agreements.
General aviation advocates in Congress added language to the FAA reauthorization bill to permit new through-the-fence agreements with certain conditions.
FAA is seeking comments on its interpretation of the residential through-the-fence provision in the FAA bill. Its proposed policy, which appeared in Monday's Federal Register, may be viewed at
http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2012-07-30/pdf/2012-18058.pdf. According to the notice, FAA "will refrain from finalizing its implementing guidance until after a final policy is published in a subsequent public notice."