Washington Administrative Code › Title 468 - Transportation, Department of (See Title 88) › Chapter 468-240 - Obstruction marking and lighting › APPENDIX › Section 468-240-350 - Appendix rules - General

Current through Register Vol. 24-14, July 15, 2024
(1) The main
				body of this publication presents standards for marking and lighting objects,
				which are potential hazards to the safe operation of aircraft, for the purpose
				of indicating their presence to pilots. The material in this appendix includes
				texts of laws and regulations, together with information to provide guidance in
				complying with these texts of laws and regulations, pertaining to such
				objects.
(2) Existing or
				contemplated structures which, by reason of their height and location relative
				to landing areas, constitute potential hazards to the safe operation of
				aircraft continually demand attention in the effort to provide and maintain
				maximum safety for air commerce.
(3) It is vitally important that prompt
				notification of the construction or alteration of towers, electric transmission
				and telephone lines, smokestacks, water towers, buildings and similar
				structures, of certain heights and distances from landing areas and civil
				airways, be given to the aeronautical public through notices to airmen before
				any such structure is constructed or altered. Achievement of this result
				requires the cooperation of all federal, state and municipal agencies, private
				industry and individuals engaged in such construction or alteration.
(4) For this purpose, regulations of the
				Washington state aeronautics commission have been promulgated requiring the
				submission of Form 426 prior to the beginning of the construction or alteration
				of structures falling within the prescribed limits of air activity. The limits
				within which construction or alteration requires the submission of the form
				have been set after careful study of the problem and with due regard for the
				maximum protection of airmen.
(5)
				In the case of an existing structure on which a proper notice has already been
				submitted, some latitude for repairs is permitted by an explanation of the term
				"alteration." Notice may be omitted if the alteration or alterations will not
				increase or decrease the height of the top or any part of the structure from
				that previously reported by more than 1 foot for each 500 feet, or fraction
				thereof, of the distance that the structure is situated from the nearest
				boundary of the landing area involved. However, notice must be given of any
				alteration or alterations increasing or decreasing the height of the top or any
				part of a structure by more than 10 feet from that previously
				reported.
(6) The information
				required on proposed construction or alteration is clearly explained in the
				Form 426 prepared for that purpose and is essentially that material needed to
				warn airmen of a potential hazard to air navigation. It is necessary,
				therefore, that all applicable questions therein be answered without exception.
				Copies of these forms may be obtained from the Washington State Aeronautics
				Commission, Boeing Field, Seattle, Washington.
(7) The distance between the nearest boundary
				of a landing area and the site of the construction or alteration may be
				measured by the use of maps, or on the surface of the earth by an automobile
				mileage meter, or other convenient but reasonably accurate means.
(8) The term "navigable water" as used in
				connection with obstructions to air navigation, denotes all water suitable for
				the take-off or landing of water aircraft. Other geographical features which
				combine hydrographic and topographic characteristics, such as marshes, swamps
				and bogs, come within the meaning of the term "ground" as described in the
				act.
(9) The state aeronautics
				commission desires to assist those contemplating construction which may present
				a potential hazard to air navigation in selecting locations for the structures
				which will create a minimum of interference with air operations; to recommend
				the proper obstruction marking and lighting to insure adequate protection to
				aircraft; and to minimize the possibility of damage to structures from
				collision by aircraft.
(10) For
				this purpose the commission has provided a special advisory service consisting
				of personnel who conduct the specific investigation of each case. This service
				is available upon request, which may be by letter or in person. The request
				should be accompanied by a complete description of the proposed construction,
				including the geographic coordinates and the distance and direction of the site
				from the nearest town; the distance from the nearest landing area; the height
				of the structure above the ground and the over-all height of the structure
				above mean sea level. A map or sketch showing the height and location of all
				tall structures in the vicinity should also be furnished. The investigation
				will ordinarily take approximately ten days because of the necessary contacts
				with aeronautical interests concerned. This period may be longer if the problem
				is a complex one, because every attempt is made by the investigators to resolve
				the problem with due regard to the safety factor.
(11) Interested contractors, engineers and
				architects should avail themselves of this service so as to prevent delays in
				obtaining the necessary permits for the construction.
Statutory Authority:
					 Chapter
					 47.68 RCW. 96-17-018
					 (Order 164), recodified as § 468-240-350, filed 8/13/96, effective
					 9/13/96; O.M.&L. standards, appendix (part), filed
					 9/13/61.