1. A. The “sponsor compliance” category evaluates how effectively the airport owners are operating the airport with respect to established standards and good management practices. Several areas are evaluated in this category that are critical to providing safe and efficient public services. Exhibit 3 shows the evaluation criteria and point values for this category.

2. B. Airports are affected by the use of the land surrounding them. Certain land uses in the vicinity of an airport can result in restrictions on use of the airport and, in extreme cases, the total closure of the airport.

   1. 1. Height Ordinances. Restrictions to prevent the penetration of tall objects into the approach surfaces for aircraft at an airport are very important. Generally referred to as "height hazard zoning," this type of zoning prevents tall objects that affect the safety of aircraft operations from being built around the airport. Tall objects can cause the displacement of thresholds and the raising of "minimums" for instrument approaches at an airport, thus decreasing the utilization of the airport. The airport represents a substantial public investment and implementation of height hazard zoning by the appropriate local governing body protects the investment by allowing the airport to be used to its full capacity. Points are awarded in this category for having height hazard zoning ordinances in effect at an airport.
   2. 2. Compatible Land-Use. Compatible land use zoning is necessary to protect the airport from restrictions placed on it when aviation uses conflict with surrounding land uses. Certain land uses around an airport are incompatible with airport operations because of safety considerations or impacts on landside activities. Noncompatible uses can create conflicts between the community and the airport which may create pressures to restrict use of the airport. Within this category, the implementation of land use zoning is evaluated, and points are awarded for having land-use compatibility zoning in effect around an airport.
3. C. The final evaluation area in the “sponsor compliance” category is maintenance. The sponsors of the airport are responsible for routine maintenance, such as cutting the grass, changing light bulbs, maintaining proper drainage, sealing/filling pavement cracks, and refurbishing, marking and painting stripes. If regular maintenance is not completed, the airport will not receive full points in this category. If maintenance is cited as a problem, the airport will be notified in writing of the problem and corrective actions recommended. Current open discrepancies shall affect the prioritization of future project requests from the airport sponsor as noted in Chapter 1 of this Part. DOTD may schedule and conduct supplemental or special airport inspections, as needed to ensure the safety of aircraft operations at any public-use airport in the LAS without notice. Point values shall be assigned in accordance with the airport construction and priority program regarding the airport discrepancy corrections.

Authority Note

AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with USC 49:47103, SCR 67 (1997) and R.S. 2:6.

Historical Note

HISTORICAL NOTE: Promulgated by the Department of Transportation and Development, Division of Aviation, LR 16:538 (June 1990), amended LR 24:1512 (August 1998), amended by the Department of Transportation and Development, Intermodal Transportation Division, LR 33:525 (March 2007), repromulgated by the Department of Transportation and Development, Aviation Section, LR 39:110 (January 2013), amended by the Department of Transportation and Development, Intermodal Transportation Division, Aviation Section, LR 42:760 (May 2016), amended by the Department of Transportation and Development, Office of Multimodal Commerce LR 49:1424 (August 2023).