AERONAUTICAL REGULATIONS

Tupelo Code of Ordinances ch. 4, art. III, div. 4

in effect

Tupelo Code of Ordinances § 4-111 Based aircraft.

Sec. 4-111. - Based aircraft. The owner of each aircraft based at the airport shall notify the airport manager in writing, within twenty (20) days of its basing, of the description and registration number of the aircraft and the person(s) responsible for it, its location at the airport and telephone numbers for twenty-four-hour-per-day contact. It is the responsibility of the FBO to notify owners of any aircraft paying hanger or tiedown fees to that FBO of this requirement and to notify the airport manager of newly based aircraft. The FBO is also responsible to advise the airport manager when an aircraft ceases to be based at the airport. (Ord. of 5-8-90, § 5.1)

Tupelo Code of Ordinances § 4-112 Airmanship.

Sec. 4-112. - Airmanship. No person shall conduct any aircraft operation at the airport, including departures and arrivals, in the airspace above the airport and all ground operations, except in accordance with current FAR, ACM and good airmanship as described in the AIM. (Ord. of 5-8-90, § 5.2)

Tupelo Code of Ordinances § 4-113 Aircraft operation.

Sec. 4-113. - Aircraft operation. (a) Generally. No person shall operate an aircraft on the airport unless he or she is in possession of a valid FAA pilot certificate, medical certificate and any additional FAA licenses required for the activity being performed. Aircraft maintenance personnel may taxi and runup aircraft if they have specific written permission from the aircraft owner or servicing FBO and certification from an instructor pilot qualified to operate the aircraft that they have a working knowledge of aircraft operating and emergency procedures, FAA taxiing procedures, use of aircraft radio, and airport regulations. (b) Careless or negligent operation. No aircraft shall be operated in a careless or negligent manner or in disregard of the rights and safety of others, or without due caution or at a speed or in a manner which endangers or is likely to endanger persons or property, or while the pilot or other persons aboard controlling any part of the operation thereof are under the influence of intoxicating liquor or any narcotic or illegal drug, or if such aircraft is in such general condition, equipped or loaded as to endanger or to be likely to endanger persons or property. (c) Operation of gliders, balloons and ultralights. No person shall operate a glider, hang glider, heliglider, hot air balloon, ultralight vehicle or similar vehicle at the airport unless he or she has complied with the same requirements set forth in section 4-115. (d) Taxiing with care. No person shall taxi any aircraft carelessly or without due regard for the safety of other aircraft, vehicles and persons. (e) Operating in hangars. No person shall start or operate any aircraft engine in any hanger or move any aircraft into or out of any hanger while the engine is running. (f) Prop and jet blast. No person shall taxi any aircraft on the airport where the propeller or jet blast may cause injury to persons or damage to property. If necessary, the aircraft operator shall shut down the engine and have the aircraft towed to its destination. (g) Runup procedure. No person shall runup any aircraft except in the runup areas at the extreme ends of the parallel taxiway or in other areas designated by the airport manager. (h) Takeoffs and landings. No person shall takeoff or land except on an open runway or a designated helipad. (i) Holding on runways. No person shall hold any aircraft on the runway in a pre-takeoff position so as to obstruct the traffic of other aircraft. Specifically prohibited are holding on the active runway to await air traffic control clearances, to do aircraft performance checks, to await air traffic control release times, and to instruct students. (j) Airplane traffic patterns. No person operating an aircraft not under instrument flight rules, under instrument meteorological conditions or air traffic control instructions, or flying simulated instrument approaches shall enter the airport traffic pattern or land unless in accordance with AIM flight and radio procedures for uncontrolled airports. (Ord. of 5-8-90, §§ 5.3, 5.4, 5.6, 5.8—5.14)

Tupelo Code of Ordinances § 4-114 Helicopter operation.

Sec. 4-114. - Helicopter operation. (a) Hovering and parking. No person shall: (1) Fly or hover over any building, assembly of persons or vehicles or aircraft on the ground at less than five hundred (500) feet above the surface object, except when flying an actual or simulated instrument approach to the active runway or when making normal approaches to landing on the marked helipad on closed Runway 04-22. (2) Hover or ground taxi in such a manner and proximity to surface persons or objects as to risk injury to persons or damage to aircraft and other property. (b) Skid landing gear restrictions. No person shall: (1) Park any helicopter equipped with skid-type landing gear on any asphalt surface except at specifically marked points on closed Runway 04-22. (2) Conduct running landings or takeoffs on any paved surface of the airport or on any sod area of the airport with any helicopter equipped with skid-type landing gear in such a manner as to damage or cause risk of damage to the paved surface or sod without the prior approval of the airport authority. (Ord. of 5-8-90, §§ 5.27, 5.28)

Tupelo Code of Ordinances § 4-115 Aerobatic demonstrations.

Sec. 4-115. - Aerobatic demonstrations. No person shall conduct demonstrations or aerobatic flight at or over the airport unless he has notified the airport manager in writing of the proposed activity, provided proof of not less than one million dollars ($1,000,000.00) of general public liability insurance, submitted proof of FAA approval and, upon recommendation of the airport manager, submitted to a hearing before the authority to determine the safety of the aerobatic demonstrations of flight based on training, experience and equipment specifications. Approval by the authority is not an endorsement; the authority assumes no liability thereby. The authority may require an indemnity agreement as part of the conditions for approval. (Ord. of 5-8-90, § 5.5)

Tupelo Code of Ordinances § 4-116 Skydiving.

Sec. 4-116. - Skydiving. No person shall conduct or participate in skydiving activity at the airport unless he or she has complied with the same requirements set forth in section 4-115. (Ord. of 5-8-90, § 5.7)

Tupelo Code of Ordinances § 4-117 Alrcraft in working condition.

Sec. 4-117. - Alrcraft in working condition. (a) No person shall keep or store any aircraft at the airport unless it is in operating condition, is actively being repaired, or is awaiting ordered parts. An aircraft not in operating condition may not be kept or stored at the airport while actively being repaired or awaiting ordered parts for more than six (6) months. The authority may give permission to keep or store an inoperable aircraft not actively being repaired or awaiting ordered parts for a period not exceeding four (4) weeks for good cause shown. (b) Any person who keeps or stores any aircraft in violation of this article shall be subject to a citation and a fine of one hundred dollars ($100.00) for each infraction. Any person who receives a citation for the violation of this article and does not remove the subject aircraft from airport premises or otherwise remedy the violation within thirty (30) days following the issuance of the citation shall be subject to an additional citation and a fine in an amount not less than two hundred fifty dollars ($250.00) and not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000.00) for each infraction as determined by the Tupelo Municipal Court. (c) If any person fails to remove an inoperable aircraft from airport premises or otherwise remedy a violation of this article within thirty (30) days following the issuance of a citation for a violation of this article, the authority, in addition to or in lieu of the penalties specified in subsection (b), above (in the discretion of the authority), shall have the power to impound the aircraft, remove it from airport premises and store it at any suitable location, provided that before making any such impoundment the authority shall give not less than fifteen (15) days' written notice to the owner or custodian of such aircraft of the authority's intent to impound the aircraft and shall thereafter give the owner or custodian a reasonable opportunity prior to impoundment to show that the aircraft is no longer inoperable or otherwise in violation of this article. The authority shall not be liable for any damage or property loss resulting from such impound, removal or storage. (d) Following any impoundment of an aircraft pursuant to subsection (c), above, the owner or custodian of such aircraft may reclaim and take possession of the aircraft by reimbursing the authority for the reasonable cost incurred in impounding, removing and storing the aircraft and showing that he has paid all fines imposed pursuant to subsection (b), above. If the owner or oustodian does not reclaim the aircraft in such manner within sixty (60) days of the impoundment, the aircraft shall be deemed abandoned by the owner or custodian, and the authority may dispose of the aircraft in any manner, including donation or destruction. If the owner or custodian does not reclaim the aircraft, such person shall nevertheless be liable for any fines imposed and the reasonable costs incurred by the authority in seizing, removing, storing, and disposing of the aircraft, and the election by the authority to dispose of the aircraft by donation or destruction shall not absolve the owner or custodian from such liability. (e) The penalties and remedies set fotth in this article are in addition to and do not abrogate any penalties or remedies provided for in any other provision of this section or in any lease held by the owner or custodian of any aircraft. (Ord. of 5-8-90, § 5.15; Ord. of 2-3-09(2), § 1(5.15(5.15.1—5.15.5)))

Tupelo Code of Ordinances § 4-118 Securing unattended aircraft.

Sec. 4-118. - Securing unattended aircraft. No person shall leave any light aircraft unattended during inclement weather or after normal FBO business hours unless it is within a hangar or otherwise properly secured by ground tiedowns. The aircraft owner shall be responsible for all damages caused by failure to secure the aircraft. (Ord. of 5-8-90, § 5.16)

Tupelo Code of Ordinances § 4-119 Passenger carrying operations.

Sec. 4-119. - Passenger carrying operations. No person shall conduct air taxi, commuter, charter or scheduled air carrier operations at the airport, unless such operations transpire through the main terminal building or such other building as may be designated by the authority and a monthly written report of the volume of the passengers, mail and freight activity is submitted to the airport manager. (Ord. of 5-8-90, § 5.17)

Tupelo Code of Ordinances § 4-120 Parking.

Sec. 4-120. - Parking. No person shall park an aircraft at the airport other than on an FBO-leased ramp or apron areas or on other parking spots designated and marked for that use. (Ord. of 5-8-90, § 5.18)

Tupelo Code of Ordinances § 4-121 Payment of fees.

Sec. 4-121. - Payment of fees. No person shall land or park an aircraft at the airport without paying the prescribed charges for use of the airport facilities. It is the responsibility of the FBOs to collect such fees and to pay them to the airport authority. (Ord. of 5-8-90, § 5.19)

Tupelo Code of Ordinances § 4-122 Removal of damaged aircraft.

Sec. 4-122. - Removal of damaged aircraft. Every aircraft owner, operator and pilot, jointly and severally, shall be responsible for the prompt removal of damaged or disabled aircraft, together with the debris that may have resulted therefrom, as soon as FAA or NTSB regulations permit. Care shall be exercised to avoid damaging airport property. (Ord. of 5-8-90, § 5.20)

Tupelo Code of Ordinances § 4-123 Starting engines.

Sec. 4-123. - Starting engines. No aircraft engine shall be started except by an FAA-certificated pilot or mechanic at the controls and the brake fully applied or the wheels securely chocked. (Ord. of 5-8-90, § 5.21)

Tupelo Code of Ordinances § 4-124 Aircraft repair.

Sec. 4-124. - Aircraft repair. (a) Services. No person shall repair, maintain, service or test the aircraft of others in any public areas of the airport, unless they have a valid license or lease from the authority authorizing the repair, maintenance, conditioning, servicing or testing of aircraft. (b) Area. No person shall repair or allow to be repaired any aircraft or aircraft part except in areas built for or designated for aircraft repair by the authority. Any person can perform or have performed items of preventive maintenance on his or her own aircraft in the hangar or tiedown to which it is normally assigned. (Ord. of 5-8-90, §§ 5.22, 5.23)

Tupelo Code of Ordinances § 4-125 Maximum pavement weights.

Sec. 4-125. - Maximum pavement weights. No person shall operate an aircraft weighing in excess of ACM published structural limitations on any runway, taxiway, ramp or apron on the airport, except with prior permission from the airport manager. (Ord. of 5-8-90, § 5.24)

Tupelo Code of Ordinances § 4-126 Closed airport operating areas.

Sec. 4-126. - Closed airport operating areas. No person shall operate an aircraft on any portion of the AOA which is permanently closed by markings or temporarily closed by the airport manager. (Ord. of 5-8-90, § 5.25)

Tupelo Code of Ordinances § 4-127 Aircraft servicing areas.

Sec. 4-127. - Aircraft servicing areas. No person shall fuel or otherwise service any aircraft except in an area authorized for parking and servicing by the authority. (Ord. of 5-8-90, § 5.26)

Tupelo Code of Ordinances § 4-128 Physical security.

Sec. 4-128. - Physical security. (a) No person shall leave any AOA door, gate or other access point open, unlocked or otherwise unsecured by authorized means except when actually transiting such AOA access point. (b) No person shall provide AOA access control device keys, combinations or other means of AOA entrance to persons not authorized AOA access by current FAR, ACM, and the airport manager. (c) No person having authorized access to the AOA who is escorting a person without unaccompanied AOA access privileges shall leave such unauthorized person unaccompanied. (d) Any tenant of the airport or other person who violates this article during a calendar year shall be subject to a citation and a one hundred dollar ($100.00) fine. Any tenant of the airport or other person who violates this section more than once during a calendar year shall be subject to a fine in an amount up to one thousand dollars ($1,000.00) as determined by the Tupelo Municipal Court, and the tenant of the airport or the person may have access to the airport suspended or permanently terminated as determined in an administrative hearing before the Tupelo Airport Authority following the imposition of the fine by the Tupelo Municipal Court. (Ord. of 5-8-90, § 5.29; Ord. of 2-8-00, § 1)

Tupelo Code of Ordinances § 4-129 Use of air carrier apron.

Sec. 4-129. - Use of air carrier apron. No person not operating a scheduled air carrier aircraft shall taxi or park upon or otherwise use the air carrier apron and passenger terminal apron entrances without prior approval of the airport manager; provided, however, that aircraft may taxi across the air carrier apron when necessitated by operational safety. (Ord. of 5-8-90, § 5.30)

Source: City of Tupelo, Mississippi, Code of Ordinances and Development Code (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/ms/tupelo/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=COOR_CH4AI_ARTIIIAIRURE_DIV4AEREFetched: 11/1/2026