New airport hazard-area dimensions advanced

Lawmakers gave first-round approval Jan. 17 to a bill that would change definitions in the state’s Airport Zoning Act dealing with airport hazard areas.

LB352, sponsored by Omaha Sen. Scott Lautenbaugh, would extend the instrument runway approach zone from three to 10 miles.

Lautenbaugh said the bill would extend the zone in a cone shape from the end of an instrument runway, but would not alter the three-mile visual approach zone that currently surrounds airports.

Sen. Bob Krist of Omaha spoke in support of the bill, saying it would allow Nebraska airports to comply with Federal Aviation Administration regulations if they chose to be certified for instrument landings. For planes to land via instruments only, he said, certain criteria have to be met regarding obstacles in the plane’s glide path.

A Government, Military and Veterans Affairs Committee amendment, adopted 34-0, would allow an existing structure or tree to be grandfathered into compliance with the new zoning restrictions if the structure or tree does not increase in height.

Committee chairperson Sen. Bill Avery of Lincoln said the amendment allows for a gradual increase in the height of potential obstacles as the 10-mile zone extends beyond the runway, ending at a maximum of 890 feet.

Avery said the amended bill should not adversely affect the construction of cell phone towers or windmills near rural airports because both are significantly shorter than 890 feet.

Lautenbaugh said the bill would support economic development and provide rural communities the ability to qualify for life-flight landings to provide emergency medical care.

Columbus Sen. Paul Schumacher expressed concern that the bill would give too much power to local airport authorities who could pursue instrument runways at the expense of building windmills or other types of economic development.

“It’s a power shift [away] from the county and the people who can vote on it to a very narrow group of people,” Schumacher said.

The amended bill advanced to select file on a 32-1 vote.