WSJ article about airplane camping

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Sadly Airports that receive FAA funding are prohibited from allowing overnight camping on the airport. I am sure that Oshkosh just gets a waiver or this requirement is just ignored.

Smart airport managers pretty much just ignore it and if the FAA challenges them they just ask for a written letter stating that it is prohibited.
Since this letter has to go through FAA Legal department, the FAA will never give them a letter stating the camping is prohibited.

We really need to push AOPA and the alphabets to work with the FAA on establishing a policy that specifically allows in camping on the airport when it makes sense.

Brian
 
brcase said:
Sadly Airports that receive FAA funding are prohibited from allowing overnight camping on the airport. I am sure that Oshkosh just gets a waiver or this requirement is just ignored.

Smart airport managers pretty much just ignore it and if the FAA challenges them they just ask for a written letter stating that it is prohibited.
Since this letter has to go through FAA Legal department, the FAA will never give them a letter stating the camping is prohibited.

We really need to push AOPA and the alphabets to work with the FAA on establishing a policy that specifically allows in camping on the airport when it makes sense.

Brian
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So if the FAA won’t say it’s prohibited, how does the FAA prohibit it?
 
By proxy; the airport manager says to you, "you can't camp here, the FAA doesn't allow it."
 
brcase said:
Sadly Airports that receive FAA funding are prohibited from allowing overnight camping on the airport. I am sure that Oshkosh just gets a waiver or this requirement is just ignored.

Smart airport managers pretty much just ignore it and if the FAA challenges them they just ask for a written letter stating that it is prohibited.
Since this letter has to go through FAA Legal department, the FAA will never give them a letter stating the camping is prohibited.

We really need to push AOPA and the alphabets to work with the FAA on establishing a policy that specifically allows in camping on the airport when it makes sense.

Brian
Click to expand...
Actually we don’t need to push for airport camping. Airports aren’t camp grounds. There is no 24 hour toilet facilities, showers, refuge containers, ect, which are all present at AirVenture.

And no, the FBO is not the camp ground manager who is supposed to leave his building open.

40 years ago this was a thing. It ended because it was problematic.
 
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I can name at least 4 small airports (at small towns) out here in the West that not only allow camping but have 24 hr toilet facilities, grills picnic tables, etc. No showers but most people only camp for one night, maybe 2. Easy walk into the town, or borrow the crew car.
 
murphey said:
I can name at least 4 small airports (at small towns) out here in the West that not only allow camping but have 24 hr toilet facilities, grills picnic tables, etc. No showers but most people only camp for one night, maybe 2. Easy walk into the town, or borrow the crew car.
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I am sure there are, and there are many airports with bed rolls in the terminal that will let you stay if the weather boxes you in. The question is at a publically funded airport, why can’t I just pull up in my mini van and use this stuff?
 
Clip4 said:
I am sure there are, and there are many airports with bed rolls in the terminal that will let you stay if the weather boxes you in. The question is at a publically funded airport, why can’t I just pull up in my mini van and use this stuff?
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Who has been peeing in your cheerios for the last 20 years? Seriously. Seek help.
 
I might have accessed an FBO a time or two by ground vehicle for my lovely bride when it was closer (and cleaner) than a gas station bathroom…just so happened to be nearby.
 
A bit specious to extrapolate a problem based on the fiction that is OSH.
 
Clip4 said:
I am sure there are, and there are many airports with bed rolls in the terminal that will let you stay if the weather boxes you in. The question is at a publically funded airport, why can’t I just pull up in my mini van and use this stuff?
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Because more and more small airports now have fences that require some sort of authorized access.
 
Even here in darkest Connecticut there are at least two airports with designated camping areas (supported by the RAF). Nope, not publicly funded. But most publicly funded airports I've been to I wouldn't want to camp there anyway.
 
I average 30 nights of tent camping a year, not including OSH. I would love an easier way to find airports that allow camping.
 
murphey said:
Because more and more small airports now have fences that require some sort of authorized access.
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True, but if the airport is supported with tax payer money, John Q citizen should be afforded the same non-aviation activities (camping) as the pilots who are engaging in a non-aviation activity at the airport.
 
Clip4 said:
True, but if the airport is supported with tax payer money, John Q citizen should be afforded the same non-aviation activities (camping) as the pilots who are engaging in a non-aviation activity at the airport.
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Peeing is a non-aviation activity.
 
Where would one find that info? I admit I've never looked. The AFD? NOTAMS? I'm talking in general, not for one off events like fly-ins or the like. calling the airport manager?
 
murphey said:
Because more and more small airports now have fences that require some sort of authorized access.
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Around here they will post a sign near the combination to enter. It usually has something along the line of "CTAF' for entry, or "squawk NORDO", or even "squawk VFR" at KJWY.
I have often considered using a small airfield's lot for overnight parking when making longer trips in our motor home. Of course, I would be respectful of others and stay way to the back.
 
Initial Fix said:
I average 30 nights of tent camping a year, not including OSH. I would love an easier way to find airports that allow camping.
Click to expand...

Airfield Guide

Airfield.Guide is a repository of US airfields, that you can use for planning trips, finding something new about the airports, you want to visit.
airfield.guide.theraf.org airfield.guide.theraf.org
 
I know of multiple airports that receive FAA funding and allow/encourage airplane camping. If you have the facilities to support the activity, why not encourage it? Some of these airports even have annual "airport-day" events where on-field airplane camping is advertised as part of the thrill of participating. At airports that don't have appropriate facilities, why would anyone want to camp there anyway? The FAA has a process for developing an on-airport camping area at federally funded airports. AOPA has a fact sheet about how to get approval based on the experience at one airport that followed the process. It's a bad idea for some airports, but a great idea for others. Why not pursue it where it makes sense? https://www.aopa.org/-/media/Files/AOPA/Home/Advocacy/ASN-Kit_How-We-Did-It-Doc-v5.pdf
 
Dana said:

Airfield Guide

Airfield.Guide is a repository of US airfields, that you can use for planning trips, finding something new about the airports, you want to visit.
airfield.guide.theraf.org airfield.guide.theraf.org
Click to expand...
you can try my website. I have nationwide maps for airport-based restaurants, vacation rentals, hotels, courtesy cars, and camping with your plane locations.
 
murphey said:
I can name at least 4 small airports (at small towns) out here in the West that not only allow camping but have 24 hr toilet facilities, grills picnic tables, etc. No showers but most people only camp for one night, maybe 2. Easy walk into the town, or borrow the crew car.
Click to expand...
I would love to know what these airports are to add to my nationwide map on my website. Please reach out.
 
Clip4 said:
True, but if the airport is supported with tax payer money, John Q citizen should be afforded the same non-aviation activities (camping) as the pilots who are engaging in a non-aviation activity at the airport.
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In Colorado, airports are not funded by State of Colorado taxpayers. Most of the FAA's budget is financed from the Airport & Airway Trust Fund, which receives its revenue from aviation excise taxes on airline tickets, cargo, and general aviation fuel. There's very little "tax payer" monies involved.
 
@av8maps nice site I’m adding your site to my pre fly research. I don’t think I knew about it until now. I like that you pulled in the google star rating.

av8maps.com

Home Page - AV8MAPS.COM

Aviation Site with nationwide maps for General Aviation pilots to plan for cross country flights. We created an Airport Based Restaurant map a vacation rental map and a camping with your airplane map.
av8maps.com av8maps.com
 
Initial Fix said:
@av8maps nice site I’m adding your site to my pre fly research. I don’t think I knew about it until now. I like that you pulled in the google star rating.

av8maps.com

Home Page - AV8MAPS.COM

Aviation Site with nationwide maps for General Aviation pilots to plan for cross country flights. We created an Airport Based Restaurant map a vacation rental map and a camping with your airplane map.
av8maps.com av8maps.com
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Thank you. Enjoy and spread the word.
 
If the FAA has a rule against camping on airports, but does not enforce it, do not complain.

The local manager has the best view of the potential problem, and can call in the local law enforcement to remove problems.

On the other hand, if the FAA changes the rule to allow camping, airports can be used by the homeless and druggies with impunity, as it will then be a righjt. With those people, marginal income from theft is a norm, so parking our aircraft at the airport becomes a risk.

Leave this to a judgement call by the local manager and his community of pilots and citizens, they know what is best for their community, and, ultimately, US.
 
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Has anyone seen the rule that says camping isn't allowed? I see some vague wording about campgrounds, but I think that is more of a travel trailer type of thing, not a guy camping under his wing.
 
murphey said:
In Colorado, airports are not funded by State of Colorado taxpayers. Most of the FAA's budget is financed from the Airport & Airway Trust Fund, which receives its revenue from aviation excise taxes on airline tickets, cargo, and general aviation fuel. There's very little "tax payer" monies involved.
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The people who pay excise taxes on airline tickets are not a tax payers, but the pilots who pay fuel excise taxes are entitled? Interesting concept considering the lion’s share of FAA excise taxes income from ticket buying people.
 
Clip4 said:
The people who pay excise taxes on airline tickets are not a tax payers, but the pilots who pay fuel excise taxes are entitled? Interesting concept considering the lion’s share of FAA excise taxes income from ticket buying people.
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I think buried somewhere in this debate is the obvious fact that a GA pilot/pax are primarily utilizing the facility for its intended purpose, and camping is (usually) just an incidental detail of their trip. Lots of reasons a pilot might be at an airport overnight or two, some planned others not.

And letting GA camp isn't unlike travel for the general public. Based on my experience you are welcome to pass out/sleep all day long at a big public airports if you're a valid, current ticket holder. I think pitching a tent at a small airport is the GA equivalent to passing out in the terminal at O'Hare/LAX/etc to wait out a delay. The delay might be planned (a long layover) or unplanned (wx/mx). But you're welcome to be there cuz you have a bona fide reason to be there now. A hobo/drifter/general member of the public can't show up, claim they bought a ticket 4 years ago and contributed tax, and then do the same. Their entitlement is not permanent.

(... Interestingly just last weekend I got stuck at a public airport with a flat nosewheel tire and overnighted it on the couch at the tiny city airport building, and I'm rather grateful the airport mgr didn't try and kick me to the curb in rural Indiana so I could walk for an hour through corn-country to *maybe* find lodging)
 
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