Section 14.115  Application Process for Original Certificate of Approval

An applicant for an original Certificate of Approval for a new airport or RLA must complete the following process before a Certificate of Approval will be issued by the Division. 

a)         The applicant must personally contact the Division by phone at 217-785-8516, in writing at 1 Langhorne Bond Drive, Springfield, Illinois 62707, or by e-mail at dot.aero@illinois.gov to request an initial inspection of the site proposed to be used for the airport or RLA.

b)         The applicant must include proof of continuing property interests in, and authority to operate, the requested airport or RLA on the subject property as evidenced by:

1)         the approval of the property owner (i.e., a letter with the property owner's signature) if not the same as the applicant; or

2)         a copy of the deed or long-term lease.

c)         Division personnel will visit the proposed site, as early as Division priorities will allow, to determine if the minimum standards for the operation of an airport or RLA, as prescribed in either Section 14.510(a), 610(a), 710(a), or 810(a), can be achieved.

1)         After an initial inspection has been performed and the site is determined to be acceptable under this Part, an Application for Certificate of Approval form (Form AER 2059 for an airport or RLA or Form AER 2060 for a heliport) must be completed and signed, and the originals mailed or hand-delivered to the Division.

2)         If the proposed site is not acceptable under this Part, Division personnel will advise the applicant as to what can be done to achieve an acceptable site (e.g., cut trees, clear brush) or suggest an alternative site.

d)         The Division will submit FAA Forms 7480-1 and 7480-2 to the FAA for an airspace determination.  Once the Division has received an airspace determination from the FAA, the applicant will be notified in writing and the Division will proceed in processing the application for Certificate of Approval.  If the FAA issues a non-favorable airspace determination, the applicant will be notified in writing as to the criteria that led to the determination.

e)         The Division will publish a Notice in the local newspaper, within the county of the proposed site of the airport or RLA, indicating that the Division intends to publish an Order granting or denying a Certificate of Approval, with a copy simultaneously mailed to the applicant.  All interested persons may, prior to the publication of the Order in the newspaper, file objections to or comments on the proposed Order by writing to the Division within 15 days after the date of publication of the Notice in the newspaper.  The Division will consider any comments or opposition received within the 15-day period prior to making a decision to grant or deny a Certificate of Approval and prior to publishing the Order.  (See Section 60 of the Act.)

f)         If no comments or opposition to the proposed airport or RLA are received by the Division within the 15-day period, the Division will publish an Order in the local newspaper, within the county of the proposed site of the airport or RLA approving the construction, with a copy simultaneously mailed to the applicant.  The Order will include the terms and restrictions (e.g., number of based aircraft, restrictions on use) associated with the issuance of the Certificate of Approval, as well as providing information as to a completion date for construction and for the final inspection of the airport or RLA that must occur before the Certificate of Approval will be issued.  (See Section 60 of the Act.)

g)       After the Order is published, interested persons may write or e-mail comments to the Division, or request a hearing in writing (see Subpart K), as to the validity or reasonableness of the Order.  Comments will be accepted for a 15-day period after publication of the Order in the local newspaper.  Unless the Division finds that a hearing is necessary or that a longer period of time is appropriate, the Order will be effective 20 days after publication in the local newspaper.  A Certificate of Approval may be issued any time after the effective date of the Order.  The Division will consider all comments received within the 15-day period prior to making a decision whether to grant or deny a Certificate of Approval.  (See Section 60 of the Act.)

h)       After publication of the Order, if a hearing is requested, the Division will schedule it at the earliest date possible in the county seat of the county where the proposed airport or RLA is to be located.  All interested persons will be notified in writing at least 10 days prior to the scheduled date of the hearing.  After the hearing has been held, the Division will issue a Supplemental Order indicating the findings and conclusions of the hearing and whether the original Order will stand or whether it will be modified.  A copy of the Supplemental Order will be mailed to the applicant as well as to the person or persons requesting the hearing.

i)        The applicant will have 18 months from the effective date of the Order to complete construction of the airport or RLA.  The applicant shall contact the Division in writing or by phone, as noted in Section 14.100(d), within 30 days after the completion of construction of the airport or RLA, to schedule a final inspection with the Division.  If the requirements of this Part have been met upon completion of construction and final inspection, the Division will issue a Certificate of Approval for the operation of the airport or RLA to the applicant.

j)        If the applicant is unable to complete construction of the airport or RLA, or, if the requirements of this Part have not been met within 18 months after the effective date of the Order, the applicant may request in writing an extension of time of the expiration date noted in the Order.  The applicant must state the reasons for requesting the extension of time (e.g., weather delays, financial reasons) in the written request.  The Division may grant or deny an extension of time based on whether the applicant has shown good cause to justify the request.  If an extension of time is granted, the additional period of time allowed will be at the Division's discretion.  If a request for an extension of time is denied, or if the minimum standards of this Part cannot be met, the application for a Certificate of Approval becomes null and void on the date the Order expires.

(Source:  Amended at 42 Ill. Reg. 7104, effective March 30, 2018)