Section 16.30  Definitions

As used in this Part, the words and terms below shall have the meanings given unless the context clearly shows that another interpretation is intended:

"Act" means the Airport Zoning Act [620 ILCS 25].

"Airport" means any area of land or water, or both, designed and set aside for the landing and takeoff of aircraft and utilized or to be utilized in the interest of the public for such purposes.  An airport is “public-owned” if the portion thereof used for the landing and taking-off of aircraft is owned, operated, controlled, leased to or leased by the United States, any agency or department thereof, this State, or any other state, or any municipality or other political subdivision of this State or any other state, or any other governmental body, public agency or other public corporation. (Section 2 of the Act)

"Airport Elevation" means the established elevation of the highest point on the usable landing area of the airport being addressed.  The airport elevation of each applicable airport expressed in feet above mean sea level (MSL) as referenced in the National Geodetic Vertical Datum of 1929 (NGVD29) or subsequent datum and is identified and described in Section 16.Appendix A.

"Airport Hazard" means any structure, vegetation, equipment, or use of land that obstructs the airspace required for, or is otherwise hazardous to, the flight of aircraft in landing, takeoff, or maneuvering at or near the airport.

"Airport Layout Plan" or "ALP" means the plan of an airport showing the layout of existing and proposed airport facilities.

"Airport Reference Point" or "ARP" means the point established as the approximate geographic center of the airport being addressed.  This point is designated by latitude and longitude coordinates expressed with respect to the North American Datum of 1983 (NAD83), unless otherwise noted.

"Alteration" means any construction that would result in a change in height of any dimensions of an existing structure.

"Construction" means the erection or alteration of any structure either of a permanent or temporary character.

"Departmental Standards" means the Department’s rules on Aviation Safety, 92 Ill. Adm. Code 14, that apply to airports that are not bound by federal grant obligations (see Section 16.Illustration B).

"Division" means the Illinois Department of Transportation, Division of Aeronautics.

"FAA" means the United States Department of Transportation, Federal Aviation Administration.

"Federally Obligated Airports" means airports that have accepted federal funds and are bound by federal grant obligations.

"Final Approach and Takeoff" or "FATO" means a defined object-free area over which the final phase of the approach to a hover or a landing is completed and from which the takeoff is initiated.

"Growth" means any object of natural growth, including trees, shrubs and foliage.

"Height" means the overall height of the top of a structure, including any appurtenance installed upon it, for the purpose of determining the height limits in all zones set forth in this Part.

"Heliport/Vertiport" means a generic reference to the area of land, water, or structure used, or intended to be used, for the landing and takeoff of helicopters/VTOL aircraft, together with associated buildings.

"Imaginary Surface" means a geometric surface used to describe the height limitations set forth in this Part (see Section 16.Illustration A).

"Mean Sea Level" or "MSL" means an altitude expressed in feet measured from sea level as referenced by the NGVD29 or subsequent datum.

"Non-Conforming Use" means any structure, vegetation, or use of land that

does not meet the requirements of this Part.

"Non-Precision Instrument Runway" means a runway having an existing instrument approach procedure utilizing air navigation facilities with only horizontal electronic guidance, or area type navigation equipment, for which a straight-in non-precision instrument approach procedure has been approved, or planned, and for which no precision approach facilities are planned, or indicated on an FAA planning document or military service, military airport planning document.  (14 CFR 77.2, effective October 1, 2002)

"Permit" means permission granted in writing by the Division to construct or alter any structure.

"Person" means any individual, firm, partnership, corporation, company, association, joint stock association, or body politic, and including any trustee, receiver, sponsor, assignee, or other similar representative thereof, and including this State and the Department.   (Section 7 of the Act)

"Political Subdivision" means any municipality, city, incorporated town, village, county, township, district, or authority, or any combination of the above, situated in whole or in part within any of the surfaces established by this Part.

"Precision Instrument Runway" means a runway having an existing instrument approach procedure utilizing both horizontal and vertical guidance or a runway for which a precision approach system is planned, or indicated on an FAA planning document or military service, military airport planning document.

"Runway" means an area of the airport for the landing and takeoff of aircraft and consisting of either a specially prepared hard surface or turf or an area designated for such use by seaplanes.

"Slope Ratio" means a numerical expression of a stated relationship of height to horizontal distance (e.g., 100 to 1 means one hundred feet of horizontal distance for each foot of vertical distance).

"Structure" means any form of construction or apparatus of a permanent or temporary character, constructed or installed, including any implements or material used in the erection, alteration or repair of such structure.  This includes, but is not limited to, buildings, towers, smokestacks, and overhead transmission lines.

"Touchdown and Lift-Off Area" or "TLOF" means an area commonly referred to as a helipad and normally centered in an FATO.

"Utility Runway" means a runway that is constructed and intended to be used primarily for propeller driven aircraft of 12,500 pounds maximum gross weight or less.

"Variance" means a grant of relief by the Division from the requirements of this Part in accordance with Section 16.180.

“Vegetation” means plant life in general.

"Visual Runway" means a runway intended solely for the operation of aircraft using visual approach procedures, with no straight-in instrument approach procedure and no instrument designation planned or indicated on an FAA or Departmental planning document.

"VTOL" means aircraft capable of vertical takeoff and landing operations.