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Aviation and Spaceports Office / Frequently Asked Questions
Immediately call the nearest law enforcement authorities to report your information on suspicious activity. Be prepared to give as much detailed information, as possible. Avoid placing yourself or others in danger.
For copies of these FDOT products, please submit your name and address in a request to the following: Florida Airports Directory - 2019 (12.9 MB in PDF) To request a printed copy of the directory, click here
Information about all aviation facilities in the State of Florida is available in the Florida Airport Directory
Florida does not license or register pilots or aircraft, except aircraft used for agricultural or mosquito control purposes. Pilot and aircraft licensing by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), however, is a compliance requirement enforceable by the state. Aircraft used for agricultural or mosquito control purposes are required to register annually with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
If you bring an aircraft into Florida that you have owned for more than six months, you should not have to pay a fee. However, a sales tax is required on the transfer of aircraft ownership within Florida. For more information, please see the website on Sales Tax and Use Tax on Aircraft Owners and Purchasers provided by the Florida Department of Revenue
Private-use airports in the State of Florida are NOT inspected and licensed. Newly proposed private airports must be reviewed for airport site approval by the state in coordination with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Once site approval has been granted, the airport sponsor must then complete an online registration process. Existing private airports are required to update their registration at least every two years.
You need a State of Florida site approval and airport registration to base any aircraft on your property.
Helicopter pilots are cautioned to comply with local ordinances concerning flight operations, at all times. Florida would require a state-issued heliport or helistop site approval and registration.
If you have purchased a public-use airport, please contact Mr. Jason Myers at 850-414-4500 in the Tallahassee Aviation and Spaceports Office. . If you have purchased a private-use airport, please contact Ms. Alice Lammert at 850-414-4500 in the Tallahassee Aviation and Spaceports Office.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) 24-hour Consumer Hotline provides general public information on issues such as aircraft child restraints, carry-on baggage, and other FAA monitored topics. You may call their toll-free number at 800-322-7873.
The FAA's Flight Standards District Offices (FSDO) serve the aviation industry and general public on matters relating to certification and operation of general aviation aircraft, including allegation of unsafe flight operations.
Many commercial service airports, as well as some general aviation airports have personnel assigned responsibility for managing environmental noise issues, including the establishment of aircraft noise abatement procedures, documentation of noise levels using computer modeling techniques, and support for noise mitigation efforts by a noise advisory committee comprised of local community participants. Please contact your local airport to report noise concerns or complaints to their designated representative or, if available, ask how you might participate in local airport noise advisory committee activities.
The State of Florida website at http://www.floridajobs.org/ provides extensive opportunities for job seekers in our state to research and locate available jobs, including listings of employment with the Florida Department of Transportation.
All private airports in the State of Florida must comply with "site approval" and "registration" requirements. There is no requirement for inspection and licensing of private-use airports, either private or public-owned. However, airports open to public-use, private or public-owned, must comply with Florida's "inspection" and "licensing" requirements. An option exists, however, allowing for inspection and licensing of private-use airports that meet certain state specified criteria. There are no fees for these services.
Site approval is the first step of a two step process for anyone to establish a "new" airport in the state for private use. This step examines criteria established by the Aviation and Spaceports Office of the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) to determine the feasibility of a new airport at the requested location.
Registration is a requirement for anyone desiring to operate a private-use airport within the State of Florida. Registration is the second step of a two step process for anyone to establish a "new" airport for private use in the state. All owners of private airports in Florida are required to have data and information on file in the Florida Aviation Database related to the geographic location of the airport site, data for each runway, and airport owner and/or operator contact information.
Chapter 330, Florida Statutes, "Regulation of Aircraft, Pilots, and Airports" Chapter 14-60, Florida Administrative Code, "Airport Licensing, Registration, and Airspace Protection"
FDOT Aviation and Spaceports Office will grant site approval if it is satisfied that the proposal meets the following criteria:
Florida law states that, unless an airport is exempt from this requirement, the owner or lessee of any proposed airport shall obtain approval of the airport site from the FDOT prior to site acquisition, construction, or establishment of the proposed airport.
The law also states the following type airports are exempt from its provisions:
As part of new legislative requirements, FDOT has created an internet-based, interactive website for site approval at www.floridaprivateairport.com. Instructions are shown on the website. However, a private-use airport owner must first have an established e-mail address in order to receive notification of a "user ID" and "password", which are required to enter this controlled access site. The process is very user-friendly. However, FDOT recommends reviewing requirements in advance to be able to readily complete the process. The airport owner is required to certify that all specific requirements have been accomplished and that the owner will adhere to other stated provisions.
FDOT will immediately examine airport site approval information submitted by the applicant on the interactive website. Incomplete information will preclude approval and will result in notification to the applicant of existing deficiencies to be corrected. Delays in the process can be avoided by reviewing site approval criteria in advance. Be prepared when beginning the interactive site approval application process to avoid any delays. Applications that are complete and that meet all criteria will have an airport site approval order issued by FDOT. From the date of issuance, the site approval will be effective 45 days later, unless a petition, objecting to the order, is filed.
The 45 day delay is necessary to meet statutory requirement for public review. An airport site approval order may also be further delayed pending outcome of an administrative hearing caused by a petition, filed in objection to the order. Please see Chapter 14-60 Florida Administrative Code for criteria.
In addition to the "general" criteria above, "specific" criteria for airport site approval include the following:
Do not send the information, but retain it for your personal records in order to be able to respond to future local, state, or federal inquiry about your private airport.
For a new private airport, registration can be completed immediately after all of the following steps: the airport site approval order has been issued by the FDOT, the airport site approval order effectiveness date has passed, and no petition was filed with FDOT. However, if a petition was filed and a subsequen t administrative hearing found in favor of airport site approval, registration may be completed immediately thereafter. On the other hand, if the administrative hearing resulted in denying the airport site approval, airport registration may not be accomplished and the airport will not be allowed to operate in the state.
If a petition for an administrative hearing is filed, FDOT will immediately notify the private airport applicant. The effective date of the airport site approval order or its denial will be determined by the outcome of the administrative hearing.
An airport site approval order remains valid for a period of two years from its effective date, unless it has been revoked by FDOT. A site approval order can be extended for subsequent periods of two years
FDOT would revoke site approval, if:
Having completed airport site approval, existing private airports will only require periodic registration. Airport registration can be completed any time and is valid for a period of two (2) years. All existing airport data and contact information, as of October 1, 2003, has been entered into the Florida Aviation Database. All of these airports have an initial registration valid until October 1, 2005. However, just like new airports after site approval, all existing private airports are required also to access the FDOT private airport registration and site approval website at www.floridaprivateairport.com to update and certify the airport data and contact information applicable to the private airport. Completion of this process will automatically extend the period of registration for two (2) years. Owners are encouraged to access the site to update data and information at anytime and for any reason, i.e. change in phone or fax number, e-mail address, ownership, length or width of runway, runway addition, or runway surface, etc. Site access is available for data entry and certification at all times, except for short periods of computer maintenance. Again, there is no fee for this service.
FDOT would revoke or refuse to allow any private airport registration or re-registration, if it determines that any of the following conditions exist or apply:
As stated, Florida law allows private airports to request inspection and licensing in lieu of registration:
All licensed airports, public or private are required to meet the same standards described in Chapter 14-60 FAC. These standards are all consistent with airport design and operational safety standards found in FAA regulations and guidelines. Please see Chapter 14-60 Florida Administrative Code for standards.
The owner is responsible for all safety and security issues at a private airport. Registered airports will not be subject to state inspections or licensing standards. Owners should consult state or federal guidelines or professional consultants.