Background
A large number of people in the San Antonio area have been excluded from being able to fly model aircraft for a number of reasons:
- There is no public land in Texas. Record levels of historic population increase has eliminated any open areas.
- No one can afford empty land around San Antonio.
- High density housing have left no open fields.
- Recent changes in FAA regulations have created significant obstacles to flying in traditional flying sites. Having a dedicated flying field will mitigate all of these problems.
- Flying on public roads exposes users to vehicular traffic and potentially trespassing on private property.
Objectives
A place to fly on public land.
- Basically, an empty field.
- Parking nearby.
- Shared for other purposes such as being part of a walking trail or special event location.
- Available for use all year long from sunrise to an hour after sunset.
- Minimally maintained (grass is already cut in parks or is naturally short).
- No user fees.
A small runway (300 x 25 feet)
- It can be an existing road, a piece of concrete such as a widened walking trail.
- It can also be a smooth surface put on top of compressed dirt.
Benefits to the Community of San Antonio
Model Aviation is a tremendous benefit to the community with minimal or no additional cost. Model aviation requires less resources than existing San Antonio funded facilities, including: golf, soccer, football, basketball, disc golf, and croquet.
The benefits of model aviation are significant. Since model aviation is a STEM activity, most people involved in it become scientists and engineers. Model aviation is a powerful gateway into Science Technology Engineering and Math (STEM), particularly people who cannot afford other options.
Model aviation employs a variety of skills and educational disciplines, including:
- Skilled trades – vocational education
- Electronics
- Hands on mechanical engineering
- Software engineering (traditional and artificial intelligence)
- Radio technology
- Aerospace engineering
The following people are served by a flying field:
- High school STEM programs
- Vocational school hands on skilled job projects
- University level engineering classes and programs
- Veterans
- Military recruiting
- Student pilots and existing pilots
- YMCA youth and adult programs
- Religious organizations and their youth programs
- Disabled people
- Minorities trying to get into universities or start technology-centric businesses
It promotes an active San Antonio lifestyle:
- Tourism
- Relocation from other states
- Airline travel visiting friends and relatives (VFR)
- Day trips
- School field trips
- Family friendly leisure activities
Questions & Answers
Safety
- Model aircraft are no different than flying a kite. The safety profile is about the same.
- Model aircraft users carry liability insurance from the Academy of Model Aeronautics that protects the user and 3rd parties. This applies at flying fields, city parks, or personal back yards.
- Most model aircraft are made from foam. They are extremely fragile and lightweight.
- Model aircraft are registered with the FAA (FAA requirement).
- Model aircraft operators must take an FAA “TRUST” exam in order to use aircraft models. Licensing is done by the FAA. Operations are conducted under FAA regulations.
- Newer aircraft have GPS with a “Return to Home” option that could contain the aircraft within an area and if radio signal is lost or something else goes wrong, the aircraft could come back to the takeoff point on its own.
Rules & Regulations
- Model aviation is primarily governed by the Federal Aviation Administration under FAA Special Rule for Model Aircraft (Section 336).
- It requires that operators take a TRUST test (online, free) in order to operate a model aircraft.
- No local government level enforcement is needed.
- The majority of operators follow Academy of Model Aeronautics policies to maintain their insurance coverage.
What are the Runway Requirements for Model Aviation?
- A reasonable runway size is 300 x 25 ft.
- Model aircraft have extremely fragile landing gear. They are mostly made of plastic and can crack like dry spaghetti noodles.
- The body is made of foam, like the kind used in packaging.
- They need a solid surface to operate from that doesn’t have rocks or large cracks.
- Model aircraft are flown line-of-sight, which means that the operator must be able to see the aircraft. Trees, buildings, and other obstructions can limit this. Open fields are best.
Asphalt or Concrete (Best)
- If money were not a concern, a full asphalt or concrete runway would be the best option.
- We’re not expecting San Antonio to provide something this elaborate!
- Concrete or asphalt will last forever with almost no maintenance since it only has foot traffic.
- Some places in San Antonio already have public roads that could serve this purpose. Nothing extra would be needed.
GeoTextile Surface (Good)
- This is the realistic option for locations that are open fields.
- We would ask San Antonio to level and compress a 300 x 25 ft. piece of land.
- Rubber matting, geo-textile, or weed barrier type materials could be semi-permanently fastened to the dirt.
- Funding may be possible via AMA grants, corporate sponsors, fundraising, or city budget allocation.
- Surface would be left at the location all year.
North Stone Oak Park
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
North Stone Oak Park is ideal:
- 👍 Northside located.
- 👍 Has an extremely large open field.
- 👍 Is rarely used by anyone.
- Sun is acceptable on the south side, best if the field is on the West side.
- 👍 Already has a parking lot (south side).
- Other areas require use of vehicle trails. Model aviation requires close proximity to vehicles due to additional equipment needs.
- 🚧 The 300×25 ft. runway area will need fill dirt and to be rolled/compacted. A GeoTextile runway or asphalt / concrete runway will be needed.
- 👍 FAA Maximum altitude = No limit, no restrictions.
- 👍 Owner = City of San Antonio.
29.65083, -98.47071
There is a parking lot at the south of the park. The runway should be close to this.
Braunig Lake Park
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Braunig Lake Park is immediately usable at zero cost, as is, without no modification.
- ⚠️ Current Braunig Lake policy prohibits model aircraft. Policy needs to be changed.
- Entry fee should be completely waived for veterans or other users for model aviation.
- 👍 Not too far away for most San Antonio citizens.
- 👍 Has two large, open areas.
- 👍 Has low human occupation.
- 👍 Has a great orientation to the sun.
- 👍 Already has a parking lot.
- 👍 Already has two public roads immediately usable. No extra maintenance cost.
- 👍 No FAA Maximum altitude. No restrictions!
- 👍 Owned by the City of San Antonio.
29.250856, -98.392717
https://maps.app.goo.gl/czzHwxG3hiSYpacQ6
Panther Springs Park
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Panther Springs Park is a very good option with some work:
- 👍 Northside located.
- 👍 Has an extremely large open field. The land is not usuable for anything else.
- 👍 Is rarely used by anyone.
- 👍 There are various options for runway orientation.
- 🚧 The land will need fill material, then leveled and compressed, and then a GeoTextile runway or asphalt / concrete.
- 🚧 A dirt road would be needed to allow for vehicular traffic.
- 👍 FAA Maximum altitude = No limit, no restrictions.
- 👍 Owner = City of San Antonio.
- 👍 YMCA and soccer fields are adjacent.
- West side of park adjacent to the soccer fields could be used but trees would need to be cleared.
Permission will be required to access the interior with a vehicle.
McAlister Park
⭐⭐⭐⭐
McAlister Park is ideal:
- 👍 Centrally located allowing maximum accessibility equally to all San Antonioans.
- 👍 Has a large open field.
- 👍 Is rarely used by anyone.
- 👍 Has a great orientation to the sun.
- 👍 Already has a parking lot.
- 🚧 A 300×25 ft. runway surface is needed.
- FAA Maximum altitude = 50 feet. Can be increased with FRIA.
The existing road at Northeast Sports Park is perfect as is.
Northeast Sports Park
⭐⭐⭐
- 👍 Nothing extra is needed to use this location.
- 👍 Centrally located allowing maximum accessibility equally to all San Antonioans.
- 👍 Has a large open field.
- 👍 Not used at all.
- Orientation to the sun is not ideal Trees obstruct view at low altitude.
- 👍 Already has a parking lot.
- 👍 Runway surface already exists. Existing park road is perfect.
- FAA Maximum altitude = 50 feet. Can be increased with FRIA.
The existing road at Northeast Sports Park is perfect as is.
Southside Lions Park
⭐⭐⭐
- This is geographically an ideal location but there are issues:
- There is no way to get there except a long walking trail.
- A large amount of trees will need to be removed regardless of where in the park an airfield is placed.
- 👍 Centrally located allowing maximum accessibility equally to all San Antonioans.
- 👍 Not used at all.
- 👍 FAA Maximum altitude = 300 feet. Can be increased with FRIA.
- Owner = City of San Antonio
Calaveras Park
⭐⭐⭐
- This is geographically an ideal location but there are issues:
- ⚠️ No road.
- ⚠️ No parking.
- ⚠️ A large amount of trees will need to be removed.
- 👍 Not used at all.
- 👍 No FAA aisrpace restrictions.
- Owner = City of San Antonio
https://maps.app.goo.gl/WJ5uRd7Uwm7C9YYN9
There are several other locations that can be discussed.