Small Airport Carry?

[tallmike]

My daughter recently joined the Civil Air Patrol, which has me dropping her off and picking her up at the local airport twice a week. I know the rules for a regular airport, what I don't know is how those rules translate to a small airport. Her classes are held in a small building that is right off the runway, behind the fence that surrounds the airport. There is no checkpoint on the fence or anything like that, just a gate that is always open.

So, can I carry to this location when I drop off/pick up my daughter or is leaving it at home the answer?

Thanks!

[apostate]

If there's a secure area, that's off limits, regardless of the size of the airport. Otherwise, it shouldn't be a problem, assuming it's not a military airfield. I know many people carry in GA aircraft and at GA airports.

[tallmike]

If there's a secure area, that's off limits, regardless of the size of the airport. Otherwise, it shouldn't be a problem, assuming it's not a military airfield. I know many people carry in GA aircraft and at GA airports.

Does it become "secured" because there is a fence or does it need to be a checkpoint?

[apostate]

According to Texas law, "Secured area" means an area of an airport terminal building to which access is controlled by the inspection of persons and property under federal law.

Federal law is more byzantine. I personally wouldn't worry about passing through a fence with an open gate at a GA airport. Based on my understanding of a "sterile area" in FARs, I feel safe as long as there's no screening of persons and property, but that's expressly not advice, legal or otherwise.

[jimlongley]

Brings up an interesting conundrum.

The consensus is it's legal to carry on a GA airport, so what happens when you carry to your Cessna and fly to Dallas Love Field, which has GA facilities, and land on the OTHER side of the secured area?

The other consensus is, or used to be, that since you really can't get from the GA area to the commercial area without going around and entering the terminal, which means you will pass through security screening, it's not a problem.

[Keith B]

Brings up an interesting conundrum.

The consensus is it's legal to carry on a GA airport, so what happens when you carry to your Cessna and fly to Dallas Love Field, which has GA facilities, and land on the OTHER side of the secured area?

The other consensus is, or used to be, that since you really can't get from the GA area to the commercial area without going around and entering the terminal, which means you will pass through security screening, it's not a problem.

You are correct sir. You will not be getting into the official 'secured area' unless you go through screening. Carry in the GA area by a CHL is legal.

[n5wd]

Do they have any time of passenger/crew screening in the general aviation area at Love? There wasn't at DFW when I last flew out of there in the GA area.

[Mel]

Keep in mind that many of these "rules" are Texas based. Other states have different rules.
For example; Arkansas does not allow CHL to carry into a general aviation airport FBO or Terminal area.

[Happily Ever After]

Brings up an interesting conundrum.

The consensus is it's legal to carry on a GA airport, so what happens when you carry to your Cessna and fly to Dallas Love Field, which has GA facilities, and land on the OTHER side of the secured area?

The other consensus is, or used to be, that since you really can't get from the GA area to the commercial area without going around and entering the terminal, which means you will pass through security screening, it's not a problem.

That's what I think. As long as I don't enter the terminal building or an aircraft subject to screening, I'm not breaking any Texas laws or federal aviation regulations.

More than once, I landed at Austin-Bergstrom as PIC with a concealed handgun and a pocket knife, bought fuel and used the facilities, then continued on my trip. AFAIK no laws were broken.

[FL450]

The state and city laws do very state to state so you have to look at state law as well as federal. Federal applies to the secure areas in commercial passenger areas. At airports that commercial carriers land at interpretation of the CHL Law can very depending if your transiting a Fixed Based operator (FBO- private terminal) or if your accessing the secure area of the ramp from a private hangar and this interpretation is further complicated by different agency's (Airport operations, Law enforcement, TSA). As with many cities in Texas the arrest first and let the courts sort it out rule applies. I know HPD Airport substation sergeant told me that my company’s hangar is considered a private business so carry away. I have never seen TSA on my ramp but I suspect they might think differently.
I dont know about airport operations. Now on any given day during hunting season you will find enough unloaded guns but not secured on any FBO and private ramp to supply an army.

Again at noncommercial airports in Texas carry away. I have never seen a 30.06 sign at any private airport I have been to including privately owned (Non-City) airports
I do carry when flying but I use discretion at airports with commercial service because of the reputation of some city's such as Dallas and San Antonio who could care less about state pre-emption.

[jdkinman]

Keep in mind that many of these "rules" are Texas based. Other states have different rules.
For example; Arkansas does not allow CHL to carry into a general aviation airport FBO or Terminal area.

Hmmmm. Are we referring to GA areas at airports under Class C or D airspace, or all GA airports? There are several Arkansas airports I pick up Angel Flight patients at or rendezvous with other AF pilots and we all carry and have never seen any signs or indicators to warn us that we're in violation.

Now you've got me a bit paranoid. Definitely something I'll have to check out next time I'm in Arkansas as I've got several friends over there I regularly fly over to see and shoot with.

JD

[FL450]

Keep in mind that many of these "rules" are Texas based. Other states have different rules.
For example; Arkansas does not allow CHL to carry into a general aviation airport FBO or Terminal area.

Hmmmm. Are we referring to GA areas at airports under Class C or D airspace, or all GA airports? There are several Arkansas airports I pick up Angel Flight patients at or rendezvous with other AF pilots and we all carry and have never seen any signs or indicators to warn us that we're in violation.

Now you've got me a bit paranoid. Definitely something I'll have to check out next time I'm in Arkansas as I've got several friends over there I regularly fly over to see and shoot with.

JD

Arkansas firearms Law wouldn’t define by class of airspace but might be defined by whether or not that airport supports commercial operations (Airlines). Arkansas is not on our list of normal stops so I am not familiar with their CHL law concerning airports.

[jdkinman]

Arkansas firearms Law wouldn’t define by class of airspace but might be defined by whether or not that airport supports commercial operations (Airlines). Arkansas is not on our list of normal stops so I am not familiar with their CHL law concerning airports.

Good point. I'm not a commercial pilot--just an everyday Cessna driver and soon to be restored 1946 Taylorcraft driver. My preferences for airports are summarized as "the smaller, the better" and after we get the Taylorcraft out of the paint barn, assembled and signed off on, those smaller airports will get even smaller and have grass strips.

I always have a gun with me, but when stopping in larger GA airports, it stays in the flight bag or my small overnight bag. Never a need to carry it inside the FBO. Whenever we're renting a car, they usually drive it right up to the airplane anyhow, so I just offload everything into the car. The smaller airports (Class E airspace) I prefer are always unmanned anyhow.

I'll check out the Arkansas laws next time I plan a hop over there.

For what it's worth, the Decatur (KLUD) municipal airport (35 miles northwest of Fort Worth) had a 30.06 sign on the door. I asked them about it and they said it was because they were now able to land biz jets there and do charter operations. Haven't been back since and won't land there again. Told my buddy that I used to pick up there to drive over to Bridgeport (he lives halfway between the two airports).

JD

[Mel]

The following is taken from Arkansas Handgun Law: Prohibited Places;
5-73-306 (15) Inside the passenger terminal of any airport, except that no person is prohibited from carrying any legal firearm into the passenger terminal if the firearm is encased for shipment for purposes of checking the firearm as baggage to be lawfully transported on any aircraft;