Section 47.20  Definitions

As used in this Part, unless the context otherwise requires:

            "Airport" – The Greater Rockford Airport located near Rockford, in parts of Section 11, 14, 15, 16, 22, 23, 26 and 27, all in Township 43 North, Range 1 East of the Third Principal Meridian, Winnebago County, Illinois.

            "Airport Elevation" – The established elevation of the highest point on the usable landing strip; the established airport elevation shall be 735 feet above mean sea level (AMSL).

            "Airport Hazard" – Any structure, tree, or use of land which obstructs the airspace required for, or is otherwise hazardous to the flight of aircraft in landing or taking-off at the airport.  (Section 3 of the Act)

            "Airport Reference Point" – The point established as the approximate geographic center of the airport landing area and so designated as at Latitude 42° 11' 54.8" N and Longitude 89° 05' 42.3" W.

            "Alteration" – Any construction which would result in a change in height or lateral dimensions of an existing structure.

            "Approach, Transitional, Horizontal and Conical Surfaces" – These surfaces are defined in Section 47.30 of this Part.

            "Construction" – The erection or alteration of any structure either of a permanent or temporary character.

            "Department" – The Department of Transportation, Division of Aeronautics of the State of Illinois.

            "Flight Safety Coordinator" – An employee of the Department whose duties include, but are not limited to inspection of airports, review of complaints concerning uses of property in the vicinity of airports and inspection of structures, uses and trees in the vicinity of airports to determine if such structures, uses or trees impair the use of the airport by aircraft.

            "Height" – The overall height of the top of a structure including any appurtenances installed thereon, for the purpose of determining the height limits in all zones set forth in this Part and shown on the zoning map, the datum of which shall  be mean sea level elevation unless otherwise specified.

            "Landing Area" – The area of the airport used for the landing, taking-off or taxiing of aircraft including the unprepared surfaces adjacent to the existing runways.

            "Non-Conforming Use" – Any structure, tree, or use of land which is lawfully in existence at the time this Part or an amendment thereto becomes effective and does not then meet the requirements of this Part.

            "Non-Precision Instrument Runway" – A runway having an existing instrument approach utilizing air navigation facilities with only horizontal guidance, or area type navigation equipment, for which a straight-in, non-precision instrument approach procedure has been approved by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), 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.

            "Permit" – A permit issued by the Department of Transportation, Division of Aeronautics, pursuant to Section 47.60 of this Part.

            "Person" – An individual, firm, partnership, corporation, company association, joint stock association, or body politic, and includes a trustee, receiver, assignee, administrator, executor, guardian, or other representative, and including this State and the Division of Aeronautics.

            "Political Subdivision" – Any municipality, city, incorporated town, village, county, township, district, or authority, or any combination of two or more thereof, situated in whole or in part within any of the surfaces established by Section 47.30 hereof.

            "Precision Instrument Runway" – A precision instrument runway is one which uses an instrument landing system (ILS) or prevision approach radar (PAR).  A planned precision instrument runway is one for which a precision approach system is indicated on a Department approved Airport Layout Plan, which is on file at the Department of Transportation, Division of Aeronautics, Bureau of Engineering, One Langhorne Bond Drive/Capital Airport, Springfield, Illinois 62706.

            "Runway" – An area of the airport designated for the landing or taking off of aircraft and consisting of turf or concrete, asphalt, oil and chip or other composite material that forms an all weather surface other than turf.

            "Slope Ratio" – 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 one foot vertically.

            "State" – The State of Illinois.

            "Structure" – Any form of construction or apparatus of a permanent or temporary character, constructed or installed by man, including any implements or material used in the erection, alteration or repair of such structure, including but without limitation, buildings, towers, smokestacks, and overhead transmission lines.

            "Tree" – Any object of natural growth.

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

            Variance" – A grant of relief by the Department from the requirements of this Part, in accordance with Section 47.80.

            "Visibility Minimums" – The lowest forward horizontal distance from the cockpit of an aircraft in flight at which prominent unlighted objects may be seen and identified by day and prominent lighted objects may be seen and identified by night.

            "Visual Runway" – A visual runway is a runway intended solely for the operation of aircraft using visual approach procedures with no straight-in instrument approach procedure and no instrument designation indicated on a Department approved airport Layout Plan, which is on file at the Department of Transportation, Division of Aeronautics, Bureau of Engineering, One Langhorne Bond Drive/Capital Airport, Springfield, Illinois 62706.