How to interpret PPR?

[bodyflyer2]

I'm bringing this up as I realize that I and some other pilots have a very different interpretation of PPR than the TSB seems to have.

It came up in the report recently published about the grass cutter being killed by a landing aircraft at the St Esprit, Qu airfield / drop zone.

The pilot (who also flew for the dropzone) had flown into the PPR airfield before in his personal aircraft, so likely thought he had standing permission. He also made contact with the drop zone Twin Otter prior to the landing, to coordinate his own landing, which probably reinforced his belief that he had received permission. The report said nothing about whether there was anyone at the drop zone with a ground station to monitor traffic.

But the report basically blamed the pilot for not having PPR and believing he didn't need one. And doesn't elaborate on the PPR issue at all.

So what exactly is required for PPR? Is there a section in the CARs that specifically defines the requirement? What have I missed or forgotten?

The TSB in its report seem to imply that permission is required for every arrival to the airport, and must somehow be very directly given by the owner or operator.... or something.

(Even talking to the Twin Otter pilot, who might be the most senior representative of the airfield operator accessible by radio, didn't seem to be enough!)

I and other private pilots have for example flown into PPR airfields based on what we thought was complete permission. In the sense of 'Five years ago, the airfield owner told me, "Yeah, this is now a PPR airfield, but if it is just occasionally, you are welcome to fly in any time! No problem at all!" '

[Bede]

Great question. I don't have the answer, because I don't believe there is a clear one, but I'll try my best.
There is nothing in the CAR's about PPR. However, it could be considered analogous to a trespass warning and if you landed, and really ticked the owner off, they could go after you for trespassing.

[photofly]

I don’t see that the prior permission has to be on a per-flight basis, or, that if you don’t have it you have done anything wrong other than a common-law trespass, just as if you’d driven up someone’s driveway without permission.

I’m surprised that the report didn’t say either of the two most obvious (to me) safety messages, that in the first place a pilot must discharge their responsibility to make sure the landing area is clear even if in the later parts of approach and landing it becomes harder due to limited visibility - and secondly that an aerodrome operator is responsible for ensuring that all personnel working at their aerodrome are appropriately briefed.

[Loading...]

PPR has to do with liability.
If somebody lands without permission and destroys their plane because you were repaving the runway, and the pavement is wet.
Then you would be a little more protected in case they try to sue.
So if you are an airport manager of a small strip, not a real money maker, it makes sense to make it PPR.

[digits_]

My strip is PPR, mainly for 2 reasons:
1) To be able to turn down pilots doing touch and goes all day
2) I only cut the grass or clear snow when I am planning on using the runway. You would have a bad day trying to land here some winter days...

Not sure if that's legally an airtight reasoning, but it makes me sleep better at night. Soo far I have had one aircraft land on my strip without contacting me while I wasn't home (that I know of). A few other people have called and I have always allowed it.

[7ECA]

Another PPR scenario is CBQ2, Fort Langley, BC. Rich guy buys airport, turns it PPR to prevent FTUs using it for circuits and restricts usage by private owners based there as well. But, he can't restrict the waterdrome quite as easily - especially being that it's the Fraser River, other than the fact that the dock has been left derelict.

[co-joe]

The only PPR airport I have flown into was CYOD, but that was with AB health. I always assumed it was some kind of standing approval or that it was someone's job to let them know we were coming, but we never called ahead.

[PilotDAR]

I view PPR as having two elements: It's not "public property" so you really should politely ask permission to use it. Thereafter, you should be aware that it may not be maintained the way a public airport may be, so more responsibility shifts to you to determine for each landing that it's suitable. I too used to fly my plane to the PPR aerodrome where I then flew as a jump pilot. I was hyper aware of my environment when approaching the aerodrome.

In the case of the accident mentioned, I don't see PPR as being as large a factor as simply being independently aware of the environment, and assuring that your landing path is clear....

Fort Langley, BC. Rich guy buys airport, turns it PPR to prevent FTUs using it for circuits and restricts usage by private owners based there as well.

Well, the key word there is "buys". It's his property, he can allow or not as he prefers. He has permitted me to land there when I have asked, no problem.

I bought my runway so it's use was what I wanted it to be. Happily, buying property is a right in Canada, so I exercised it as others do...

[digits_]

I view PPR as having two elements: It's not "public property" so you really should politely ask permission to use it.

That's not really correct. Plenty of government airports that are PPR (especially military ones). Some public airports are PPR for certain traffic. And I'm sure there are privately owned airports that don't have any PPR.

[PilotDAR]

I think that military airports are outside the scope of "public" in the civil operation sense. I've known some combined use airports, for which the civil side was freely available. I've never known a purely military airbase to be non PPR, though maybe there are some. I have requested permission to operate from some Canadian, and US military airbases as a civil flight. A few times yes, with conditions, but also some hard "no"s as well. Perhaps there are public civil airports which are also PPR, I've never known one. PPR for a privately owned aerodrome would be a much more common example.

[digits_]

CYEU is PPR
CYRT was PPR for a while, but not anymore

CZBB PPR over 12500 lbs.

Then you have PPR notes for almost all airports around vancouver, such as Abbotsford, which require PPR for IFR training flights.

PPR for privately owned aerodromes is more common, but they are not synonyms. The reason I'm ticked off by this, is that database providers use the same logic. Garmin decided to label all PPR airports as private airports, and decided to not include them in their IFR GNS systems. Just stupid.

[scdriver]

I think that military airports are outside the scope of "public" in the civil operation sense. I've known some combined use airports, for which the civil side was freely available. I've never known a purely military airbase to be non PPR, though maybe there are some. I have requested permission to operate from some Canadian, and US military airbases as a civil flight. A few times yes, with conditions, but also some hard "no"s as well. Perhaps there are public civil airports which are also PPR, I've never known one. PPR for a privately owned aerodrome would be a much more common example.

Victoria harbour is PPR based on the pilot. It’s standing for a year after doing an info course online

[AirFrame]

What's the legal basis for the PPR, then? ie. if the CARs don't mention it, what's to stop anyone from landing there anyway? What could be done other than to ask them not to do it again?

[photofly]

There isn't one, nothing, and nothing.

If you really want to insist people don't land on your runway, put up barricades.

[broken_slinky]

I always interpreted PPR as before each landing. That way the owner has the ability to say no due to whatever circumstances there may be. Long grass, too wet, animals nesting, doesn't like you anymore, etc...

[Bede]

There isn't one, nothing, and nothing.

If you really want to insist people don't land on your runway, put up barricades.

Maybe start with X's?

[Sidebar]

PPR is really simple. You call ahead before you leave and get permission to land. Every time. No permission, no landing.

[digits_]

PPR is really simple. You call ahead before you leave and get permission to land. Every time. No permission, no landing.

Says who? Reference?

[airway]

PPR is really simple. You call ahead before you leave and get permission to land. Every time. No permission, no landing.

What if the owner says you can land there anytime you want? That’s PPR as well.