§ 3-17. Definitions.

Air operations area (AOA): The AOA consists of all areas contained within the airport perimeter fence at San Antonio International Airport and Stinson Municipal Airport. At San Antonio International Airport, this area is subject to all the requirements set forth in the airport security program.

Aircraft: A device used or intended to be used for flight in the air.

Aircraft accident: An occurrence associated with an aircraft operation that takes place between the time any person boards the aircraft with the intention of flight and until such time as all such persons have disembarked, and in which any person suffers death or serious injury, or in which the aircraft receives substantial damage. All aspects of the exceptions to substantial damage (see "substantial damage") should be considered before making a final substantial damage determination that would classify the occurrence as an aircraft accident.

Aircraft engine: An engine used or intended to be used for propelling aircraft, including turbo superchargers, appurtenances, and accessories necessary for its functioning, but not including propellers.

Aircraft incident: An occurrence other than an aircraft accident associated with an aircraft operation that affects or could affect the safety of future operations.

Aircraft support vehicles (commonly referred to as ground service equipment ): Vehicles that are routinely used on the AOA to support aircraft operations (e.g. aircraft pushback tractors, baggage/cargo tractors or trucks, air conditioning and aviation fuel trucks). These vehicles are typically owned by airlines, vendors or contractors and are not eligible for federal funding.

Airfield service vehicles: Vehicles that are routinely used in the AOA for airfield service, maintenance, or construction (e.g. snow blowers, snowplows, maintenance trucks, airport operations, security, safety, airport police, Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting (ARFF) and tractors).

Airport: Any facility or area of land or water intended to be used for the landing, maneuvering, and taking off of aircraft, and including all contiguous property thereto held or used for airport purposes, including all improvements and appurtenances thereon, regardless of the fact that they may be owned, controlled, leased, or occupied by persons or governmental agencies other than the city. Within these rules and regulations, unless otherwise specified, the term "airport" shall refer to both San Antonio International Airport and Stinson Municipal Airport.

Airport business: Any person or legal entity that operates a business or not-for-profit activity at the airport under a lease, concession agreement, operating agreement, permit, right-of-entry, contract, use and lease agreement, purchase order, license, or other legal authority, including subcontractors, sublessees, and vendors. Acts or omissions of an airport business's employees, officers, contractors, and other representatives are attributed to the airport business for purposes of application and enforcement of this chapter.

Aviation director: As used in this chapter, the aviation director of the city, referred to within these rules and regulations as "aviation director" or "director," and includes any subordinate specifically authorized to act on his/her behalf. The director shall be responsible for procedures and the safe and efficient operation, management, and maintenance of San Antonio International Airport, Stinson Municipal Airport, and all city-owned facilities and equipment in connection therewith, and for the enforcement of all ordinances, provisions, and rules governing airport operations.

Airport highways, streets, or roads: Any designated roadway and right-of-way established on airport property by the aviation director for use by motorized vehicles.

Airport identification media: Identification media issued by the badge and identification office of the airport security division which has been approved by the Transportation Security Administration for the San Antonio International Airport.

Airport police: The San Antonio Airport Police Division of the San Antonio Police Department or similar entity charged with policing duties at the airport.

Airport security program (ASP): A Transportation Security Administration (TSA) approved airport operator's manual that governs security-related activities, communications, and procedures.

Business day: Monday to Friday 8:00 am to 4:30 pm, not including holidays recognized by the city and weekends

City: The City of San Antonio, Texas.

City Council: The City Council of the city of San Antonio, Texas.

DHS: The United States Department of Homeland Security.

Driver: Any person responsible for the direct control of a vehicle of any type, while the vehicle is in operation.

Emergency vehicle: Vehicles of the police departments, fire departments, ambulances, airport operations and security vehicles, and/or vehicles conveying an airport official or airport employee in response to any emergency call.

Experimental flights: The operation of any aircraft holding an experimental airworthiness certificate issued by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) or the appropriate foreign government.

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA): The United States Department of Transportation's Federal Aviation Administration.

Foreign object debris (FOD): Any object located in an inappropriate location in the airport environment that is capable of causing injury to airport or airline personnel and/or damaging aircraft.

Geo-fence: A polygon whose points are geographic coordinates which define a virtual boundary around a geographic area on SAT property designated by SAT. There may be multiple geo-fences that are nested or geographically separate from the main fence surrounding the entire airport property.

Ground demonstrations: The operation or movement of any aircraft or aircraft engine for the purpose of displaying the operation of said aircraft or aircraft engine to persons not on board the aircraft. Such operations or movements do not include engine runups at approved locations and times as designated by the director.

Movement area: The runways, taxiways, and other areas of an airport that aircraft use for taxiing, takeoff, and landing, exclusive of loading ramps and parking areas, and that are under the control of an airport traffic control tower.

Night: The time between the end of evening civil twilight and the beginning of morning civil twilight, as published in the American Air Almanac, converted to local time.

Non-movement area: The taxiways, aprons, and other areas not under the control of an airport traffic control tower or at an airport without an operating airport traffic control tower. Non-movement areas are under the direct control of airport operations.

Obstruction: Any structure, growth, or other object, including a mobile object, that exceeds the height limitations established by federal regulations in the vicinity of the airport.

Person: Any individual, partnership, corporation or government entity.

Restricted area: Any area the director designates as restricted under certain circumstances from time to time, either in writing or by means of maps or barriers, and in which the general public is not allowed.

Safety area: A defined surface alongside of a runway, taxiway, or taxilane that has been prepared or is suitable for reducing the risk of damage to an aircraft in case of an unintentional departure from the paved surface.

San Antonio Airport System: San Antonio International Airport or Stinson Municipal Airport and the aviation department of the City of San Antonio.

Secured area: A portion of an airport, specified in the airport security program, in which certain security measures are specified by federal regulations. This area is where aircraft operators and airlines enplane and deplane passengers and sort and load baggage. This area includes ramps and aprons where commercial aircraft park.

Security identification display area (SIDA): A portion of an airport specified in the airport security program, in which security measures specified in 49 C.F.R. Part 1542 are carried out. This area at San Antonio International Airport includes the secured area and the AOA.

Sterile area: The area beyond the airport passenger security checkpoints that provides passengers access to board aircraft and to which access generally is regulated by the TSA, through the screening of persons and property.

Substantial damage: Damage or failure that adversely affects the structural strength, performance, or flight characteristics of the aircraft, and that would normally require major repair or replacement of the affected component. Engine failure or damage limited to an engine if only one (1) engine fails or is damaged, bent fairings or cowling, dented skin, small puncture holes in the skin or fabric, ground damage to rotor or propeller blades, or damage to landing gear, wheels, tires, flaps, engine accessories, brakes, or wing tips are not considered substantial damage for purposes of this chapter.

Surface area airspace: The airspace area within which the provisions of these rules and regulations govern, including areas inside and outside the corporate city limits as defined by city ordinances or by Federal Aviation Regulations (FARs), which is the airspace contained by the lateral boundary of the federally designated class of airspace for an airport, beginning at the surface and extending upward.

Taxi hold lot: The primary queue lot for taxis awaiting dispatch to the terminal area.

Transportation network company ("TNC"): A firm, corporation or company that uses an internet enabled application or digital platform to send or transmit an electronic, radio or telephonic communication through the use of a portable or handheld device, monitor, smartphone or other electronic device to connect passengers with transportation network drivers for transportation network operations.

TNC operator: A person who receives connections to potential passengers and related services from TNC in exchange for payment of a fee to TNC; and uses a TNC vehicle to offer or provide a prearranged ride to passengers upon connection through the digital network controlled by TNC in return for compensation or payment of a fee. A person is acting as a TNC operator anytime the person is a TNC operator on a TNCs digital network, regardless of whether the person has a passenger in the vehicle.

Transportation Security Administration (TSA): The United States Department of Homeland Security's Transportation Security Administration.

Ultralight vehicle: An aeronautical vehicle operated for sport or recreational purposes that does not require FAA registration, an airworthiness certificate, nor pilot certification in accordance with Federal Aviation Regulations (FARs).

Vehicle: Any conveyance, except aircraft, used on the ground to transport persons, cargo, and/or equipment, or those conveyances required to perform maintenance, construction, services, and security duties (e.g., aircraft support vehicles, airfield support vehicles, vans, aviation fuel trucks, food service trucks, lavatory trucks, golf carts, and buses).

(Ord. No. 2015-04-09-0289 , 1(Att. I), 4-9-15; Ord. No. 2018-04-12-0266 , § 1(Att. 1), 4-12-18)