New FAA regulations could affect Butler Airport events
Regulations recently introduced by the Federal Aviation Administration could affect the future of non-aviation events at Pittsburgh-Butler Regional Airport.
In May 2023, the FAA issued the Final Policy and Procedures on the Temporary Closure of Airports for Nonaeronautical Purposes, which changed the procedure on how airports organize non-aviation events on their property. The FAA — and in Pennsylvania, the Bureau of Aviation — must now preapprove the closure of an airport for non-aeronautical purposes.
This policy was reiterated by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation and the Bureau of Aviation, which issued a letter to state airports in May 2024 to update guidance on non-aviation events.
“In past years, airports had more flexibility to make decisions on public events on their own accord,” said Kim Geyer, Butler County commissioner and former representative to the airport authority. “Due to the changing dynamics of our society with safety and security, the rules have changed at the state level.”
According to Geyer, the process of requesting permission to hold a non-aviation event at the airport now takes several months, and involves both federal and state authorities.
“To request a temporary airport closure, an airport manager must meet with the FAA at least 120 days prior to discuss their plans and develop a timetable for FAA review and approval,” Geyer said. “Within 60 days of the event, the airport sponsor must submit a written request for the event that includes sufficient information and assurances to indicate that each requirement has been or will be satisfied.”
Airport manager Stephanie Saracco says the new regulations have already made it more difficult to receive approval to hold non-aviation events on their property.
“The airport has to send in a formal request with a lot of information,” Saracco said. “The basic question is, ‘Does it impact aeronautical activity? And if it does, can this event be held off-airport?’ And if you say yes to those two things, the FAA really has to think hard on allowing it to happen on the airport.”
There will be one fewer major event held on the airport grounds this year. Last month, it was announced that the Penn Township VFD Mega Cruise, which had been running for nearly a quarter-century, was canceled for 2025.
However, both Geyer and Saracco say that the FAA regulations had nothing to do with the cancellation, which primarily was caused by the fire department’s inability to access one of the airport’s two hangars.
“The fire department decided on their own not to hold it,” Saracco said.
In 2024, the Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix’s annual “Passport to Elegance” event at the airport was also canceled after the airport authority voted to deny the group permission to use the property. However, Geyer said this also had nothing to do with the FAA regulations.
One public event is scheduled for later this year: the Penn Township Volunteer Fire Department’s Tool Bash fundraiser May 3.
“This new statewide policy in no way should be interpreted by anyone that the airport is not a community partner, as nothing could be further from the truth,” Geyer said.
While the FAA regulations were implemented during the Biden administration, Geyer does not believe the FAA will do away with them now that a new president has taken office.
“At this point in time, I do not believe that the new administration will make changes or do away with the regulations despite wanting to make other changes within the FAA to address safety and efficiencies,” Geyer said.
Geyer said the regulations should have no effect on Serventi’s at the Runway, a restaurant located on the second floor of the airport’s main building.
“The FAA regulations should have no impact on the restaurant’s ability to be open for business to the public, nor should it inhibit their ability to hold private events,” Geyer said.
According to Zelienople Airport manager David Holman, that airport hasn’t been affected by the regulations whatsoever, since, unlike Butler, Zelienople doesn’t host any non-aviation events.
“It really doesn’t affect us in any way,” Holman said.
