[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 14, Volume 2]
[Revised as of January 1, 2003]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 14CFR139.309]

[Page 781-782]
 
                     TITLE 14--AERONAUTICSAND SPACE
 
CHAPTER I--FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 
                               (CONTINUED)
 
PART 139--CERTIFICATION AND OPERATIONS: LAND AIRPORTS SERVING CERTAIN 
AIR CARRIERS--Table of Contents
 
                          Subpart D--Operations
 
Sec. 139.309  Safety areas.

    (a) To the extent practicable, each certificate holder shall provide 
and maintain for each runway and taxiway which is available for air 
carrier use--
    (1) If the runway or taxiway had a safety area on December 31, 1987, 
and if no reconstruction or significant expansion of the runway or 
taxiway was begun on or after January 1, 1988, a safety area of at least 
the dimensions that existed on December 31, 1987; or
    (2) If construction, reconstruction, or significant expansion of the 
runway or taxiway began on or after January 1, 1988, a safety area which 
conforms to the dimensions acceptable to the Administrator at the time 
construction, reconstruction, or expansion began.
    (b) Each certificate holder shall maintain its safety areas as 
follows:
    (1) Each safety area shall be cleared and graded, and have no 
potentially hazardous ruts, humps, depressions, or other surface 
variations.
    (2) Each safety area shall be drained by grading or storm sewers to 
prevent water accumulation.
    (3) Each safety area shall be capable under dry conditions of 
supporting snow removal equipment, and aircraft rescue and firefighting 
equipment, and supporting the occasional passage of

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aircraft without causing major damage to the aircraft.
    (4) No object may be located in any safety area, except for objects 
that need to be located in a safety area because of their function. 
These objects shall be constructed, to the extent practical, on 
frangibly mounted structures of the lowest practical height with the 
frangible point no higher than 3 inches above grade.
    (c) FAA Advisory Circulars in the 150 series contain standards and 
procedures for the configuration and maintenance of safety areas 
acceptable to the Administrator.