[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 14, Volume 2]
[Revised as of January 1, 2007]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 14CFR139.309]

[Page 1174]
 
                     TITLE 14--AERONAUTICS AND SPACE
 
CHAPTER I--FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 
                               (CONTINUED)
 
PART 139_CERTIFICATION OF AIRPORTS--Table of Contents
 
                          Subpart D_Operations
 
Sec.  139.309  Safety areas.

    (a) In a manner authorized by the Administrator, each certificate 
holder must provide and maintain, for each runway and taxiway that is 
available for air carrier use, a safety area of at least the dimensions 
that--
    (1) Existed on December 31, 1987, 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; or
    (2) Are authorized by the Administrator at the time the 
construction, reconstruction, or expansion began if construction, 
reconstruction, or significant expansion of the runway or taxiway began 
on or after January 1, 1988.
    (b) Each certificate holder must maintain its safety areas as 
follows:
    (1) Each safety area must be cleared and graded and have no 
potentially hazardous ruts, humps, depressions, or other surface 
variations.
    (2) Each safety area must be drained by grading or storm sewers to 
prevent water accumulation.
    (3) Each safety area must be capable under dry conditions of 
supporting snow removal and aircraft rescue and firefighting equipment 
and of supporting the occasional passage of aircraft without causing 
major damage to the aircraft.
    (4) No objects 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 must 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 contain methods and procedures for the 
configuration and maintenance of safety areas acceptable to the 
Administrator.