Minnesota Airport Directory and Travel Guide -View or download Here

Minnesota Public Seaplane Bases / Invasive Species-View or download Here

Seaplane Base Establishment

When does the MnDOT require the establishment of a public/private seaplane base?

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Private Seaplane Base Establishment

Link to MN Dept of Aeronautics-https://www.dot.state.mn.us/aero/licensing/airportlicensing.html.  

• Prepare rough layout of proposed sealanes on google earth. Use the Landing Area Location Form, Airport Diagram (PDF) from the MN DOT Aeronautics website. Keep in mind that you’ll need to clear any structures within 300 feet of the centerline approach for the sealane by at least 100 feet at a 20:1 slope (what this means essentially is that they treat any structure like it’s 100 feet taller than it really is and then apply a 20:1 slope

• MnDOT Aeronautics
  222 East Plato Boulevard
  St. Paul, MN 55107
  651-234-7207
  
  https://www.dot.state.mn.us/aero/

• MnDOT will have you email the rough layout to them and they will use their software to produce a layout of the sealanes that you will forward to the FAA.

• Submit an Application for a New Landing Area (PDF), a Landing Area Location Form, Airport Diagram (PDF) and the appropriate annual license fee to the MnDOT Office of Aeronautics. I believe the fee is $15 a year or $40 for 3 years.

• MnDOT will then schedule a site inspection . You will need to have a windsock as well as a portable ABC fire extinguisher (min 20B). The windsock and all accessories can be purchased at Airport Windsock Corp. Lake City, Mn

• Following the site inspection, MnDOT will process the data and forward a diagram to you which you will submit to the FAA along with FAA form 7480-1. http://www.faa.gov/documentLibrary/media/Form/faa-form-7480-1-notice-for-construction-2019.pdf . This can be e-filed from the FAA website. 

• Email a copy of form 7480-1 as well as a revised MnDOT application (if necessary) to  MnDOT and they will then issue the MnDOT Aeronautics license. 

• The FAA will complete an airspace analysis and may perform a site visit to evaluate the seaplane base prior to its use. It will then issue an Airport Master Record 5010-5 Form. This form will need to be signed, dated and returned to the FAA at which time the seaplane base will be operational. Be sure to let the FAA know if you prefer to have it charted.