Actually, the FAA does not appear to distinguish between large and small airports. They require you to get permission from the airport operator or control tower before flying within 5 miles of any airport. This seems to make sense since I can't imagine it is OK to endanger aircraft flying out of a small airport but not a large airport. The passage below is from the FAAs webpage on the special model aircraft operating rules:
According to the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 as (1) the aircraft is flown strictly for hobby or recreational use; (2) the aircraft is operated in accordance with a community-based set of safety guidelines and within the programming of a nationwide community-based organization; (3) the aircraft is limited to not more than 55 pounds unless otherwise certified through a design, construction, inspection, flight test, and operational safety program administered by a community-based organization; (4) the aircraft is operated in a manner that does not interfere with and gives way to any manned aircraft; (5) when flown within 5 miles of an airport, the operator of the aircraft provides the airport operator and the airport air traffic control tower…with prior notice of the operation; and (6) the aircraft is flown within visual line sight of the operator.
Denis D
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Denis in NJ
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