A bill that AOPA supported in Missouri will require that anemometer towers more than 50 feet high be marked so that they are visible to pilots.
House Bill 1909 received final passage on a 140-0 vote May 16. It awaits signing by Gov. Jay Nixon. The provisions apply to anemometer towers 50 feet high or higher located outside the boundaries of any municipality.
Anemometer towers are used to test the wind potential of sites for the construction of wind turbine generators. Owners of anemometer towers in place as of Aug. 28, 2012, will have until Jan. 1, 2014, to comply with the requirements.
AOPA has actively supported anemometer tower safety legislation throughout the legislative process, and had designated the measure, which was included in a fuel-tax exemption bill, a priority for passage in 2012. The towers can be a safety hazard for pilots, especially for aircraft conducting agricultural, medical transport, and other low-level flight operations.
AOPA worked for passage in cooperation with the Missouri Department of Transportation, the Missouri State Aviation Council, and the Missouri Airport Managers Association.
The bill also changes provisions for placing a lien on an aircraft by extending the time from 30 days to 180 days in which someone who had performed labor on aircraft parts or equipment may file a lien.
