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Hypothetical Question.

If one wanted to... could you build a Tower structure on land you owned for the sole purpose of jumping off of it?

What would some of the obstacles be in a project like that apart from the obvious cost? I would imagine local Zoning laws would be a major factor. What about FAA? FCC?

Just curious.

people have posted ads offering decommissioned towers for sale. users have created threads here fantasizing about owning an A.

regulations would vary with location and height (and surely others).

If you can afford the costs involved, (that you apparently haven't researched) then you are wealthy enough to move somewhere with a nice terminal cliff...

that's not the point, he's not asking how much it costs to move to europe. but to have something in your backyard hypothetically to jump whenever you wanted. For convenience sake, it's a hell of a lot easier to jump a elevator ride terminal antenna in your backyard than a terminal cliff.

Something else to consider would be property insurance, both to cover the structure, and for the liability that comes with owning it, especially if they find out you're using it as an exit point...

And if you're going to go through all the trouble of purchasing, zoning your land for, erecting, insuring and maintaining the tower, why not rent space on it for broadcast devices?



What i'd rather do, is purchase a high-rise with a landing area, lease it out, so it doesnt really cost you anything, and make sure you keep the penthouse for yourself. if you own the building, and the land, i cant see anyone preventing you from jumping it.

I was actually more curious about what type of restrictions applied to building a structure off this type, Mainly the Federal restrictions since it would technically be for recreational use.

Would the FCC regulate it even if there were no communications equipment installed? Would the FAA regulate it because of its Height?

I know when it comes to Cell towers, Most local Zoning requires a Contract with a communications provider before approving any construction.

The original Question was Hypothetical but If i could afford the costs involved, and was wealthy enough then maybe i would move to Europe and just Build a terminal "A" on top of a Terminal "E"

CFR Title 14 Part 77.9 states that any person/organization who intends to sponsor any of the following construction or alterations must notify the Administrator of the FAA:

Any construction or alteration exceeding 200 ft above ground level.

Any construction or alteration:
-within 20,000 ft of a public use or military airport which exceeds a 100:1 surface from any point on the runway of each airport with its longest runway more than 3,200 ft
-within 10,000 ft of a public use or military airport which exceeds a 50:1 surface from any point on the runway of each airport with its longest runway no more than 3,200 ft
-within 5,000 ft of a public use heliport which exceeds a 25:1 surface
-any highway, railroad or other traverse way whose prescribed adjusted height would exceed the above noted standards
-when requested by the FAA
-any construction or alteration located on a public use airport or heliport regardless of height or location.

Good point about the Insurance and Liability. it would be only a matter of time before some other Jumpers discovered it and jumped it with out permission. Oh the Irony!

obstruction marking and lighting:

http://rgl.faa.gov/...ILE/AC70_7460_1K.pdf

Yeah, my tower would have razor wire and an alligator filled moat to keep unauthorized jumpers off of it.

http://www.lindstrandtech.com/hi_flyer.html

so lets just hypothetically imagine that there is a decomissioned tower that is free (to anyone willing to tear it down) and you buy the land it sits on and a few acres around it.

what's to stop you from jumping it?

is it even doable? or could they force you to tear it down?

Lets pool our money! I have a spot to put it.

about 20g's and you can have your own 200 ft monopole

or 120g's and you can have your own 1500 ftr

both used of course

also found a 20'g 1000 ftr

those prices are for the raw steel components.

you're forgetting the logisitics involved of moving that much material and assembling it, as well any repairs or whatever.
also, the insurance necessary, the amount of land, the surveying,zoning and approval.

i would estimate around 2 miliion dollars for a 1600 ft elevator tower.

good luck.

to erect a big monopole (~250ft) which would be the cheapest option, would cost roughly 250-300,000 dollars. there are a lot of things that go into erecting a tower aside from just buying steel.

your best bet is to look for land for sale with an existing tower already there, or to have land that is prime real estate for a future tower so someone else will build it and then pay you rent to keep it there.

If I can recall correctly there was a long line 300' freestander for sale in northern Ohio for something like 60k. Tower and land it sits on...... Maybe I am dreaming this up, however I remember seeing the advertisment and dreaming I was super wealthy.

We should start a BASE foundation or a nonprofit. All the money it generates will go towards building an A. It may take 10 to 20 years to make something happen. I would donate money.

I know of a group that is in the beginning stages of doing something similar to what you suggest. More details will be released once the groundwork/paperwork is complete. If anyone may want to help with various projects they are planning to help move this forward, you can PM me and I will forward your contact info to them.
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I would donate as well.