14 CFR § 157.2 - Definition of terms.

---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t14/s157.2"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "14 CFR § 157.2 - Definition of terms."
title_number: 14
title_name: "Aeronautics and Space"
section_number: "157.2"
section_name: "Definition of terms."
chapter_name: "FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION"
subchapter_number: "I"
subchapter_name: "AIRPORTS"
part_number: "157"
part_name: "NOTICE OF CONSTRUCTION, ALTERATION, ACTIVATION, AND DEACTIVATION OF AIRPORTS"
positive_law: false
currency: "2026-04-05"
last_updated: "2026-04-05"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
authority: "49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40103, 40113, 44502."
regulatory_source: "Docket 25708, 56 FR 33996, July 24, 1991, unless otherwise noted."
cfr_part: "157"
---


# 157.2 Definition of terms.

For the purpose of this part:

*Airport* means any airport, heliport, helistop, vertiport, gliderport, seaplane base, ultralight flightpark, manned balloon launching facility, or other aircraft landing or takeoff area.

*Heliport* means any landing or takeoff area intended for use by helicopters or other rotary wing type aircraft capable of vertical takeoff and landing profiles.

*Private use* means available for use by the owner only or by the owner and other persons authorized by the owner.

*Private use of public lands* means that the landing and takeoff area of the proposed airport is publicly owned and the proponent is a non-government entity, regardless of whether that landing and takeoff area is on land or on water and whether the controlling entity be local, State, or Federal Government.

*Public use* means available for use by the general public without a requirement for prior approval of the owner or operator.

*Traffic pattern* means the traffic flow that is prescribed for aircraft landing or taking off from an airport, including departure and arrival procedures utilized within a 5-mile radius of the airport for ingress, egress, and noise abatement.