Vendor requirements at Raleigh-Durham International Airport
Morrisville, NC. RDU. Sponsor: Raleigh-Durham Airport Authority
No one may do paid aeronautical work at RDU without an Agreement or Permit under the Authority's Minimum Standards (adopted 2024-04-01), applied for in writing before the first job. Mobile mechanics and aircraft detailers can get a part-time Independent Operator permit of up to one year, limited to named aircraft and owners and, for maintenance, 80 hours a month. Insurance comes from Exhibit A. In the categories that could be read, operators who drive on the AOA carry $1M business auto plus $5M excess.
Permit to operate
Agreement or Permit for "Commercial Aeronautical Activity" (Independent Operator permit for part-time maintenance and detailing), issued by Raleigh-Durham Airport Authority (RDU Properties, rduproperties@rdu.com).
Fee: Rents and fees follow the Authority's Rates and Charges Ordinance; third-party SASO fees are set each year effective April 1. Amounts not stated in the standards.
Submit the "Application to Provide Commercial Aeronautical Activity" before starting work (Section 8.A). The application asks for insurance, licenses and permits, any lease or sublease, a property diagram, five-year projections, financial statements, references, and a letter of credit covering at least 90 days of projected rent, fees and insurance. Independent Operators (Section 13) must name the specific aircraft and owners or lessees they serve and show an adequate Permitted Area. Tier 1 independent maintenance covers FAA ADG groups I to III, Tier 2 covers ADG I only. Through-the-fence operations are not allowed (6.E).
Insurance minimums
| Coverage | Minimum | Applies to |
|---|---|---|
| Workers compensation and employer's liability | Statutory; employer's liability $1M each accident / $1M disease policy limit / $1M disease each employee | All operators |
| Business auto liabilityFBOs carry $1M business auto plus $100M on-airport excess auto. | $1M combined single limit, plus $5M excess if a vehicle operates on the Aircraft Operations Area | Specialized operators (flight training, aircraft sales and charter rows read) |
| Aviation general liabilityRows for aircraft maintenance, independent operators and detailing could not be read. FBOs carry $100M. | $1M per occurrence and $1M products and completed operations (flight training, aircraft sales); $20M (charter) | Specialized operators by category |
| Ground hangarkeepersFBOs carry $50M. | $1M (flight training) to $2M (aircraft sales, charter) any one aircraft and any one occurrence | Specialized operators by category |
Endorsements and policy terms
- Raleigh-Durham Airport Authority, its officials, officers and employees named as additional insureds; coverage primary
- Waiver of subrogation (waiver of transfer of rights of recovery) in favor of the Authority
- 30 days notice of cancellation or material change to the Authority
- Insurers licensed in North Carolina with A.M. Best B+ VII or better (A- or better for hazardous materials coverage)
- Certificates and endorsements addressed to RDU Airport Authority, PO Box 80001, RDU Airport, NC 27623; insurance in place before services begin
Badging and security
- The standards require compliance with TSA STA and CHRC rules (5.M) and airport access control and SIDA rules (5.O). Badge office fees and procedures were not found.
Vehicles and ramp driving
- Flight training, aircraft sales and charter operators who drive on the Aircraft Operations Area must carry $5M excess auto on top of $1M business auto. Rows for other categories could not be read.
Fees
- Rents and fees under the Rates and Charges Ordinance (5.E).
- Third-party SASOs pay fees set annually, effective April 1 of each lease year (11.B.2).
- A reasonable apron-use fee may apply (5.F).
- Amounts and any percentage of gross were not stated in the standards.
Working under an FBO or tenant
A third-party SASO (for example a maintenance or avionics shop) operates through an FBO, and the FBO needs written Authority approval before subleasing or contracting with it (11.B.2). SASOs are encouraged to sublet from an FBO, then another SASO, then the Authority. Part-time detailers and mechanics use the Independent Operator permit instead, tied to specific aircraft owners.
What we could not confirm
- The PDF text was cut off partway through Exhibit A. Insurance rows for aircraft maintenance, aircraft management, independent operators and aircraft detailing were not read; confirm them with RDU Properties before quoting.
- Section 13.C (aircraft detailing) sets a part-time permit of up to one year, tied to named aircraft and owners, with a business license and an adequate Permitted Area. Its insurance limits are not stated. No wash water, chemical or stormwater rules were found.
- Badge office fees, sponsorship and training were not found.
- Rates and Charges Ordinance amounts were not reviewed.
- Whether an Independent Operator permit carries its own fee was not stated.
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