Our flying field is on a basic airport. We have coordinated with the State (MDOT Aero). Our "RC Park" areas are designated on the State's Airport's Directory Map. We have had FAA visitors out there. The State and FAA Reps have all been very supportive! So far, it has been better to work with them.
We have a "license" from the Airport's owner (the Village) to operate and maintain a PUBLIC RC Park (we have a huge RC Car Track and two 400' x 75' turf RC runways.) on the Airport property. This license addresses "continual permission" for 10 years + there is automatic renewal. We also have two asphalt RC Taxiways and a Pit Row off the center of our full-scale Main Runway. When we use the Main Runway, we use aviation radios to coordinate with full-scale pilots. When we fly Jets and Giants, we typically go higher than 400'. When we hold an event, we notify the FAA. We also have RC Operational Rules that include full-scale planes having the right-of-way at all times. We have safety zones designated for loitering should we get unexpectedly trapped in the air by a pilot who chooses to come "straight in" w/o following normal communications protocols. All RC pilots are required to have AMA or equivalent liability insurance. Our RC areas are located where we have line of sight to airborne full-scale aircraft for miles in all directions.
We never have had a problem. The State and FAA reps have all been very positive about our presence. Granted, we do not have a lot of full-scale air traffic. If we did, the site probably would not be suitable for RC activities. But the open ground space at the airport offers an excellent safety margin because there are no homes and few unauthorized people to fly over on an airport. We have never had a full-scale pilot complain. Sometimes they even taxi over and join our events. It only helps when you make an effort to communicate and help these folks. Sometimes we give them ground transport. We always improve the security on their planes and vehicles when they are sitting on the parkway. We also sponsor their poker runs and other fly-ins with hot food and refreshments, etc..
Guess we have been lucky? Not exactly. We have community support. We save the Village $s by cutting the Airport's grass. Whew! We promote the local businesses at our events. We provide on-site after school programs for the local students. And last but not least, we have the Airport Manager in the RC club and the President of the RC Club has been active in the Village (property owner) government. We never present the attitude that flying RC is a "right." We feel flying RC at the Airport is a privilege, and we are willing to work to maintain that privilege.
Last but not least, even though we are fairly well integrated into the community, we continue to look for more ways to better integrate (e.g. Chamber of Commerce, Rotary Club, local Community Foundation, etc.) and, ... we remember: You will always catch more flying with honey than you do with vinegar! Heck, last week I even put the giant gas P-40 back in the trailer and got out the electrics, so a local hunter could have some piece and quiet to hunt deer adjacent to the Airport. A little honey goes a long way!