(a)  Except as otherwise specifically provided in this chapter, the director has supervision over aeronautics within the state, including:

(1)  The establishment, location, maintenance, operation, and use of airports, landing fields, air markings, air beacons, and other air navigation facilities; and

(2)  The establishment, operation, management, and equipment, of all air schools, flying clubs, and other persons giving air instruction.

Terms Used In Rhode Island General Laws 1-4-9

  • Aeronautics: means transportation by aircraft, air instruction, the operation, repair, or maintenance of aircraft, and the design, operation, repair, or maintenance of airports, landing fields, or other air navigation facilities. See Rhode Island General Laws 1-4-2
  • aeronautics inspector: means an employee of the Rhode Island airport corporation, as defined in the Rhode Island airport corporation personnel job description manual, who is charged by the director to enforce the provisions of this chapter. See Rhode Island General Laws 1-4-2
  • Air instruction: means the imparting of aeronautical information by any aviation instructor or in any air school or flying club. See Rhode Island General Laws 1-4-2
  • Airport: means any area of land, water, or both, which is used or is made available for the landing and take off of aircraft, and which provides facilities for the shelter, supply, and repair of aircraft and which, as to size, design, surface, marking, equipment, and management meets the minimum requirements established from time to time by the director. See Rhode Island General Laws 1-4-2
  • Director: means the executive director of the Rhode Island airport corporation. See Rhode Island General Laws 1-4-2
  • Landing field: means any area of land, water, or both, which is used or is made available for the landing and take off of aircraft, which may or may not provide facilities for the shelter, supply, and repair of aircraft, and which, as to size, design, surface, marking, equipment, and management meets the minimum requirements established from time to time by the director. See Rhode Island General Laws 1-4-2
  • Operate: means , with respect to aircraft, to use, cause to use or authorize to use an aircraft, for the purpose of engine start, movement on the ground (taxi), or air navigation including the piloting of aircraft, with or without the right of legal control (as owner, lessee, or otherwise). See Rhode Island General Laws 1-4-2
  • Person: means any individual, or any corporation or other association of individuals. See Rhode Island General Laws 1-4-2
  • Political subdivision: means any city or town or any other public corporation, authority, or district, or any combination of two (2) or more, which is or may be authorized by law to acquire, establish, construct, maintain, improve, and operate airports. See Rhode Island General Laws 1-4-2

(b)  All proposed airports, landing fields, and other air navigation facilities, shall be first approved by the director before they are used or operated. A political subdivision or person proposing to establish, alter, activate, or deactivate an airport or landing field shall make application to the chief aeronautics inspector, with a copy to the director, for a certificate of approval of the site selected and the general purpose or purposes for which the airport or landing field is to be established to insure that it shall conform to minimum standards or safety and shall serve public interest. A political subdivision or officer or employee, or any person shall not operate an airport, landing field, or other air navigation facility for which a certificate of approval has not been issued by the director.

(c)  The director shall establish by rules and regulations, in accordance with chapter 35 of Title 42, guidelines for making application for a certificate of approval, criteria for determining whether to issue a certificate of approval, and fees for processing the applications and each renewal of certificates of approval.

History of Section.
P.L. 1940, ch. 851, § 11; G.L. 1956, § 1-4-9; P.L. 2000, ch. 371, § 3.