As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise requires:

(1)  “Airport” means any area of land or water, or both, designed and set aside for the approach, landing, and taking off of aircraft and utilized or to be utilized in the interest of the public for those purposes. An airport is “publicly owned” if the portion used for the landing and taking off of aircraft is owned, operated, controlled, leased to or leased by the United States, or any agency or department of the United States, this state, or any other state, or any municipality or other political subdivision of this state, or any other state, or any other governmental body, public agency, or other public corporation.

(2)  “Airport corporation” means the Rhode Island airport corporation.

(3)  “Airport hazard” means any electronic transmission device or structure, that, as determined by the federal aviation administration, interferes with radio communication between airport and aircraft approaching or leaving the airport, or any structure or tree or use of land that obstructs the airspace required for the flight of aircraft in landing or taking off at any airport or is otherwise hazardous to the landing or taking off of aircraft.

(4)  “Airport hazard area” means any area of land or water upon which an airport hazard might be established if not prevented as provided in this chapter.

(5)  “Obstruction” means any tangible, inanimate physical object, natural or artificial, protruding above the surface of the ground.

(6)  “Person” means any individual, firm, co-partnership, corporation, company, association, joint stock association, or body politic, and includes any trustee, receiver, assignee or other similar representative.

(7)  “Political subdivision” means any city or town or any other public corporation, authority or district, department, or any combination of two (2) or more, currently empowered to adopt, administer and enforce municipal zoning regulations or to purchase or condemn pursuant to § 1-2-3.

(8)  “Structure” means any object constructed or installed by humans, including, but without limitation, buildings, towers, smokestacks, and overhead transmission lines, including the poles or other structures supporting the object.

(9)  “Tree” means any object of natural growth.