*Cited. 185 C. 145; 201 C. 700.
Sec. 15-39. Inspector's credentials.
Sec. 15-40. General powers and duties of commission.
Sec. 15-41. Regulations and standards.
Sec. 15-44. Enforcement of aeronautics laws.
Sec. 15-52. Operation of aircraft during period of suspension or revocation of right to operate.
Sec. 15-53. Licensing of airports and landing areas.
Sec. 15-54. Revocation or suspension of right to operate aircraft.
Sec. 15-60. Exhibition of licenses and certificates.
Sec. 15-66. Actions of executive director. Inspections.
Sec. 15-68. Using aircraft without permission.
Sec. 15-68a. Unlawful use of aircraft.
Secs. 15-70 and 15-71. Coroner to investigate fatal accidents. Accidents to be reported.
Sec. 15-71a. Accidents to be reported.
Sec. 15-71b. Aircraft accidents: Definitions.
Sec. 15-72. Flying carelessly, negligently or recklessly.
Sec. 15-74. Removal of obstructions to air navigation.
Sec. 15-74b. Lines within clear zone prohibited.
Sec. 15-74c. Permit for lines and facilities within one-half mile of runway.
Sec. 15-75. Charges and rentals. Liens.
Sec. 15-76. Abandoned aircraft. Lien for storage charges. Notice to executive director.
Sec. 15-77. Operating under or carrying passengers under influence of liquor or drugs.
Sec. 15-80. Aviation commissions.
Sec. 15-87. Service of process against nonresident owners and operators.
Sec. 15-88. Airport zoning. Definitions.
Sec. 15-90. Airport approach plan.
Sec. 15-91. Adoption of airport zoning regulations.
Sec. 15-92. Airport hazard outside municipality.
Sec. 15-93. Establishment or alteration of structures.
Sec. 15-94. Regulations. Appeals.
Sec. 15-95. Appeals from board of appeals.
Sec. 15-96. Appeal to Public Utilities Regulatory Authority.
Sec. 15-97a. Meteorological evaluation tower markings. Penalty.
Sec. 15-98. Connecticut Wing Civil Air Patrol. Clerical assistance.
Sec. 15-99. Crop dusting by aircraft.
Sec. 15-101. Transferred
Sec. 15-101a. Charges for copies of records.
Secs. 15-101b to 15-101j. Reserved
Sec. 15-34. Definitions. For the purpose of the laws of this state relating to aeronautics, the following words and phrases shall have the meanings herein given, unless the context otherwise requires:
(1) “Aeronautics” means transportation by aircraft; the operation, repair or maintenance of aircraft or aircraft engines except by a manufacturer, including the repair, packing and maintenance of parachutes; the design, establishment, construction, extension, operation, improvement, repair or maintenance of airports, heliports, restricted landing areas or other air navigation facilities, and air instruction.
(2) “Air instruction” means the imparting of aeronautical information by any aeronautics instructor or in or by any air school or flying club.
(3) “Air navigation” means the operation or navigation of aircraft in the air space over this state or upon any airport or restricted landing area within this state.
(4) “Air navigation facility” means any facility, other than one owned or controlled by the federal government, used in, available for use in or designed for use in, aid of air navigation, including airports, heliports, restricted landing areas, and any structures, mechanisms, lights, beacons, marks, communicating systems or other instrumentalities or devices used or useful as an aid, or constituting an advantage or convenience, to the safe taking-off, navigation and landing of aircraft, or the safe and efficient operation or maintenance of an airport, heliport or restricted landing area, and any combination of such facilities.
(5) “Aircraft” means any contrivance used or designed for navigation of or flight in air, including (A) airplanes, meaning power-driven fixed-wing aircraft, heavier than air, supported by the dynamic reaction of the air against their wings, (B) gliders, meaning heavier than air aircraft, the free flight of which does not depend principally upon a power-generating unit, and (C) rotorcraft, meaning power-driven aircraft, heavier than air, supported during flight by one or more rotors.
(6) “Airman” means any individual who engages, as the person in command, or as pilot, mechanic or member of the crew, in the navigation of aircraft while under way and (excepting any individual employed outside the United States, any individual employed by a manufacturer of aircraft, aircraft engines, propellers or appliances to perform duties as inspector or mechanic in connection therewith, and any individual performing inspection or mechanical duties in connection with aircraft owned or operated by him) any individual who is directly in charge of the inspection, maintenance, overhauling or repair of aircraft engines, propellers or appliances; and any individual who serves in the capacity of aircraft dispatcher or air-traffic control-tower operator.
(7) “Airport” means any area of land or water, except a restricted landing area, which is designed for the landing and takeoff of aircraft, whether or not facilities are provided for the shelter, servicing or repair of aircraft, or for receiving or discharging passengers or cargo, and all appurtenant areas used or suitable for airport buildings or other airport facilities, and all appurtenant rights-of-way.
(8) “Airport hazard” means any structure, object of natural growth or use of land which obstructs the air space required for the flight of aircraft in landing or taking off at any airport, heliport or restricted landing area or is otherwise hazardous to such landing or taking-off.
(9) “Airport protection privileges” means easements through or other interests in air space over land or water, interests in airport hazards outside the boundaries of airports, heliports or restricted landing areas and other protection privileges the acquisition or control of which is necessary to insure safe approaches to the landing areas of airports, heliports and restricted landing areas and the safe and efficient operation thereof.
(10) “Careless, negligent or reckless operation” means the operation or piloting of any aircraft carelessly, negligently, recklessly or in such manner as to endanger the property, life or limb of any person, due regard being had to the proximity of other aircraft, the prevailing weather conditions and the territory being flown over.
(11) “Civil aircraft” means any aircraft other than a public aircraft.
(12) Repealed by 1972, P.A. 134, S. 6.
(13) “Connecticut Airport Authority” or “authority” means the Connecticut Airport Authority established pursuant to chapter 267b.
(14) “Executive director” means the executive director of the Connecticut Airport Authority or his or her designee.
(15) “Flying club” means any person other than an individual which, neither for profit nor reward, owns, leases or uses one or more aircraft for the purpose of instruction or pleasure or both.
(16) “Manufacturer” means a person, partnership, association, limited liability company or corporation which, during the calendar year preceding application for registration, manufactured or assembled one or more aircraft for sale, or which proves to the satisfaction of the executive director that it intends in good faith to manufacture or assemble one or more aircraft for sale during the year immediately ensuing.
(17) “Municipality” means any city, town or borough or other subdivision of this state.
(18) “Navigable air space” means air space above the minimum altitudes of flight prescribed by the laws of this state or by procedures of the authority consistent therewith.
(19) “Nonresident” means any person whose legal residence is outside this state.
(20) “Operation of aircraft” means the use of aircraft for the purpose of air navigation and includes the navigation or piloting of aircraft. Any person who causes or authorizes the operation of aircraft, whether with or without the right of legal control thereof, shall be deemed to be engaged in the operation of aircraft within the meaning of the statutes of this state.
(21) “Person” means any individual, firm, partnership, corporation, limited liability company, company, association, joint stock association or body politic and includes any trustee, receiver, assignee or other similar representative thereof.
(22) “Public aircraft” means an aircraft used exclusively in the service of any government or of any political subdivision thereof, including the government of any state, territory or possession of the United States, or the District of Columbia, but does not include any government-owned aircraft engaged in carrying persons or property for commercial purposes.
(23) “Restricted landing area” means any area of land or water or both, which is used or is made available for the landing and takeoff of aircraft, the use of which shall, except in case of emergency, be only as provided from time to time by the executive director.
(24) Repealed by P.A. 85-130.
(25) Repealed by P.A. 77-614, S. 609, 610.
(26) Repealed by P.A. 77-614, S. 609, 610.
(27) “Heliport” means an area of defined dimensions, either at ground level or elevated on a structure, designated for the landing and takeoff of helicopters, which may be restricted solely for that purpose.
(28) “Ultra light aircraft” means (A) any aircraft which meets the criteria established by the Federal Aviation Administration, federal Air Regulation Part 103, or (B) any vehicle which: (i) Is used or intended to be used for manned operation by a single occupant in the air; (ii) is used or intended to be used for recreation or sport purposes only; (iii) has not been issued an airworthiness certificate by the government of the United States or any foreign government; and (iv) if unpowered, weighs less than one hundred fifty-five pounds or, if powered, weighs less than two hundred fifty-four pounds, empty weight, has a fuel capacity of no more than five U.S. gallons, is not capable of more than fifty-five knots calibrated air speed at full power in level flight and has a power-off stall speed which does not exceed twenty-four knots calibrated air speed.
(1949 Rev., S. 4782; 1959, P.A. 501; 1961, P.A. 41; 1969, P.A. 768, S. 161–165; 1972, P.A. 134, S. 6; P.A. 77-614, S. 609, 610; P.A. 85-130; 85-262, S. 5; P.A. 86-403, S. 31, 32, 132; P.A. 87-589, S. 23, 87; P.A. 95-79, S. 43, 44, 189; P.A. 07-217, S. 56, 57; P.A. 15-192, S. 25.)
History: 1959 act amended Subdiv. (5) by adding the phrase beginning “including,” amended Subdiv. (18) which formerly read a person having no place of abode or business in the state for more than 90 days in a year and amended Subsec. (22) by adding “careless” and “negligent” to “reckless,” including proximity of other aircraft as a consideration and deleting consideration of field conditions; 1961 act added “other subdivision” to definition of municipality and redefined “aircraft” to delete specific mention of airplanes, gliders and rotorcraft; 1969 act replaced “commission”, referring to repealed Connecticut aeronautics commission, with “commissioner”, referring to commissioner of transportation, replaced department of aeronautics with department of transportation, replaced director of aeronautics with commissioner of transportation and added Subdivs. (25) and (26) defining “bureau” and “deputy commissioner”; 1972 act repealed Subdiv. (12) re Connecticut aeronautics commission; P.A. 77-614 repealed Subdivs. (25) and (26), effective January 1, 1979; P.A. 85-130 repealed former Subdiv. (24) which defined “state airway”; P.A. 85-262 added references to heliports throughout section and added Subdivs. (27) and (28) defining “heliport” and “ultra light aircraft”; P.A. 86-403 made technical changes in Subdivs. (5) and (16); P.A. 87-589 made technical change in Subdiv. (5); P.A. 95-79 redefined “manufacturer” and “person” to include a limited liability company, effective May 31, 1995; P.A. 07-217 made technical changes in Subdivs. (5) and (28), effective July 12, 2007; P.A. 15-192 amended Subdiv. (13) to replace definition of “department” with definition of “Connecticut Airport Authority”, amended Subdiv. (14) to replace definition of “commissioner” with definition of “executive director”, amended Subdiv. (16) to replace “commissioner” with “executive director”, amended Subdiv. (18) to replace provision re regulations with provision re procedures and amended Subdiv. (27) to make a technical change, effective July 2, 2015 (Revisor's note: In Subdiv. (23), a reference to “executive authority” was changed editorially by the Revisors to “executive director” for accuracy).
Zones are embraced within “airport protection privileges” and are not part of “airports” per se. 159 C. 453. Cited. 185 C. 145; 201 C. 700.
Cited. 35 CS 157.
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Secs. 15-35 to 15-38. Commission and Department of Aeronautics. Director and deputy director of aeronautics. Oath. Police authority of commissioner and inspectors. Sections 15-35 to 15-38, inclusive, are repealed.
(1949 Rev., S. 4783, 4784, 4793, 4794; June, 1955, S. 2408d; 1959, P.A. 307; 1961, P.A. 12; 298; 1969, P.A. 768, S. 167, 263; P.A. 77-614, S. 552, 610; P.A. 85-327, S. 2.)
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Sec. 15-39. Inspector's credentials. The executive director of the Connecticut Airport Authority shall issue to any salaried aeronautics inspector credentials which shall be carried upon the person of such inspector while in the discharge of official duties.
(1949 Rev., S. 4795; June, 1955, S. 2409d; 1969, P.A. 768, S. 168; P.A. 85-327, S. 1; P.A. 15-192, S. 26.)
History: 1969 act replaced “commission” with “commissioner” and “his duties” with “official duties”; P.A. 85-327 applied provisions specifically to “salaried” inspectors and deleted reference to inspectors' authority to make arrests; P.A. 15-192 replaced “commissioner” with “executive director of the Connecticut Airport Authority” and deleted reference to the department, effective July 2, 2015.
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Sec. 15-40. General powers and duties of commission. Section 15-40 is repealed.
(1949 Rev., S. 4785; 1969, P.A. 768, S. 263.)
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Sec. 15-41. Regulations and standards. The executive director may perform such acts, issue and amend such orders, and make and amend such reasonable general or special regulations and procedure and establish such minimum standards, consistent with the provisions of this chapter, as the executive director deems necessary or appropriate, and which are commensurate with and for the purpose of protecting and insuring the general public interest and safety, the safety of persons receiving instruction concerning, or operating, using or traveling in, aircraft, and of persons and property on land or water, and to develop and promote aeronautics in this state. No regulation of the executive director shall apply to airports or other air navigation facilities owned by the federal government within this state.
(1949 Rev., S. 4786; 1969, P.A. 768, S. 169; P.A. 15-192, S. 27.)
History: 1969 act replaced “commission” with “commissioner” and made technical changes to language; P.A. 15-192 replaced “commissioner” with “executive director” and made a technical change, effective July 2, 2015.
Cited. 201 C. 700; 211 C. 690.
Cited. 6 Conn. Cir. Ct. 250.
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Secs. 15-42 to 15-42d. State airways system. Long-range planning. Declaration of policy. Research into future state aviation facility needs. Advisory committee. Receipt of federal and private funds. Consultative services. Sections 15-42 to 15-42d, inclusive, are repealed.
(1949 Rev., S. 4787; 1967, P.A. 502, S. 1–4; 1969, P.A. 768, S. 263.)
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Sec. 15-43. Intervention. The executive director may participate as party plaintiff or defendant, or as intervenor on behalf of the state or any municipality or citizen thereof, in any controversy having to do with any claimed encroachment by the federal government or any foreign state upon any state or individual rights pertaining to aeronautics.
(1949 Rev., S. 4788; 1969, P.A. 768, S. 170; P.A. 15-192, S. 28.)
History: 1969 act replaced “commission” with “commissioner”; P.A. 15-192 replaced “commissioner” with “executive director”, effective July 2, 2015.
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Sec. 15-44. Enforcement of aeronautics laws. The executive director, and aeronautics inspectors of the authority, and each state, county and municipal officer charged with the enforcement of state and municipal laws shall enforce and assist in the enforcement of this chapter and of all regulations made pursuant thereto, and of all other laws of this state relating to aeronautics.
(1949 Rev., S. 4789; 1961, P.A. 57; 1969, P.A. 768, S. 171; 1972, P.A. 134, S. 3; P.A. 77-614, S. 553, 610; P.A. 15-192, S. 29.)
History: 1961 act substituted deputy for assistant director; 1969 act substituted commissioner of transportation and deputy commissioner for aeronautics for director and deputy director of aeronautics and replaced department of aeronautics with bureau of aeronautics; 1972 act deleted reference to abolished aeronautics commission; P.A. 77-614 deleted references to deputy commissioner and to bureau of aeronautics and specified inspectors to be aeronautics inspectors of the department, effective January 1, 1979; P.A. 15-192 replaced “commissioner” with “executive director” and “department” with “authority”, effective July 2, 2015.
Cited. 185 C. 145; 211 C. 690.
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Sec. 15-45. Investigations. The executive director may hold investigations, inquiries and hearings concerning matters covered by the provisions of this chapter, aircraft accidents or orders and regulations of the executive director.
(1949 Rev., S. 4790; 1969, P.A. 768, S. 172; P.A. 15-192, S. 30.)
History: 1969 act replaced references to commission, commission members and its director with references to commissioner of transportation and deleted provision re administration of oaths and subpoena power; P.A. 15-192 replaced “commissioner” with “executive director”, effective July 2, 2015.
Cited. 211 C. 690.
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Secs. 15-46 to 15-51. No exclusive rights to be granted. Federal aid; contracts by commissioner as agent of the state or a municipality. Authority of commission over state airports. Regulation of motor vehicles on state airports. Agreements for fire protection. Regulation of aircraft, airmen, airports and air instruction; licenses and registrations; fees. Sections 15-46 to 15-51, inclusive, are repealed.
(1949 Rev., S. 4791, 4792, 4796, 4817; 1949, S. 2410d, 2433d, 2434d; 1957, P.A. 498; September, 1957, P.A. 8; 1959, P.A. 391, S. 1; 569, S. 1; 1961, P.A. 34; 55; 1963, P.A. 237; 426; 1969, P.A. 421, S. 1; 460, S. 1; 768, S. 173, 263; 1972, P.A. 207, S. 11; June, 1972, P.A. 1, S. 8.)
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Sec. 15-52. Operation of aircraft during period of suspension or revocation of right to operate. No person whose right to operate any aircraft in this state has been suspended or revoked shall operate any aircraft during the period of such suspension or revocation. No person shall operate or cause to be operated any aircraft of which the right to operate has been suspended or revoked. Any person who violates any provision of this section shall be guilty of a class C misdemeanor.
(1949, S. 2432d; 1972, P.A. 207, S. 1; P.A. 12-80, S. 110.)
History: 1972 act deleted references to airman's license, registration of aircraft and refusal of license or registration; P.A. 12-80 replaced penalty of a fine of not more than $100 or imprisonment of not more than 60 days or both with a class C misdemeanor.
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Sec. 15-53. Licensing of airports and landing areas. Section 15-53 is repealed.
(1949 Rev., S. 4797; 1969, P.A. 768, S. 263.)
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Sec. 15-54. Revocation or suspension of right to operate aircraft. The executive director is authorized to revoke or suspend temporarily or permanently the right to operate aircraft, when the executive director determines that any aircraft is not airworthy, or that any airman is not qualified, has wilfully violated the provisions of this chapter or the regulations prescribed pursuant thereto or any other statute of this state relating to aeronautics, or any Act of Congress relating to aeronautics, or any rule or regulation promulgated pursuant thereto, or the statutes or rules or regulations of another state relating to aeronautics, is addicted to the use of narcotics or any other habit-forming drug or to the excessive use of intoxicating liquor, has made any false statement in any application for registration of a federal license certificate or permit or has been guilty of other conduct, acts or practices dangerous to the public safety and the safety of those engaged in aeronautics.
(1949 Rev., S. 4798; 1949, S. 2411d; 1969, P.A. 768, S. 174; 1972, P.A. 207, S. 2; P.A. 15-192, S. 31.)
History: 1969 act replaced aeronautics commission with commissioner of transportation; 1972 act deleted references to licenses and registrations of aircraft, airmen and aeronautics instructors; P.A. 15-192 replaced “commissioner” with “executive director” and made a technical change, effective July 2, 2015.
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Secs. 15-55 to 15-59. Concealment of revocation. Registration or license voided by fraud. Notice of change of address or change in aircraft. Operation unlawful without license or certificate. Exceptions to registration requirements. Sections 15-55 to 15-59, inclusive, are repealed.
(1949 Rev., S. 4799–4803; 1959, P.A. 326; February, 1965, P.A. 288, S. 1, 2; 1969, P.A. 768, S. 175–178; 1971, P.A. 451, S. 1; 1972, P.A. 207, S. 11; June, 1972, P.A. 1, S. 8.)
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Sec. 15-60. Exhibition of licenses and certificates. The federal license, certificate or permit, and the evidence of registration in another state, if any, required for an airman shall be kept in the personal possession of the airman when he or she is operating within this state and shall be presented for inspection upon the demand of any passenger, any peace officer of this state, the executive director, any employee of the authority or any manager or person in charge of any airport in this state upon which he or she lands. The federal aircraft license, certificate or permit, and the evidence of registration in another state, if any, required for aircraft shall be carried in every aircraft operating in this state at all times and shall be conspicuously posted therein where it may readily be seen by passengers or inspectors and shall be presented for inspection upon the demand of any passenger, any peace officer of this state, any official or employee of the authority or any manager or person in charge of any airport in this state upon which it lands.
(1949 Rev., S. 4804; 1961, P.A. 517, S. 130; 1969, P.A. 768, S. 179; 1972, P.A. 134, S. 4; 207, S. 3; P.A. 77-614, S. 554, 610; P.A. 15-192, S. 32.)
History: 1961 act substituted deputy director for assistant director; 1969 act replaced director and deputy director of aeronautics with commissioner of transportation and deputy commissioner for aeronautics and substituted “any official” for “any member of the commission, the director, the deputy director”; 1972 acts deleted reference to “any member of the commission” and deleted words “this or” in phrase “this or another state”; P.A. 77-614 deleted reference to deputy commissioner for aeronautics, effective January 1, 1979; P.A. 15-192 replaced “commissioner” with “executive director” and “department” with “authority” and made technical changes, effective July 2, 2015.
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Secs. 15-61 to 15-65. Approval of airports and other air navigation facilities. Certificates of approval and licenses: Hearings, standards, revocation. Federal government facilities exempt. Sections 15-61 to 15-65, inclusive, are repealed.
(1949 Rev., S. 4805–4809; 1959, P.A. 292; 1961, P.A. 32; 1969, P.A. 768, S. 263.)
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Sec. 15-66. Actions of executive director. Inspections. In any case in which the executive director of the Connecticut Airport Authority refuses to issue a certificate of approval of, or license or renewal of license for, an airport, restricted landing area, heliport or other air navigation facility, or in any case in which the executive director issues any order requiring certain things to be done or revoking any license, the executive director shall set forth the reasons therefor and shall state the requirements to be met before such approval shall be given, license granted or order modified or changed. Any order made by the executive director pursuant to the provisions of this chapter shall be served upon the interested persons by registered or certified mail or in person. To carry out the provisions of this chapter, the executive director and any official or employee of the authority and any state or municipal officer charged with the duty of enforcing this chapter may inspect and examine at reasonable hours any premises and the buildings and other structures thereon where airports, restricted landing areas, heliports, air schools, flying clubs or other air navigation facilities or aeronautical activities are operated or carried on. No provision of this section shall prohibit the executive director from suspending or revoking the right of any person to pilot, or the right to any operation of any aircraft within this state, for any cause that is deemed sufficient, with or without a hearing. No appeal taken from the action of the executive director shall act as a stay of suspension or revocation except with the executive director's consent and under such conditions as the executive director may prescribe. No service of process shall be necessary in connection with any of the prescribed activities of the executive director. The term of any suspension or revocation shall commence upon notice thereof by the executive director.
(1949 Rev., S. 4810; 1961, P.A. 323; 1969, P.A. 768, S. 180; 1972, P.A. 207, S. 4; P.A. 85-262, S. 6; P.A. 15-192, S. 33.)
History: 1961 act substituted deputy director for assistant director; 1969 act replaced aeronautics commission with commissioner of transportation and replaced reference to commission members, director and deputy director with “official”; 1972 act deleted references to registration and airman's licenses, replaced “nonresident” with “person” and deleted provision re notice of suspension or revocation of registration or airman's license; P.A. 85-262 extended the provisions of this section to heliports; P.A. 15-192 replaced references to commissioner with references to executive director of the Connecticut Airport Authority, replaced “department” with “authority” and made technical changes, effective July 2, 2015.
Cited. 201 C. 700.
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Sec. 15-67. Appeal. An appeal may be taken from any decision of the executive director rendered under the provisions of this chapter. The procedure in such appeal shall be the same as that provided in section 14-134 concerning appeals from decisions by the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles. No appeal taken from the order of a court in a criminal case, involving the operation of an aircraft without permission of the owner, the piloting of an aircraft while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or drugs, reckless flying or evading responsibility for accidents or involving fatal accidents shall act as a stay to any action or order of the executive director.
(1949 Rev., S. 4811; 1969, P.A. 768, S. 181; P.A. 15-192, S. 34.)
History: 1969 act replaced “commission”, referring to aeronautics commission, with “commissioner”, referring to commissioner of transportation; P.A. 15-192 replaced “commissioner” with “executive director”, effective July 2, 2015.
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Sec. 15-68. Using aircraft without permission. Section 15-68 is repealed.
(1949 Rev., S. 4812; 1961, P.A. 56, S. 1.)
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Sec. 15-68a. Unlawful use of aircraft. Any person who operates or uses, or causes to be operated or used, or tampers or interferes in any way with any aircraft without the consent of the owner, or who obtains the consent of the owner to the use of his aircraft by false and fraudulent means, statements or representations, shall be fined not more than one thousand dollars or imprisoned not more than one year or both for a first violation, for a second violation shall be imprisoned not more than ten years and for each subsequent violation shall be imprisoned not more than fifteen years.
(1961, P.A. 56, S. 2; February, 1965, P.A. 467.)
History: 1965 act added crime of tampering or interfering in any way with aircraft.
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Sec. 15-69. Tampering or interfering with airports, heliports, landing fields, airways, security devices or equipment. Circumventing or failing to comply with security measures. Providing false information or withholding information on documents required by security plans or measures. Penalty. (a) Any person who interferes or tampers with any airport, heliport, landing field or airway or the equipment thereof or who interferes or tampers with or circumvents, attempts to circumvent or thwart any security device or equipment installed or who circumvents, attempts to circumvent or fails to comply with security measures or procedures in operation at any airport shall be guilty of a class D felony.
(b) Any person who knowingly or intentionally provides false information, makes a false written statement or withholds relevant information on any application or other document required by airport or airplane operator security plans or measures pursuant to federal law and regulations which is submitted to any airport owner or operator, air carrier, airport tenant, concessionaire or contractor shall be fined not more than one thousand dollars or imprisoned not more than one year or be both fined and imprisoned.
(1949 Rev., S. 4813; P.A. 85-427, S. 5; P.A. 97-304, S. 28; P.A. 13-258, S. 61.)
History: P.A. 85-427 extended provision of section to heliports and increased minimum fine from $50 to $200; P.A. 97-304 divided section into two Subsecs., designated existing language as Subsec. (a) and inserted in Subsec. (a) prohibitions re any person “who interferes or tampers with or circumvents, attempts to circumvent or thwart any security device or equipment installed or who circumvents, attempts to circumvent or fails to comply with security measures or procedures in operation at any airport”, and added new language in Subsec. (b) re prohibition and penalty for “any person who knowingly or intentionally provides false information, makes a false written statement or withholds relevant information on any application or other document required by airport or airplane operator security plans or measures pursuant to federal law and regulations”; P.A. 13-258 amended Subsec. (a) to change penalty from fine of not less than $200 or more than $1,000 or imprisonment of not more than 5 years to a class D felony.
Cited. 14 CA 804.
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Secs. 15-70 and 15-71. Coroner to investigate fatal accidents. Accidents to be reported. Sections 15-70 and 15-71 are repealed.
(1949 Rev., S. 4814, 4820; 1959, P.A. 481, S. 2; 1969, P.A. 768, S. 182; P.A. 80-190, S. 14.)
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Sec. 15-71a. Accidents to be reported. Any pilot, whether resident or nonresident, of a civil aircraft involved in an accident resulting in personal injury or substantial damage to the aircraft shall immediately notify the executive director or the state police. If the pilot or pilots are incapacitated, any person who caused or authorized the operation of such aircraft at the time of the accident shall be responsible for giving such notification. A written report shall be filed with the executive director within fourteen calendar days on a form prescribed by the executive director. If requested by the executive director, a written report may also be required for an aircraft accident when the damage is less than substantial. The executive director may make an investigation of such accidents as he or she deems advisable or in lieu of a detailed investigation may accept a copy of the final report by a federal investigation agency.
(1959, P.A. 481, S. 1; February, 1965, P.A. 468, S. 1; 1969, P.A. 309, S. 2; 768, S. 183; P.A. 77-614, S. 486, 587, 610; P.A. 78-303, S. 85, 136; P.A. 85-110, S. 1; P.A. 15-192, S. 35.)
History: 1965 act raised reportable amount from $100 to $300; 1969 acts replaced references to damage where repair estimate is $300 or more with references to “substantial” damage and substituted “commissioner”, referring to commissioner of transportation, for “commission”, referring to aeronautics commission; P.A. 77-614 and P.A. 78-303 made state police department a division within the department of public safety, effective January 1, 1979; P.A. 85-110 changed the period by which a written accident report shall be submitted to the commissioner from 7 days to 14 calendar days; P.A. 15-192 replaced “commissioner” with “executive director” and made a technical change, effective July 2, 2015.
See Sec. 15-104 re report of accidents under Uniform Aircraft Financial Responsibility Act.
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Sec. 15-71b. Aircraft accidents: Definitions. As used in section 15-71a and chapter 267:
(a) “Aircraft accident” means an occurrence associated with the operation of an aircraft which takes place between the time any person boards the aircraft with the intention of flight until such time as all such persons have disembarked, in which any person suffers death or serious injury as a result of such person being in or upon the aircraft or in direct contact with the aircraft or anything attached thereto or as a result of the operation of the aircraft, or the aircraft receives substantial damage;
(b) “Operator” means any person who causes or authorizes the operation of an aircraft, such as the owner, lessee or bailee of an aircraft;
(c) “Substantial damage” means damage or structural failure which adversely affects the structural strength, performance or flight characteristics of the aircraft, and which would normally require major repair or replacement of the affected component, except that engine failure, damage limited to an engine, bent fairings or cowling, dented skin, small punctured holes in the skin of fabric, ground damage to rotor or propeller blades and damage to landing gear, wheels, tires, flaps, engine accessories, brakes or wing tips are not considered “substantial damage” for the purpose of this part.
(1969, P.A. 309, S. 1.)
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Sec. 15-72. Flying carelessly, negligently or recklessly. No person shall operate any aircraft carelessly, negligently or recklessly, or in such a manner as to endanger the property, life or limb of any person, having regard to the proximity of other aircraft, weather conditions, field conditions and, while in flight, the territory flown over.
(1949 Rev., S. 4815; 1959, P.A. 299.)
History: 1959 act added careless and negligent operation to prohibited acts and consideration of the proximity of other aircraft to items for which regard is to be had.
See Sec. 15-34(10) for definition of “careless, negligent or reckless operation”.
See Sec. 15-77 re operation of aircraft or carrying passengers while under the influence of liquor or drugs.
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Sec. 15-73. Airport protection privileges. Encroachments prohibited. Standards for determining necessity of taking land. Where necessary in order to provide unobstructed air space for the landing and taking-off of aircraft, in case of airports, heliports and restricted landing areas acquired or operated by the authority, the executive director or, if a taking is required, the Commissioner of Transportation, and, in case of municipal airports, the municipality, is granted authority to acquire, in the same manner as is provided for the acquisition of property for airport purposes, easements through or other interests in air space over land or water, interests in airport hazards outside the boundaries of the airports, heliports or restricted landing areas, and such other airport protection privileges as are necessary to insure safe approaches to the landing areas of such airports, heliports and restricted landing areas and the safe and efficient operation thereof. The executive director or, if a taking is required, said commissioner, is empowered to acquire in the same manner the right of easement for a term of years or perpetually to place or maintain suitable marks for the daytime marking and suitable lights for the nighttime marking of airport hazards for the purpose of maintaining and repairing such lights and marks. No person shall build, rebuild or create or cause to be built, rebuilt or created any object, or plant, cause to be planted or permit to grow higher any tree or trees or other vegetation, which encroach upon any airport protection privileges acquired pursuant to the provisions of this section. Any such encroachment is declared to be a public nuisance and may be abated in the manner prescribed by law for the abatement of public nuisances, or the municipality in charge of the airport, heliport or restricted landing area for which airport protection privileges have been acquired as provided in this section may go upon the land of others and remove any such encroachment without being liable for damages in so doing. Before exercising any of the powers conferred herein, the executive director shall establish and publish in detailed form, available to the public, the standards which the executive director has adopted and will apply in making a determination that public convenience and necessity require the taking of any parcel of land or interest therein.
(1949 Rev., S. 4818; 1967, P.A. 802; 1969, P.A. 768, S. 184; P.A. 85-262, S. 7; P.A. 15-192, S. 36.)
History: 1967 act required that commission publish standards adopted re determining that land taking is necessary; 1969 act replaced “commission”, referring to aeronautics commission, with “commissioner”, referring to commissioner of transportation; P.A. 85-262 extended the provisions of this section to heliports; P.A. 15-192 replaced “state, the commissioner” with “authority, the executive director or, if a taking is required, the Commissioner of Transportation”, replaced “commissioner” with “executive director” and made technical and conforming changes, effective July 2, 2015.
Sec. 13b-43 and this section provide a vehicle for a municipality to acquire interests in airport hazards to ensure safe and efficient operation of an airport. 185 C. 145. Cited. 201 C. 700, 706; 230 C. 140.
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Sec. 15-74. Removal of obstructions to air navigation. (a) The executive director shall notify the owner or person responsible for the existence of any obstacle so located as to constitute a hazard to aerial navigation or to the efficient or safe use of any airport, requiring such owner or other person to remove such obstacle within such reasonable time as is fixed by said executive director. The owner or owners of such airport shall pay to the owner of such obstacle just compensation for such removal.
(b) In the case of an application for an approval or a license from the executive director for a commercial airport, if there is any obstacle at or near the landing area which would violate the minimum physical standards for commercial airports adopted by the executive director under section 15-41 and the removal of such obstacle is a prerequisite for the approval or license, the executive director shall notify the owner or person responsible for the existence of the obstacle, requiring such owner or person to remove it within such time as the executive director determines. The applicant for the approval or license shall pay the owner of the obstacle just compensation for its removal.
(c) Any person aggrieved by the action of said executive director in relation to the removal of an obstacle under subsection (a) or (b) of this section may appeal therefrom to the superior court for the judicial district within which such obstacle is located or to any judge thereof in vacation; but, if the ground of appeal is a disagreement as to the amount of such compensation, the removal of such obstacle shall not be delayed pending the determination of such amount.
(1949 Rev., S. 4829; 1969, P.A. 768, S. 185; 1971, P.A. 870, S. 41; P.A. 76-436, S. 353, 681; P.A. 78-280, S. 1, 127; P.A. 83-238; P.A. 15-192, S. 37.)
History: 1969 act replaced “commission”, referring to aeronautics commission, with “commissioner”, referring to commissioner of transportation; 1971 act replaced superior court with court of common pleas, effective September 1, 1971, except that courts with cases pending retain jurisdiction unless pending matters deemed transferable; P.A. 76-436 replaced court of common pleas with superior court and added reference to judicial districts, effective July 1, 1978; P.A. 78-280 deleted reference to counties; P.A. 83-238 made existing section Subsecs. (a) and (c) and added Subsec. (b), providing for removal of obstacles at or near certain landing areas; P.A. 15-192 replaced “commissioner” with “executive director” and made a technical change, effective July 2, 2015.
Cited. 185 C. 145.
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Sec. 15-74a. Definitions. Terms used in this section and sections 15-74b and 15-74c, shall be construed as follows, unless another meaning is expressed or is clearly apparent from the language or the context: “public service company” means “public service company” as defined by section 16-1; “public airport” means any state or municipality owned airport, heliport, restricted landing area or other air navigational facility or any facility licensed by the executive director of the Connecticut Airport Authority under section 13b-46, except any privately owned airport, heliport, restricted landing area or air navigational facility unless the same has been on file with the Federal Aviation Administration for a period of at least two years and designated by it as a facility open to the public; “clear zone” means an area extending for up to one-half mile from the end of a runway on a public airport and designated by the executive director as a clear zone in accordance with regulations adopted by the executive director.
(1971, P.A. 678, S. 1; 1972, P.A. 96, S. 1; P.A. 85-262, S. 8; P.A. 15-192, S. 38.)
History: 1972 act replaced “electric company” definition with “public service company” definition; P.A. 85-262 added references to heliports; P.A. 15-192 replaced references to Commissioner of Transportation with references to executive director of Connecticut Airport Authority and made technical changes, effective July 2, 2015.
Cited. 201 C. 700.
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Sec. 15-74b. Lines within clear zone prohibited. (a) No public service company shall construct or maintain any overhead line or facility within the limits of a clear zone.
(b) (1) Immediately upon July 6, 1971, the executive director shall establish clear zones, in accordance with regulations adopted by the executive director, for all public airport runways, and shall establish a list of priorities for the abatement or correction of encroachments thereon by public service companies. (2) Subject to the availability of funds, the executive director shall, from time to time, order the relocation, removal or such other appropriate corrective action as the executive director deems necessary to abate or correct such encroachments on clear zones.
(c) Where overhead lines already exist within the limits of an established clear zone, the executive director shall reimburse the owner public service company for the cost of relocation, removal or other corrective measures approved by the executive director. Funds required for the implementation of this section shall be appropriated from existing and future appropriations for state aid to airports in accordance with procedures adopted by the authority pursuant to section 1-121.
(1971, P.A. 678, S. 2–4; 1972, P.A. 96, S. 2; P.A. 15-192, S. 39; P.A. 19-161, S. 7.)
History: 1972 act replaced “electric company” with “public service company”, deleted word “transmission” modifying “lines” and amended Subsec. (c) by specifying that appropriations be made in accordance with commissioner's regulations; P.A. 15-192 replaced references to Commissioner of Transportation with references to executive director in Subsecs. (b) and (c) and replaced provision re regulations adopted by the commissioner with provision re procedures adopted by the authority in Subsec. (c), effective July 2, 2015; P.A. 19-161 amended Subsecs. (b) and (c) to make technical changes, effective July 12, 2019.
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Sec. 15-74c. Permit for lines and facilities within one-half mile of runway. No public service company shall erect, recable or reconstruct any overhead line or facility within one-half mile of any airport runway without written permission of the executive director.
(1971, P.A. 678, S. 5; 1972, P.A. 96, S. 3; P.A. 15-192, S. 40.)
History: 1972 act replaced “electric company” with “public service company” and deleted word “transmission” modifying “lines”; P.A. 15-192 replaced “Commissioner of Transportation” with “executive director”, effective July 2, 2015.
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Sec. 15-75. Charges and rentals. Liens. The executive director may determine the charges or rental for the use of any properties and the charges for any service or accommodations under the authority's control and the terms and conditions under which such properties may be used; provided the public shall not be deprived of its rightful, equal and uniform use of such property. The state shall have and the executive director may enforce liens as provided by law for repairs to or improvement or storage or care of any personal property.
(1949 Rev., S. 4819; 1969, P.A. 768, S. 186; P.A. 15-192, S. 41.)
History: 1969 act replaced “commission”, referring to “aeronautics commission”, with “commissioner”, referring to commissioner of transportation; P.A. 15-192 replaced “commissioner” with “executive director” and made a technical change, effective July 2, 2015.
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Sec. 15-76. Abandoned aircraft. Lien for storage charges. Notice to executive director. (a) The executive director, any employee of the authority, any officer attached to an organized police department, any state police officer or any constable, within his or her precinct, upon discovery of any aircraft apparently abandoned, whether situated within or without any airport or landing field in this state, shall take such aircraft into custody and may cause the same to be taken to and stored in a suitable place. All charges necessarily incurred by such person in the performance of such duty shall be a lien upon such aircraft. The owner or keeper of any hangar or other place where such aircraft is stored shall have a lien upon the same for storage charges. If such aircraft has been so stored for a period of ninety days, such owner or keeper may sell the same at public auction for cash, at such owner's or keeper's place of business, and apply the avails of such sale toward the payment of such owner's or keeper's charges and the payment of any debt or obligation incurred by the person who placed the same in storage, provided such sale shall be advertised three times in a newspaper published or having a circulation in the town where such hangar or other place is located, such advertisement to commence at least five days before such sale; and, if the last place of abode of the owner of such aircraft is known to or may be ascertained by such hangar owner or keeper by the exercise of reasonable diligence, notice of the time and place of sale shall be given such owner by mailing such notice to the owner in a registered or certified letter, postage paid, at such last usual place of abode, at least five days before the time of sale. The proceeds of such sale, after deducting the amount due such hangar owner or keeper and all expenses connected with such sale, including the expenses of the officer who placed such aircraft in storage, shall be paid to the owner of such aircraft or the owner's legal representatives, if claimed by such owner or representatives, at any time within one year from the date of such sale. If such balance is not claimed within said period, it shall escheat to the state.
(b) If the owner of such aircraft placed in storage in accordance with the provisions of this section fails to claim such aircraft within sixty days, the owner of such hangar or other place of storage shall, within thirty days thereafter, send a written notice to the executive director, stating the make, type, engine number and identification number of such aircraft and the date such aircraft was left with such owner for storage and by whom, which notice shall be placed on file by the executive director and shall be subject to public inspection. Any sale under the provisions of this section shall be void, unless the notice required by this section has been given to the executive director.
(1949 Rev., S. 4821; 1961, P.A. 517, S. 131; 1969, P.A. 768, S. 187; 1972, P.A. 134, S. 5; 207, S. 5; P.A. 77-614, S. 555, 610; P.A. 00-99, S. 52, 154; P.A. 01-195, S. 19, 181; P.A. 15-192, S. 42.)
History: 1961 act substituted deputy director for assistant director in Subsec. (a); 1969 act replaced “commission” and “director”, referring to aeronautics commission and director, with “commissioner”, referring to commissioner of transportation and replaced “deputy director” with “deputy commissioner for the bureau of aeronautics”; 1972 acts deleted references to commission members and to aircraft registrations; P.A. 77-614 deleted reference to deputy commissioner, effective January 1, 1979; P.A. 00-99 deleted reference to sheriff in Subsec. (a), effective December 1, 2000; P.A. 01-195 made technical changes in Subsec. (a) for the purposes of gender neutrality, effective July 11, 2001; P.A. 15-192 replaced “commissioner” with “executive director” and “department” with “authority” and made technical changes, effective July 2, 2015.
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Sec. 15-77. Operating under or carrying passengers under influence of liquor or drugs. (a) No person shall operate or attempt to operate any aircraft on the ground or in the air while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or of any drug.
(b) No person shall operate or attempt to operate any aircraft on the ground or in the air carrying passengers who are under the influence of intoxicating liquor or of any drug.
(c) Any person who violates any provision of this section shall, for a first offense, be guilty of a class C misdemeanor and, for any subsequent offense, be guilty of a class A misdemeanor.
(1949 Rev., S. 4822; P.A. 12-80, S. 144.)
History: P.A. 12-80 inserted Subsec. designators (a), (b) and (c) and amended Subsec. (c) to rephrase provisions, change penalty for first offense from a fine of not more than $100 or imprisonment of not more than 60 days or both to a class C misdemeanor and change penalty for subsequent offense from a fine of not more than $500 or imprisonment of not more than 1 year or both to a class A misdemeanor.
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Secs. 15-78 and 15-79. Receipts from convictions; deposit in General Fund. Municipal and state airports; establishment; state plan of development. Sections 15-78 and 15-79 are repealed.
(1949 Rev., S. 4823, 4824; 1955, S. 2412d; 1959, P.A. 290; 1961, P.A. 517, S. 132; 1963, P.A. 252, S. 1; 1967, P.A. 694, S. 1; 1969, P.A. 768, S. 263.)
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Sec. 15-80. Aviation commissions. (a) Any town, city or borough may, at any annual or special meeting, warned and held for that purpose, vote to establish an aviation commission and may determine the number of members of such commission and the length of the term of office of each. If such vote is in the affirmative, a certificate of such approval shall be recorded in the office of the clerk of such town, city or borough and a certified copy thereof shall be filed by such clerk in the office of the Secretary of the State, who shall record the same. Within ten days after such affirmative vote has been passed by any town, city or borough, its selectmen, mayor or warden shall appoint the required number of residents of such town, city or borough as members of such commission, each of whom shall serve for the term for which he was appointed and until his successor is appointed and has qualified.
(b) Such aviation commission shall be charged with the administration of such local ordinances as may, from time to time, be enacted, concerning airports, landing fields and aeronautics.
(1949 Rev., S. 696.)
Cited. 211 C. 690.
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Secs. 15-81 to 15-86. Federal and other aid. Commission may act as agent of municipality for acceptance of federal aid. Contracts by municipality. Municipalities may lease airports. Financial assistance to municipal airports. Technical services to municipalities. Sections 15-81 to 15-86, inclusive, are repealed.
(1949 Rev., S. 4825–4828; 1955, S. 2423d; June, 1955, S. 2424d, 2425d; 1957, P.A. 13, S. 93; 138; 1967, P.A. 377, S. 1; 1969, P.A. 768, S. 263.)
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Sec. 15-87. Service of process against nonresident owners and operators. Any nonresident of this state who is the operator or owner of any aircraft and who accepts the privileges extended by the laws of this state to nonresident operators and owners of aircraft of using its aviation facilities, or of having the same operated over, or who operates an airplane above or upon, the territorial limits of this state, shall, by such operation, be deemed to have appointed the executive director of the Connecticut Airport Authority, such operator or owner's agent and attorney for the service of process in any civil suit or proceeding instituted in the courts of this state against such operator or owner arising out of or by reason of any accident or collision, occurring within or above the state, in which such aircraft is involved. Such process shall be served by the officer to whom the same is directed upon the executive director by leaving at the office of the executive director, at least twelve days before the return day of such process, a true and attested copy thereof, and by sending to the defendant at such defendant's last-known address by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, a like true and attested copy, with an endorsement thereon of the service upon the executive director. The officer serving such process upon the executive director shall pay to the executive director at the time of service a fee of five dollars, which fee shall be taxed as costs in the case. The executive director shall keep a record of each such process and the day and hour of the service thereof. This section shall extend the right of service of process upon nonresidents and shall not limit any existing provisions for the service of process. Such service shall be sufficient to confer jurisdiction of any such action upon the court to which such process is returnable, and such court may proceed to determine the issues in such action and render final judgment with or without any further action by such court concerning further order of notice to such operator or owner.
(1949 Rev., S. 4831–4834; 1959, P.A. 322, S. 1; 1969, P.A. 768, S. 188; P.A. 15-192, S. 43.)
History: 1959 act increased fee for service of process on director; 1969 act replaced “director of aeronautics” and “director” with “commissioner”, referring to commissioner of transportation; P.A. 15-192 replaced references to commissioner with references to executive director of the Connecticut Airport Authority and made technical changes, effective July 2, 2015 (Revisor's note: A reference to “said commissioner” was changed editorially by the Revisors to “the executive director” for consistency).
See Sec. 15-106 re policy or bond requirements.
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Sec. 15-88. Airport zoning. Definitions. As used in sections 15-88 to 15-97, inclusive, unless the context otherwise requires:
(a) “Airport” means any area of land or water designed for the landing and taking-off of aircraft and utilized or to be utilized by the public as a point of arrival or departure by air navigation.
(b) “Airport hazard” means any structure or tree which obstructs or may hereafter obstruct the aerial approaches of a publicly-owned airport.
(c) An airport is “publicly-owned” if the portion thereof used for the landing and taking-off of aircraft is owned or operated by a governmental body, political subdivision, public agency or other public corporation.
(d) “Structure” means any object constructed or installed by man, including such objects although regulated or licensed by other provisions of law.
(e) “Tree” means any object of natural growth.
(1953, S. 2413d.)
Cited. 185 C. 145.
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Sec. 15-89. Public interest. It is declared that an airport hazard endangers the lives and property of users of the airport and of occupants of land in its vicinity; and, if of the obstruction type, in effect reduces the size of the area available for the safe landing, taking-off and maneuvering of aircraft, thus destroying or tending to destroy or impair the utility of the airport and the public investment therein, and is therefore not in the interest of public health, public safety or general welfare.
(1953, S. 2414d.)
Cited. 185 C. 145.
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Sec. 15-90. Airport approach plan. The executive director of the Connecticut Airport Authority is directed to formulate and adopt, and from time to time as may be necessary revise, an airport approach plan for each publicly owned airport in the state. Each such plan shall indicate the circumstances in which structures or trees or both are or would be airport hazards, the area within which measures for the protection of the airport's aerial approaches should be taken and what the height limits and other objectives of such measures should be. In adopting or revising any such plan, the executive director shall consider, among other things, the character of the flying operations expected to be conducted at the airport, the nature of the terrain, the height of existing structures and trees above the level of the airport, the practicability of lowering or removing existing obstructions and all other material matters, and the executive director may obtain and consider the views of the agency of the federal government charged with the fostering of civil aeronautics as to the aerial approaches necessary to safe flying operations at the airport.
(1953, S. 2415d; 1969, P.A. 768, S. 189; P.A. 15-192, S. 44.)
History: 1969 act replaced “commission”, referring to aeronautics commission, with “commissioner”, referring to commissioner of transportation; P.A. 15-192 replaced references to commissioner with references to executive director of the Connecticut Airport Authority, effective July 2, 2015.
Cited. 185 C. 145.
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Sec. 15-91. Adoption of airport zoning regulations. (a) Every municipality having within its territorial limits an area within which, according to an airport approach plan adopted by the executive director, measures should be taken for the protection of airport approaches, shall adopt, administer and enforce, under the police power and in the manner and upon the conditions hereinafter prescribed, airport zoning regulations applicable to such area, which regulations shall divide the area into zones and, within such zones, specify the land uses permitted, and regulate and restrict the height to which structures and trees may be erected or allowed to grow, as may be necessary to effectuate the executive director's approach plan for the airport.
(b) If a municipality has adopted or adopts a general zoning ordinance regulating, among other things, the height of buildings, any airport zoning regulations adopted for the same area or portion thereof under this section may be incorporated in and made a part of such general zoning regulations and may be administered and enforced in connection therewith, but such general zoning regulations shall not limit the effectiveness or scope of the regulations adopted hereunder.
(c) Any zoning or other regulations applicable to any area within which, according to the airport approach plan adopted by the executive director, measures should be taken for the protection of airport approaches, including any airport zoning regulations adopted under this section and any zoning or other regulations dealing with the same or similar matters adopted under authority other than that conferred by this section, shall be consistent with, and conform to, the executive director's approach plan for such area, and shall be amended from time to time as may be necessary to conform to any revision of the plan that may be made by the executive director.
(d) All airport zoning regulations adopted hereunder shall be reasonable, and none shall require the removal, lowering or other change or alteration of any structure or tree not conforming to the regulations when adopted or amended, or otherwise interfere with the continuance of any nonconforming use, except as provided in subsection (a) of section 15-93.
(e) If any municipality fails to adopt airport zoning regulations within a reasonable time, the executive director may, for the protection of public safety, adopt and from time to time as may be necessary amend or repeal such regulations for such municipality until airport zoning regulations herein provided for are adopted by such municipality.
(1953, S. 2416d; 1969, P.A. 768, S. 190; P.A. 15-192, S. 45.)
History: 1969 act replaced “commission”, referring to aeronautics commission, with “commissioner”, referring to commissioner of transportation; P.A. 15-192 replaced “commissioner” and “commissioner's” with “executive director” and “executive director's”, respectively, effective July 2, 2015.
Cited. 185 C. 145.
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Sec. 15-92. Airport hazard outside municipality. Where an airport is owned or controlled by a municipality and any airport hazard area appertaining to such airport is located outside the territorial limits of such municipality, the municipality owning or controlling the airport and the municipality within which the airport hazard area is located may, by ordinance, create a joint airport zoning board, which board shall have the same power to adopt, administer and enforce airport zoning regulations applicable to the airport hazard area in question as that vested by section 15-91 in the municipality within which such area is located. Each such joint board shall have as members two representatives appointed by each municipality participating in its creation and in addition a chairman elected by a majority of the members so appointed.
(1953, S. 2417d; 1957, P.A. 13, S. 95.)
Cited. 185 C. 145.
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Sec. 15-93. Establishment or alteration of structures. (a) Permits. Where advisable to facilitate the enforcement of zoning regulations adopted pursuant to section 15-91, a system may be established for granting permits to establish or construct new structures and other uses. Before any nonconforming structure or tree may be replaced, substantially altered or repaired, rebuilt, allowed to grow higher or replanted, a permit shall be secured from the administrative agency authorized to administer and enforce the regulations, authorizing such replacement, change or repair. No permit shall be granted that would allow the structure or tree in question to be made higher or become a greater hazard to air navigation than it was when the applicable regulation was adopted; and whenever the administrative agency determines that a nonconforming structure or tree has been abandoned or more than eighty per cent torn down, destroyed, deteriorated or decayed: (1) No permit shall be granted that would allow such structure or tree to exceed the applicable height limit or otherwise deviate from the zoning regulations, but a permit shall be issued as of right if the structure as erected or altered is in conformance with the regulations or will not constitute a greater hazard than the structure that is replaced or altered; and (2) whether application is made for a permit under this section or not, such agency may by appropriate action compel the owner of the nonconforming structure or tree to lower, remove, reconstruct or equip such object as may be necessary to conform to the regulations. Except as indicated, all applications for permits for replacement, change or repair of nonconforming uses shall be granted.
(b) Variances. Any person desiring to erect any structure, or increase the height of any structure, or permit the growth of any tree, or otherwise use his property, in violation of airport zoning regulations adopted under section 15-91, may apply to the board of appeals, as provided herein, for a variance from the zoning regulations in question. Such variance shall be allowed where a literal application or enforcement of the regulations would result in practical difficulty or unnecessary hardship and the relief granted would not be contrary to the public interest but do substantial justice and be in accordance with the spirit of the regulations.
(c) Obstruction marking and lighting. In granting any permit or variance under this section the administrative agency or board of appeals may, if it deems such action advisable to effectuate the purposes of sections 15-88 to 15-97, inclusive, and reasonable in the circumstances, so condition such permit or variance as to require the owner of the structure or tree in question to permit the municipality, at its own expense, to install, operate and maintain suitable obstruction markers and obstruction lights thereon.
(1953, S. 2418d.)
Cited. 185 C. 145.
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Sec. 15-94. Regulations. Appeals. (a) Adoption of zoning regulations. No airport zoning regulations shall be adopted, amended or changed hereunder except by action of the legislative body in the municipality in question after a public hearing in relation thereto, at which parties in interest and citizens shall have an opportunity to be heard. At least fifteen days' notice of the hearing shall be published in an official paper, or a paper of general circulation, in the municipality.
(b) Administration of zoning regulations; administrative agency. The legislative body of any municipality adopting airport zoning regulations hereunder may delegate the duty of administering and enforcing such regulations to any administrative agency under its jurisdiction, but such administrative agency shall not include any member of the board of appeals. The duties of such administrative agency shall include hearing and ruling on the granting of all permits under subsection (a) of section 15-93, but such agency shall not have or exercise any of the powers delegated to the board of appeals.
(c) Board of appeals. Airport zoning regulations adopted hereunder shall provide for appointment of a board of appeals to have and exercise the following powers: (1) To hear and decide appeals from any order, requirement, decision or determination made by the administrative agency in the enforcement of sections 15-88 to 15-97, inclusive, or any ordinance adopted pursuant thereto; (2) to hear and decide special exceptions to the terms of the ordinance upon which such board may be required to pass under such ordinance; (3) to hear and decide specific variances under subsection (b) of section 15-93. Where a zoning board of appeals already exists, it may be appointed as the board of appeals. Otherwise, the board of appeals shall consist of five members, each to be appointed to serve for a term of three years unless removed for cause by the appointing authority upon written charges and after public hearing.
(d) Appeal by municipality. Any municipality aggrieved by any zoning ordinance or regulation under the terms of sections 15-88 to 15-97, inclusive, may appeal to the executive director without recourse to the board of appeals.
(1953, S. 2419d; 1969, P.A. 768, S. 191; P.A. 15-192, S. 46.)
History: 1969 act replaced “commission”, referring to aeronautics commission, with “commissioner”, referring to commissioner of transportation, in Subsec. (d); P.A. 15-192 amended Subsec. (d) to replace “commissioner” with “executive director”, effective July 2, 2015.
Cited. 185 C. 145.
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Sec. 15-95. Appeals from board of appeals. Any person aggrieved by the action of a board of appeals acting under the provisions of subsection (c) of section 15-94, or any municipality aggrieved by the action of the executive director, may appeal therefrom as provided in section 8-8.
(1953, S. 2420d; 1969, P.A. 768, S. 192; P.A. 15-192, S. 47.)
History: 1969 act replaced “commission”, referring to aeronautics commission, with “commissioner”, referring to commissioner of transportation; P.A. 15-192 replaced “commissioner” with “executive director”, effective July 2, 2015.
Cited. 185 C. 145.
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Sec. 15-96. Appeal to Public Utilities Regulatory Authority. If any corporation subject to regulation by the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority is aggrieved by the adoption of airport zoning regulations under section 15-91 or by refusal to grant a variance permit as provided in subsection (b) of section 15-93, such corporation, within thirty days after such adoption or refusal, may appeal to said authority, and if, after notice and hearing, said authority determines that the public safety, necessity and convenience will be best served by the amendment or annulment of such regulation, it may order such regulation to be amended or annulled, or may grant a variance permit as prescribed in said subsection (b).
(1953, S. 2421d; P.A. 75-486, S. 46, 69; P.A. 77-614, S. 162, 610; P.A. 80-482, S. 37, 348; P.A. 11-80, S. 1.)
History: P.A. 75-486 replaced public utilities commission with public utilities control authority; P.A. 77-614 replaced authority with division of public utility control within the department of business regulation, effective January 1, 1979; P.A. 80-482 made division of public utility control a department and deleted reference to abolished department of business regulation; pursuant to P.A. 11-80, “Department of Public Utility Control” was changed editorially by the Revisors to “Public Utilities Regulatory Authority”, effective July 1, 2011.
Cited. 185 C. 145.
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Sec. 15-97. Penalty. Any person who violates any provision of sections 15-88 to 15-96, inclusive, or any regulation, order, zoning ordinance or ruling promulgated or made pursuant thereto, shall (1) for a first offense, be fined not more than two hundred fifty dollars, and (2) for any subsequent offense, be guilty of a class D misdemeanor. Each day a violation continues to exist shall constitute a separate offense. In addition, either the municipality within which the property is located or the executive director may institute, in any court of competent jurisdiction, an action to prevent, restrain, correct or abate any violation thereof, or of airport zoning regulations adopted thereunder, or of any order or ruling made in connection with their administration or enforcement, and the court shall adjudge to the plaintiff such relief, by way of injunction, which may be mandatory, or otherwise, as may be proper under all the facts and circumstances of the case, in order fully to effectuate the purpose of said sections and of the regulations adopted and orders and rulings made pursuant thereto.
(1953, S. 2422d; 1969, P.A. 768, S. 193; P.A. 12-80, S. 145; P.A. 15-192, S. 48.)
History: 1969 act replaced “commission”, referring to aeronautics commission, with “commissioner”, referring to commissioner of transportation; P.A. 12-80 designated existing penalty provision as Subdiv. (1) and amended same to replace penalty of a fine of not more than $25 or imprisonment of not more than 60 days or both with a fine of not more than $250 as penalty for a first offense and added Subdiv. (2) making penalty for any subsequent offense a class D misdemeanor; P.A. 15-192 replaced “commissioner” with “executive director”, effective July 2, 2015.
Cited. 185 C. 145.
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Sec. 15-97a. Meteorological evaluation tower markings. Penalty. (a) For the purposes of this section, “meteorological evaluation tower” means a structure that (1) is self-standing or supported by guy wires or anchors, (2) is not more than six feet in diameter at the base, and (3) has accessory facilities on which an antenna, sensor, camera, meteorological instrument or other equipment is mounted for the purpose of documenting whether a site has sufficient wind resources for the operation of a wind turbine generator. “Meteorological evaluation tower” does not include (A) a structure that is located adjacent to a building, including a barn or an electric utility substation, or in the curtilage of a residence, (B) a tower regulated by the Federal Communications Commission, or (C) a tower used primarily to support telecommunications equipment or provide commercial mobile radio service or commercial mobile data service, as such terms are defined in 47 CFR 20.3, as amended from time to time.
(b) A meteorological evaluation tower that is at least fifty feet but not more than two hundred feet in height above ground level: (1) Shall be painted in equal alternating bands of aviation orange and white, beginning with aviation orange at the top of the tower; (2) shall have aviation orange marker balls installed and displayed in accordance with the standards contained in current federal regulations and Federal Aviation Administration advisory circulars; and (3) may not be supported by guy wires unless the guy wires have a seven-foot-long safety sleeve at each anchor point that extends from the anchor point along each guy wire attached to the anchor point.
(c) Any person who owns, operates or erects a meteorological evaluation tower in violation of any provision of subsection (b) of this section shall be subject to a civil penalty of (1) not more than five hundred dollars if such violation results in no physical injury, as defined in section 53a-3, to another person, (2) not more than one thousand dollars if such violation results in physical injury to another person, (3) not more than five thousand dollars if such violation results in serious physical injury, as defined in section 53a-2, to another person, and (4) not more than ten thousand dollars if such violation results in the death of another person.
(P.A. 21-175, S. 56.)
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Sec. 15-98. Connecticut Wing Civil Air Patrol. Clerical assistance. (a) The Connecticut Wing Civil Air Patrol shall be within the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection and may expend funds, within available appropriations, for the acquisition, installation, conditioning, rental and maintenance of equipment and facilities and for expenses incurred in connection with senior and cadet training; provided no funds shall be expended for the purpose of uniforms or personal effects, or for salaries of members of said civil air patrol, except as set forth in subsection (b) of this section.
(b) The wing commander of the Connecticut Wing Civil Air Patrol may employ clerical assistance at headquarters for such duties as may be required by the wing commander. The commander of the Connecticut Wing Civil Air Patrol may issue vouchers for all expenditures covered by this section, and the Comptroller shall convert such vouchers into warrants, and the Treasurer shall pay the same out of the General Fund.
(1955, S. 2435d, 2436d; 1967, P.A. 188; 487, S. 1, 2; P.A. 76-411, S. 1; May Sp. Sess. P.A. 92-12, S. 1, 10; P.A. 05-288, S. 64; P.A. 11-51, S. 134.)
History: 1967 acts deleted $3,200 limit on compensation for clerical assistance in Subsec. (b) and substituted “the general fund” for “said fund”; P.A. 76-411 designated former provisions as Subsec. (b) and inserted new Subsec. (a) re allowed expenditures; May Sp. Sess. P.A. 92-12 amended Subsec. (a) to require that Connecticut Wing Civil Air Patrol be within the department of public safety and to authorize expenditure of funds “within available appropriations” and Subsec. (b) to make technical changes for statutory consistency; P.A. 05-288 made a technical change in Subsec. (a), effective July 13, 2005; pursuant to P.A. 11-51, “Department of Public Safety” was changed editorially by the Revisors to “Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection”, effective July 1, 2011.
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Sec. 15-99. Crop dusting by aircraft. Section 15-99 is repealed.
(1949 Rev., S. 4835; 1951, S. 2141d; 1957, P.A. 120, S. 1; 1963, P.A. 527, S. 12.)
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Sec. 15-100. Penalty. Any person who violates any provision of this chapter or any of the regulations or orders issued pursuant thereto for which no penalty is specifically provided shall be guilty of a class C misdemeanor.
(1949 Rev., S. 4816; P.A. 12-80, S. 111.)
History: P.A. 12-80 replaced penalty of a fine of not more than $100 or imprisonment of not more than 60 days or both with a class C misdemeanor.
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Sec. 15-101. Transferred to Chapter 266a, Sec. 15-101p.
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Sec. 15-101a. Charges for copies of records. There shall be charged for a copy of any record under this chapter or chapter 267, one dollar per page or fraction thereof for the first copy and fifty cents per page or fraction thereof for each additional copy, and for the certificate of any copy of record, one dollar.
(1972, P.A. 207, S. 10.)
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Secs. 15-101b to 15-101j. Reserved for future use.
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