Relating to airport registration and site approval by the department of transportation

The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly. Under current law, the department of transportation (DOT) is required to promulgate rules regarding the issuance and renewal of certificates of registration to airports which are open for public use. The rules must require that an airport applying for a certificate of registration or for a renewal must comply with minimum standards of safety as promulgated by the DOT, adopt safe air traffic patterns, and demonstrate that such air traffic patterns are safely coordinated with those of all existing airports and approved airport sites in its vicinity. This bill strikes the requirement that the DOT’s rules ensure the airport adopts safe air traffic patterns and demonstrates that such air traffic patterns are safely coordinated, as those matters are currently handled by the federal aviation administration. The bill also strikes the following: the requirement that the DOT promulgate rules governing the issuance of certificates of airport site approval, which under current law provide that any person or governmental subdivision desiring or planning to construct or establish an airport must obtain a certificate of site approval prior to acquiring the site or prior to the construction or establishment of the airport; the requirement that the DOT charge a reasonable site safety inspection fee for the issuance of a certificate of site approval; the requirement that the DOT investigate whether the site is adequate for the proposed airport, whether such proposed airport will conform to minimum standards of safety, and whether safe air traffic patterns are established for the proposed airport and safely coordinated; provisions governing when a certificate of site approval remains in effect; a prohibition against requiring a certificate of site approval for an existing airport; and an authorization for the DOT to hold a related hearing. The bill makes miscellaneous organizational and language changes to enhance readability and conform to current style.