As used in the Oklahoma Aeronautics Commission Act, unless the context otherwise requires:

(a) "Aeronautics" means the science, art, and practice of flight including, but not limited to, transportation by aircraft and matters relating to air commerce; the operation, construction, repair, or maintenance of aircraft, aircraft power plants and accessories, including the repair, packing, and maintenance of parachutes; the design, establishment, construction, extension, operation, improvement, repair, or maintenance of airports, restricted landing areas, or other air navigation facilities; and instruction in flying or ground subjects pertaining thereto.

(b) "Aircraft" means any contrivance now known, or hereafter invented, used, or designed for navigation of or flight in the air or airspace.

(c) "Airport" means an area of land or water that is used, or intended to be used, for the landing and takeoff of aircraft, and buildings and facilities, if any.

(d) "Airspace" means that portion of the atmosphere overlying a designated geographical area considered as subject to territorial jurisdiction or international law in respect to its use by aircraft, guided missiles, and rockets.

(e) "Commission" means the Oklahoma Aeronautics Commission.

(f) "Director" means the Director of Aeronautics of Oklahoma.

(g) "State" or "this state" means the State of Oklahoma.

(h) "Air navigation facility" means any facility used in, available for use in, or designed for use in, aid of air navigation, including landing areas, any structures, mechanisms, lights, beacons, markers, 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, and any combination of any or all of such facilities.

(i) "Operation of aircraft" or "operate aircraft" means the use, navigation, or piloting of aircraft in the airspace over this state or upon any airport within this state.

(j) "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 any individual who is directly in charge of the inspection, maintenance, overhauling, or repair of aircraft, aircraft engines, propellers, and appliances.

(k) "Person" means any individual, firm, partnership, corporation, company, association, joint stock association, or body politic; and includes any trustee, receiver, assignee, or other similar representative thereof.

(l) "Municipality" means any incorporated city, village, or town of this state and any county or political subdivision or district in this state, or any public trust thereof, which is, or may be, authorized by law to acquire, establish, construct, maintain, improve, and operate airports, airstrips, and aeronautical navigation facilities.

(m) "Aeronautical hazard" means any structure, object of natural growth, or use of land, which obstructs the airspace required for the flight of aircraft in landing or taking off at an airport that is otherwise hazardous to the operation and navigation of aircraft.

(n) "Resources" means services, facilities, funds, equipment, property, personnel, and such other activities as are customarily included within the term.

(o) "Helipad" means a small, designated area, usually with a prepared surface, on a heliport, airport, landing or takeoff area, apron or ramp, or movement area used for takeoff, landing or parking of helicopters.

(p) "Heliport" means an area of land, water or structure used or intended to be used for the landing and takeoff of helicopters and includes its buildings and facilities, if any.

(q) "Commercial service airport" means an airport meeting the current Federal Aviation Administration definition for commercial service airport.

(r) "Primary commercial service airport" means an airport meeting the current Federal Aviation Administration definition for primary commercial service airport.

(s) "Reliever airport" means an airport designated by the Federal Aviation Administration as a reliever airport and which provides substantial capacity or instrument training relief to a primary commercial service airport.

(t) "General aviation airport" means an airport not meeting the criteria for definition as a commercial service or reliever airport.

Added by Laws 1963, c. 354, § 2, emerg. eff. June 22, 1963. Amended by Laws 1995, c. 181, § 2, eff. July 1, 1995; Laws 1996, c. 344, § 1, eff. July 1, 1996.