§ 5.1-1. Definitions
When used in this title, unless expressly stated otherwise:
"Board" means the Virginia Aviation Board.
"Person" means any individual, corporation, government, political subdivision of the Commonwealth, or governmental subdivision or agency, business trust, estate, trust, partnership, two or more of any of the foregoing having a joint or common interest, or any other legal or commercial entity.
"Aircraft" means any contrivance now known, or hereafter invented, used or designed for navigation of or flight in the air, including a balloon or other contrivance designed for maneuvering in airspace at an altitude greater than twenty-four inches above ground or water level except that any contrivance now or hereafter invented of fixed or flexible wing design, operating without the assistance of any motor, engine, or other mechanical propulsive device, which is designed to utilize the feet and legs of the operator or operators as the sole means of initiating and sustaining forward motion during the launch and of providing the point of contact with the ground upon landing, and commonly called a "hang glider" shall not be included within this definition.
"Public aircraft" means an aircraft used exclusively in the service of any state, or political subdivision thereof, or the federal government.
"Civil aircraft" means any aircraft other than a public aircraft.
"Airman" means any individual, including the person in command, and any pilot, mechanic, or member of the crew, who engages in the navigation of aircraft while under way within Virginia airspace, and any individual who is directly in charge of the inspection, maintenance, overhauling or repair of aircraft, aircraft engines, propellers or accessories; and any individual who serves in the capacity of aircraft dispatcher.
"Airport" means any area of land or water which is used, or intended for public use, for the landing and takeoff of aircraft, and any appurtenant areas which are used, or intended for use, for airport buildings or other airport facilities or rights-of-way, easements and together with all airport buildings and facilities located thereon.
"Landing area" or "landing field" means any locality, whether over land or water, including airports and intermediate landing fields, which is used or intended to be used for the landing and takeoff of aircraft, and open to the public for such use, whether or not facilities are provided for the sheltering, servicing or repair of aircraft, or for receiving or discharging passengers or cargo.
"Airspace" means all that space above the land and waters within the boundary of this Commonwealth.
"Drop zone" means any locality whether over land or water which is used, or intended for use, for the landing and recovery of sky divers, or parachutists using a parachute or other contrivance designed for sport jumping.
"Department" means the Department of Aviation.
"Commercial aircraft" means any civil aircraft used in flight activity for compensation or for hire.
"Contract carrier by aircraft" or "contract carrier" means any person, not included under § 5.1-89 (c) or (d), who, under special and individual contracts or agreements, and whether directly or by a lease or any other arrangement, transports passengers or property by aircraft for compensation and in the transportation of passengers does not charge individual fares.
"Air navigation facility" means any airport ground or air navigation facility, other than one owned and operated by the United States, used in, available for use in, or designed for use in aid of air navigation, including any structures, buildings, mechanisms, lights, beacons, markers, communicating systems, or other instrumentalities, or devices, and any combination of any or all of such facilities, used or useful as an aid, or constituting any advantage or convenience, to the safe taking off, navigation, and landing of aircraft, in the safe and efficient operation or maintenance of an airport, in the safe, efficient and convenient handling or processing of aviation passengers, mail or cargo, or in the servicing or maintenance of aircraft or ground equipment.
"Airport hazard" shall mean any structure, object or natural growth, or use of land which obstructs the airspace required for the flight of aircraft in landing or taking off at an airport or is otherwise hazardous to such landing or taking off of aircraft.
(Code 1950, § 5-1; 1966, c. 576; 1970, c. 717; 1975, c. 561; 1979, c. 272; 1980, c. 721; 1988, c. 588.)
Sections: 5.1-1 5.1-1.1 5.1-1.2 5.1-1.3 5.1-1.4 5.1-1.5 5.1-1.6 5.1-1.7 5.1-2 5.1-2.1 5.1-2.2 5.1-2.2:1 5.1-2.3 5.1-2.4 5.1-2.5 NextLast modified: April 16, 2009