In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated. “Commercial use airport” means any publicly or privately owned airport at which: Landing or tie down fees are charged; Aviation fuel or oil is sold; Space is rented; Goods or services are sold; or Any other activity is carried on for remuneration. “Public use airport” means any publicly or privately owned airport that is open to flight operations by the public.

This subtitle does not apply to any airport owned or operated by the United States. To the extent necessary and in accordance with any reasonable classification, the Administration from time to time shall exempt any other class of airports from any requirement of a rule or regulation adopted under this subtitle, if the application of the requirement would be an undue burden on the class and is not required in the interest of public safety.

The Administration may adopt rules and regulations providing for the approval of airport sites and the issuance of certificates of approval. If the Administration provides for the approval of airport sites, any political subdivision or other person desiring or planning to construct or establish an airport may apply to the Administration for approval of the site before its acquisition or before construction or establishment of the proposed airport. On receipt of an application under this section, the Administration shall issue a certificate of approval, with reasonable promptness and without charge, if it is satisfied that: The site is adequate for the proposed airport; The proposed airport will meet minimum standards of safety, which may not be more stringent than those standards, if any, recommended by the Federal Aviation Administration for similar airports; Safe air traffic patterns can be worked out for the proposed airport and for all existing airports and approved airport sites in its vicinity; and The intended operator of the proposed airport has complied with the requirements of this title on environmental noise control. The Administration may approve a site subject to any reasonable condition that it considers necessary to fulfill any purpose of this subtitle. Unless sooner revoked by the Administration, the approval remains in effect until a license or registration for an airport on the approved site is issued under this subtitle. After notice to the holder of a certificate of approval and opportunity for hearing, the Administration may revoke an approval if it reasonably determines that: The site has been abandoned as an airport site; There has been a failure within the time required or, if no time has been required, within a reasonable time, to develop the site as an airport or to comply with the conditions of the approval; Because of a change of physical or legal conditions or circumstances, the site is no longer usable for the purposes for which the approval was granted; or The intended operator of the proposed airport has failed to comply with the requirements of this title on environmental noise control.

The Administration may adopt rules and regulations providing for: The licensing of commercial use airports and public use airports; and The annual renewal of airport licenses. For an airport license, the Administration may charge a license fee of not more than: $25 for each original license; and $10 for each renewal. If the Administration provides for the licensing of these airports, a person may not operate a commercial use airport or a public use airport unless the person has an airport license as required by the rules and regulations of the Administration. On receipt of an application for an original license under this section and payment of the required fee, the Administration shall issue the appropriate license, with reasonable promptness, if it is satisfied that: The site is adequate for the airport; The airport meets minimum standards of safety, which may not be more stringent than those standards, if any, recommended by the Federal Aviation Administration for similar airports; Safe air traffic patterns have been worked out for the airport and for all existing airports and approved airport sites in its vicinity; and The airport operator has complied with the requirements of this title on environmental noise control. The Administration may issue an airport license or renewal subject to any reasonable condition that it considers necessary to fulfill any purpose of this subtitle. Before renewal of an airport license and at any other reasonable time, the Administration may require that the airport operator provide the Administration with a list, by serial number and description, of all aircraft, based at the airport for which renewal is sought and the names and addresses of their owners. The Administration may suspend an airport license pending a hearing if it reasonably determines that: A condition exists that endangers the lives or property of persons using the airport or that endangers the occupants of the land near the airport; and It is in the interest of public safety and the general welfare to stop use of the airport. After notice to the licensee and opportunity for hearing, the Administration may revoke or refuse to renew an airport license if it reasonably determines that: The site has been abandoned as an airport; There has been a failure to comply with the conditions of the license or renewal; Because of a change of physical or legal conditions or circumstances, the airport has become unsafe or unusable for the purposes for which the license or renewal was issued; or The airport operator has failed to comply with the requirements of this title on environmental noise control.

In connection with an application for approval of a proposed airport site or for an airport license, the Administration on its own motion may, and on request shall, hold a public hearing as provided in § 5-210 of this title. If the Administration holds a hearing before issuance or renewal of a commercial use airport license, the license applicant shall pay all of the reasonable costs of the hearing up to $100.

The Administration may adopt rules and regulations providing for the registration of airports not required to be licensed under this subtitle. Registration under this section shall be without charge unless the airport is used to base aircraft that do not belong to the registrant, in which event the Administration may charge a registration fee of not more than: $10 for each original registration; and $5 for each renewal. On payment of the required fee, the Administration shall issue a registration certificate subject to any reasonable condition that it considers necessary to fulfill any purpose of this subtitle. Each registration certificate is renewable annually on payment of the required fee.