Chapter 04. Operation of Aircraft Engaged in the Public Transportation of Persons or Property for Hire

The laws of Maryland require that the service and facilities furnished in the public transportation of passengers or property for hire within the State shall be safe and adequate and in all respects just and reasonable. There are set forth here those regulations to which the service and facilities pertaining to the operation of aircraft in common carrier service, under permits issued by the Public Service Commission, shall conform until further order of the Commission.

The formulation of these regulations does not preclude the Commission from altering or amending them in whole or in part, or from requiring any other or additional service, equipment, facility, or standard, and these regulations do not relieve an owner or operator of aircraft from any of his duties under any orders of the Public Service Commission which are not in conflict with these regulations, or under the laws of this State.

An aircraft may not be operated in common carrier intrastate service in this State until a permit for it has been obtained from the Commission. The permits may be issued by the Commission at any time during the year, and for such length of time as the Commission may deem best for the public convenience and necessity. Unless a date of expiration is shown on it, a permit will continue in effect until revoked or cancelled by the Commission. Permits may not be transferable, except by order of the Commission. All permits will be subject to the limitation that the operations authorized by them shall be started within 30 days from the date of the permit.

The owner of an aircraft to which these regulations are applicable, who causes or permits, or allows to be caused or permitted, the violation of any of these regulations or the operation of the aircraft contrary to the requirements of these regulations, shall himself be deemed guilty of a violation of them as though he were operating the aircraft personally at the time. In the case of a corporation, the officer, agent, or employee of the corporation who violates or procures, aids or abets any violation of these regulations or permits the operation of an aircraft contrary to the requirements of them, shall be deemed personally guilty of a violation.

The penalties for the violation of any of these regulations are prescribed by Public Utilities Article, §13-101(c), Annotated Code of Maryland.

All aircraft and airmen employed in common carrier service operated under permits from this Commission shall be certificated by the Federal Aviation Administration and registered with the State Aviation Administration of Maryland.

The holder of a permit will be entitled, under the permit, to operate only over the route described on the permit, using only the particular aircraft and landing fields which are designated in the permit.

The schedules as filed shall be maintained as closely as due consideration of safety will permit and a change may not be made in a schedule without due notice to the Commission and to the public.

All tariffs and time schedules shall be filed with the Commission and posted in convenient form for the information of the public and shall be kept current. A change in rates may not be made on less than 30 days' notice except by special permission of the Commission.

The Commission shall be notified promptly of any interruption of service, together with the reason for the interruption. The operators shall keep a continuing record of all interruptions which shall show the date, duration, and cause, and shall submit reports as directed by the Commission.

The safety of passengers shall be given first consideration. Evidence of reckless or unsafe operation will be cause for revocation of permit.

The operator shall keep informed of the official weather forecasts and be alert to protect the service against unfavorable weather.

Accidents shall be reported promptly to the Commission on such forms as the Commission may prescribe and the carrier shall keep a record of all accidents which shall be in such detail as to disclose all conditions which may be useful in guarding against repetitions.

There shall be carried on each aircraft at all times, a conveniently accessible first-aid kit adequate for proper first-aid treatment of passengers and crew.