Definitions

• Currency: Current through P.L. 118-13 (published on www.congress.gov on 08/07/2023)

(a) GENERAL DEFINITIONS.-In this part-

(1) "aeronautics" means the science and art of flight.

(2) "air carrier" means a citizen of the United States undertaking by any means, directly or indirectly, to provide air transportation.

(3) "air commerce" means foreign air commerce, interstate air commerce, the transportation of mail by aircraft, the operation of aircraft within the limits of a Federal airway, or the operation of aircraft that directly affects, or may endanger safety in, foreign or interstate air commerce.

(4) "air navigation facility" means a facility used, available for use, or designed for use, in aid of air navigation, including-

(A) a landing area;

(B) runway lighting and airport surface visual and other navigation aids;

(C) apparatus, equipment, software, or service for distributing aeronautical and meteorological information to air traffic control facilities or aircraft;

(D) communication, navigation, or surveillance equipment for air-to-ground or air-to-air applications;

(E) any structure, equipment, or mechanism for guiding or controlling flight in the air or the landing and takeoff of aircraft; and

(F) buildings, equipment, and systems dedicated to the national airspace system.

(5) "air transportation" means foreign air transportation, interstate air transportation, or the transportation of mail by aircraft.

(6) "aircraft" means any contrivance invented, used, or designed to navigate, or fly in, the air.

(7) "aircraft engine" means an engine used, or intended to be used, to propel an aircraft, including a part, appurtenance, and accessory of the engine, except a propeller.

(8) "airman" means an individual-

(A) in command, or as pilot, mechanic, or member of the crew, who navigates aircraft when under way;

(B) except to the extent the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration may provide otherwise for individuals employed outside the United States, who is directly in charge of inspecting, maintaining, overhauling, or repairing aircraft, aircraft engines, propellers, or appliances; or

(C) who serves as an aircraft dispatcher or air traffic control-tower operator.

(9) "airport" means a landing area used regularly by aircraft for receiving or discharging passengers or cargo.

(10) "all-cargo air transportation" means the transportation by aircraft in interstate air transportation of only property or only mail, or both.

(11) "appliance" means an instrument, equipment, apparatus, a part, an appurtenance, or an accessory used, capable of being used, or intended to be used, in operating or controlling aircraft in flight, including a parachute, communication equipment, and another mechanism installed in or attached to aircraft during flight, and not a part of an aircraft, aircraft engine, or propeller.

(12) "cargo" means property, mail, or both.

(13) "charter air carrier" means an air carrier holding a certificate of public convenience and necessity that authorizes it to provide charter air transportation.

(14) "charter air transportation" means charter trips in air transportation authorized under this part.

(15) "citizen of the United States" means-

(A) an individual who is a citizen of the United States;

(B) a partnership each of whose partners is an individual who is a citizen of the United States; or

(C) a corporation or association organized under the laws of the United States or a State, the District of Columbia, or a territory or possession of the United States, of which the president and at least two-thirds of the board of directors and other managing officers are citizens of the United States, which is under the actual control of citizens of the United States, and in which at least 75 percent of the voting interest is owned or controlled by persons that are citizens of the United States.

(16) "civil aircraft" means an aircraft except a public aircraft.

(17) "civil aircraft of the United States" means an aircraft registered under chapter 441 of this title.

(18) "conditional sales contract" means a contract-

(A) for the sale of an aircraft, aircraft engine, propeller, appliance, or spare part, under which the buyer takes possession of the property but title to the property vests in the buyer at a later time on-

(i) paying any part of the purchase price;

(ii) performing another condition; or

(iii) the happening of a contingency; or

(B) to bail or lease an aircraft, aircraft engine, propeller, appliance, or spare part, under which the bailee or lessee-

(i) agrees to pay an amount substantially equal to the value of the property; and

(ii) is to become, or has the option of becoming, the owner of the property on complying with the contract.

(19) "conveyance" means an instrument, including a conditional sales contract, affecting title to, or an interest in, property.

(20) "Federal airway" means a part of the navigable airspace that the Administrator designates as a Federal airway.

(21) "foreign air carrier" means a person, not a citizen of the United States, undertaking by any means, directly or indirectly, to provide foreign air transportation.

(22) "foreign air commerce" means the transportation of passengers or property by aircraft for compensation, the transportation of mail by aircraft, or the operation of aircraft in furthering a business or vocation, between a place in the United States and a place outside the United States when any part of the transportation or operation is by aircraft.

(23) "foreign air transportation" means the transportation of passengers or property by aircraft as a common carrier for compensation, or the transportation of mail by aircraft, between a place in the United States and a place outside the United States when any part of the transportation is by aircraft.

(24) "interstate air commerce" means the transportation of passengers or property by aircraft for compensation, the transportation of mail by aircraft, or the operation of aircraft in furthering a business or vocation-

(A) between a place in-

(i) a State, territory, or possession of the United States and a place in the District of Columbia or another State, territory, or possession of the United States;

(ii) a State and another place in the same State through the airspace over a place outside the State;

(iii) the District of Columbia and another place in the District of Columbia; or

(iv) a territory or possession of the United States and another place in the same territory or possession; and