Section 84.46 Commissioner of Transportation; Aircraft Checking Stations
84.46 COMMISSIONER OF TRANSPORTATION; AIRCRAFT CHECKING STATIONS.
Subdivision 1.Establishment of checking stations.
The commissioner of transportation shall as soon as practicable after the passage of Laws 1949, chapter 630, to designate as aircraft checking stations at least three airports having suitable facilities for the landing of aircraft equipped for flying and landing in wilderness areas. Such checking stations shall be located so as to cover the commonly used approaches to such wilderness areas by air from all sides, as far as practicable, and each such station shall be within 100 miles of the nearest point on the boundary of such wilderness areas. The designation of such checking stations shall be made by rules adopted as provided by and subject to the laws relating to rules of the commissioner of transportation, and may be modified or rescinded in like manner from time to time as may be necessary for the purposes of sections 84.43 to 84.52. The commissioner of natural resources shall appoint attendants for such checking stations and shall prescribe their powers and duties, subject to the provisions hereof. Officers or employees of other state departments or governmental subdivisions of the state may be appointed as such attendants with the approval of their appointing authorities.
Subd. 2.Report required.
The provisions of this subdivision shall apply to all aircraft and pilots thereof except as otherwise provided herein. From and after the designation of not less than three checking stations as hereinbefore provided, no such aircraft pilot shall fly an aircraft into or over any wilderness area at a height less than 2,000 feet from the ground, except as may be necessary for safety, without first landing at a checking station designated hereunder and making a written report to the attendant, on a form prescribed by the commissioner of natural resources, containing the following information: type and federal registration number of the aircraft; name, address, and license number of the pilot; names and addresses of the passengers; purpose of flight; proposed line of flight and destination within the wilderness areas; proposed period of stay therein, and proposed checking station for reporting on departure therefrom. The attendant shall deliver to the pilot a countersigned copy of the report, which the pilot shall retain in possession at all times while in the wilderness areas on the trip covered thereby. During the period of such trip as stated in the report, the aircraft shall not be operated, landed, or kept at any place within the wilderness areas except as specified in the report, and shall not remain within such areas after the expiration of such period. Upon leaving such areas at any time after entering the same, the pilot, before landing the aircraft at any other place, shall immediately proceed to and land at the checking station designated for checking out in the pilot's report, and shall check out by submitting a copy of the report to the attendant, who shall endorse the same to show such checking-out and return the same to the pilot; provided, that if by reason of weather conditions or otherwise it is impracticable for the pilot to check out at the station designated in the report, the pilot may check out at any other checking station established hereunder, submitting a written statement of reasons therefor. All records made hereunder shall be kept on file at the checking stations, and shall be subject to inspection by the commissioner of transportation, the commissioner of natural resources, or their authorized agents, and by any conservation officer or other law enforcement officer.
Subd. 3.Exemption.
The provisions of sections 84.43 to 84.52 shall not apply to the use of aircraft by any officer or agency of the state or of the United States for any authorized public purpose.
Subd. 4.Emergency operation permitted.
The provisions of sections 84.43 to 84.52 shall not prohibit or prevent the operation or landing of any aircraft within any such area so far as may be necessary to save life or property or prevent substantial injury thereto in an emergency.
History:
1949 c 630 s 4; 1967 c 905 s 9; 1969 c 1129 art 10 s 2; 1976 c 166 s 7; 1985 c 248 s 70; 1986 c 444