A. The aviation division of the transportation department [department of transportation] may issue a salvage permit for the salvaging and removal of any crashed aircraft which it finds to be abandoned. The permit shall be issued pursuant to rules and regulations promulgated by the aviation division; provided that:

Ask a legal question, get an answer ASAP!
Click here to chat with a lawyer about your rights.

(1)     no permit shall be issued if the owner or the lessee of the land on which the crashed aircraft is located has already removed the aircraft or is currently and actively engaged in such removal;

(2)     no permit shall be issued until thirty days after notice has been given to the owner of the aircraft and the owner or the lessee of the land on which the aircraft is located and if either requests a hearing within thirty days after such notification, then no permit shall be issued until a hearing has been held by the aviation division, at which all parties shall have a full and adequate opportunity to be heard, a finding of fact made and a determination that such permit should be issued or denied;

(3)     no permit shall be issued until a bond is filed with the division, in the name of the owner or the lessee of the land on which the crashed aircraft is located, in an amount and on a form approved by the aviation division, issued by a corporate surety company licensed to do business in New Mexico and conditioned upon the salvaging and removing of the crashed aircraft without damage to property, unless the necessity of the bond is waived, in writing, by the owner or lessee of the land; and

(4)     no permit shall be issued to a holder of a prior terminated salvage permit for the same crashed aircraft.

B. The holder of a valid permit has title to the crashed aircraft specified therein free from all claims of the owner, of any holders of a prior terminated permit, of the owner or lessee of the land on which the aircraft is located and of all persons claiming through or under them.