(1) the airport manager of a public-use airport; or

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determines that an abandoned aircraft or a derelict aircraft is located on the premises of the public-use airport or of the fixed-base operator, as applicable, the airport manager (or the airport manager’s designee) or the general manager (or the general manager’s designee) may dispose of the abandoned aircraft or the derelict aircraft in the manner provided in this chapter.

     (b) If a determination described in subsection (a) is made that an abandoned aircraft or a derelict aircraft is located on the premises of a public-use airport or of a fixed-base operator, and the airport manager or the general manager making the determination seeks to dispose of the abandoned aircraft or the derelict aircraft under this chapter, the airport manager (or the airport manager’s designee) or the general manager (or the general manager’s designee) must do the following:

(1) Determine, by contacting the Aircraft Registration Branch of the Federal Aviation Administration, the name and address of:

(A) the last registered owner of the aircraft; and

(B) any other person that has a legal or equitable interest in the aircraft.

(2) Subject to subsection (c), deliver to the aircraft owner and any other person having a legal or equitable interest in the aircraft a written notice stating that the aircraft:

(A) has been determined to be abandoned or derelict; and

(B) is subject to:

(i) disposal and removal from the premises of the public-use airport or of the fixed-base operator;

(ii) the recovery, by the owner or operator of the public-use airport or by the fixed-base operator, of any accrued and unpaid fees or charges incurred with respect to the aircraft while located on the premises of the public-use airport or of the fixed-base operator; and

(iii) the foreclosure of a lien with respect to any fees and charges described in item (ii).

     (c) The following requirements apply to the notice required under subsection (b)(2):

(1) The notice must include the following:

(A) A description of the aircraft by Federal Aviation Administration N-Number, manufacturer name, model designation, and serial number.

(B) The facts supporting the determination that the aircraft is abandoned or derelict and is subject to disposal and removal from the premises of the public-use airport or of the fixed-base operator.

(C) The amount of any accrued and unpaid fees or charges:

(i) incurred with respect to the aircraft while located on the premises of the public-use airport or of the fixed-base operator; and

(ii) for which a lien is being asserted.

(D) A statement that upon receipt of the notice, the aircraft owner has thirty (30) days to:

(i) remove the aircraft from the premises of the public-use airport or of the fixed-base operator; and

(ii) pay any accrued and unpaid fees or charges identified under clause (C).

(E) A statement that the public-use airport’s owner or operator, or the fixed-base operator, as applicable, may:

(i) assert a lien for any accrued and unpaid fees or charges identified under clause (C) that are not paid within the thirty (30) day period described in clause (D);

(ii) remove and dispose of the aircraft from the premises of the public-use airport or of the fixed-base operator if the aircraft is not removed from the premises within the thirty (30) day period described in clause (D); and

(iii) sell the aircraft at a public auction or bid on the aircraft if it is made available for disposal by means of a public auction.

(F) A statement that the public-use airport’s owner or operator, or the fixed-base operator, as applicable, may scrap the aircraft if no bids are received for the aircraft during a public auction of the aircraft.

(G) The hand signature of an authorized signatory for:

(i) the owner or operator of the public-use airport; or

(ii) the fixed-base operator;

as applicable, located immediately above the title of the signatory.

(2) Not later than thirty (30) days after the determination is made that the aircraft is abandoned or derelict, the notice must:

(A) be delivered to the aircraft owner and any other person having a legal or equitable interest in the aircraft by:

(i) certified mail, return receipt requested, and by first class United States mail, postage prepaid;

(ii) a nationally recognized overnight courier service; or

(iii) personal delivery; and

(B) be filed with the Aircraft Registration Branch of the Federal Aviation Administration.

(3) If the registered owner of an aircraft cannot be found or served, notice by publication may be used in lieu of personal service, courier service, or certified mail.

As added by P.L.172-2019, SEC.2.