Sec. 1. As used in this chapter, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

     (a) “Aircraft” means a device which is designed to provide air transportation for one (1) or more individuals or for cargo.

     (b) “State” means the state of Indiana.

     (c) “Department” refers to the department of state revenue.

     (d) “Person” includes an individual, a partnership, a firm, a corporation, a limited liability company, an association, a trust, or an estate, or a legal representative of such.

     (e) “Owner” means a person who holds or is required to obtain a certificate of registration from the Federal Aviation Administration for a specific aircraft. In the event an aircraft is the subject of an agreement for the conditional sale or lease with the right of purchase upon the performance of the conditions stated in the agreement and with an immediate right of possession of the aircraft vested in the conditional vendee or lessee, or in the event the mortgagor of an aircraft is entitled to possession, then the conditional vendee or lessee or mortgagor shall be deemed to be the owner for purposes of this chapter.

     (f) “Dealer” means a person who has an established place of business in this state, is required to obtain a certificate under IC 6-2.5-8-1 or IC 6-2.5-8-3 (before its repeal), and is engaged in the business of manufacturing, buying, selling, or exchanging new or used aircraft.

     (g) “Maximum landing weight” means the maximum weight of the aircraft, accessories, fuel, pilot, passengers, and cargo that is permitted on landing under the best conditions, as determined for an aircraft by the appropriate federal agency or the certified allowable gross weight published by the manufacturer of the aircraft.

     (h) “Resident” means an individual or a fiduciary who resides or is domiciled within Indiana or any corporation or business association which maintains a fixed and established place of business within Indiana for a period of more than sixty (60) days in any one (1) year.

     (i) “Taxable aircraft” means an aircraft required to be registered with the department by this chapter.

     (j) “Regular annual registration date” means the last day of December of each year.

     (k) “Taxing district” means a geographic area within which property is taxed by the same taxing units and at the same total rate.

     (l) “Taxing unit” means an entity which has the power to impose ad valorem property taxes.

     (m) “Base” means the location or place where the aircraft is normally hangared, tied down, housed, parked, or kept, when not in use.

     (n) “Homebuilt aircraft” means an aircraft constructed primarily by an individual for personal use. The term homebuilt aircraft does not include an aircraft constructed primarily by a for-profit aircraft manufacturing business.

     (o) “Pressurized aircraft” means an aircraft equipped with a system designed to control the atmospheric pressure in the crew or passenger cabins.

     (p) “Establishing a base” means renting or leasing a hangar or tie down for a particular aircraft for at least thirty-one (31) days.

     (q) “Inventory aircraft” means an aircraft held for resale by a registered Indiana dealer.

     (r) “Repair station” means a person who holds a repair station certificate that was issued to the person by the Federal Aviation Administration under 14 C.F.R. part 145.

Formerly: Acts 1975, P.L.68, SEC.1. As amended by Acts 1977, P.L.87, SEC.1; Acts 1980, P.L.74, SEC.18; P.L.93-1983, SEC.1; P.L.18-1990, SEC.24; P.L.8-1993, SEC.100; P.L.18-1994, SEC.38; P.L.65-1997, SEC.4; P.L.97-1998, SEC.1; P.L.24-2007, SEC.2; P.L.245-2015, SEC.22; P.L.194-2023, SEC.28.