Except as otherwise provided in this act, on August 15, 1975, all of the powers, duties and functions of the secretary of economic development relating to aviation are hereby transferred to and conferred and imposed upon the secretary of transportation, and except as otherwise provided in this act, the secretary of transportation shall be the successor in every way to such powers, duties and functions of the secretary of economic development in which the same were vested prior to August 15, 1975. Every act performed in the exercise of such powers, duties and functions under the authority of the secretary of transportation shall be deemed to have the same force and effect as if performed by the secretary of economic development prior to August 15, 1975.