The commissioner shall administer the laws relating to aeronautics and adopt and administer such rules concerning aeronautical activities not inconsistent with federal regulations covering aeronautics as may be necessary to promote public safety and the best interests of aviation in the State. The commissioner shall advance the interest of aeronautics within the State by studying aviation needs, assisting and advising authorized representatives of political subdivisions within the State in the development of aeronautics and by cooperating and coordinating with such other agencies whether local, state, regional or federal, as may be working toward the development of aeronautics within the State. [PL 1999, c. 131, §6 (AMD).]

The commissioner shall supervise and control all state airports and shall adopt and administer such rules concerning the use of the airports as considered necessary. The commissioner may lease facilities at state-owned airports on such terms as the commissioner may direct. Rules adopted pursuant to this section are routine technical rules pursuant to Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter II?A. [PL 1999, c. 131, §6 (AMD).]

The commissioner has the care and supervision of such aircraft as may be owned by the State for the use of its departments and agencies and shall provide adequate hangar facilities and be responsible for the maintenance, repair, upkeep and operation of that aircraft. The commissioner shall charge these departments and agencies requisitioning aircraft amounts sufficient to reimburse the department of the full operating cost of these aircraft. All fees collected must be credited to the General Fund. Aircraft owned by the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, the Department of Marine Resources, the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry and the Department of Public Safety are exempt and excluded from this paragraph. [PL 1999, c. 131, §6 (AMD); PL 2011, c. 657, Pt. W, §5 (REV).]

The commissioner shall exercise general supervision, control and direction on behalf of the State over all matters pertaining to the location, construction and maintenance of all air navigation facilities built or maintained, either in whole or in part, with money appropriated from the State Treasury. The commissioner may acquire land, easements and rights-of-way for the establishment of air navigation facilities. The land, easements and rights-of-way may be acquired by purchase, grant or condemnation in the manner hereinafter provided by Title 23, sections 154 to 161, and property so acquired may be conveyed to a town for use in connection with the establishment of air navigation facilities for such a consideration as the commissioner may determine. [PL 1999, c. 131, §6 (AMD).]