[§261-13.6]  Helicopter master plan;advisory committee.  (a)  The legislature recognizes that air trafficcongestion on the ground constitutes a serious safety problem and reduces theefficient and effective use of the limited space in airport facilities.  Thelegislature also recognizes the increased use of airport facilities byhelicopters for commercial purposes.

The legislature is determined to ensure thatall possible actions are taken to promote safety, alleviate safety hazards, andreduce congestion at airports under the State's control.  The department oftransportation shall do everything within its authority to enhance the safe useof the State's airports and shall cooperate with appropriate federal agenciesand other affected parties to assist the agencies in meeting theirresponsibilities to alleviate safety hazards.  In carrying out thisresponsibility, the department shall develop and implement a master plan,hereinafter referred to as the "helicopter master plan", forhelicopter operations for each airport under the State's control.

(b)  The director shall adopt a helicoptermaster plan for each state airport that shall include but not be limited to:

(1)  The extent, type, nature, location, and timing ofhelicopter operations and helicopter facilities development at each stateairport;

(2)  The layout plans of existing and proposedhelicopter facilities at each state airport;

(3)  The determination of the maximum number ofhelicopters that can be accommodated at each state airport;

(4)  The determination of the extent of emergencyservices, maintenance, and operations at each state airport; and

(5)  An assessment of impact on surrounding areas.

(c)  The director shall not make or permit anyaddition or alteration to any helicopter facilities at any state airport otherthan those additions or alterations in conformity with the helicopter masterplan for that state airport.

(d)  The helicopter master plan shall besubmitted to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the conveningof the regular session of 1989, and thereafter shall be formally reviewed everyfive years.

(e)  There is established an advisory committeewithin each county which shall sit in an advisory capacity to the director onmatters relating to the helicopter master plan for each state airport.  Eachadvisory committee shall consist of not more than thirteen members to beappointed by the director and whose membership shall include representativesfrom the helicopter industry and the communities adjacent to the airport.  Eachadvisory committee shall be placed for administrative purposes only, within thedepartment of transportation.  Each member of an advisory committee shall servewithout compensation.

(f)  For the purposes of this section,"helicopter operation" means the operation of a helicopter companyfrom an airport under the State's control. [L 1988, c 397, §1]