Wyoming Aeronautics Commission

Wyo. Stat. Ann. tit. 10, ch. 3
in effect

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 10-3-101 Creation; composition; appointment; term; removal; qualifications; vacancies; compensation; office; acceptance of grants.

(a) The commission is created to consist of eight (8) commissioners. Seven (7) commissioners shall be appointed by the governor, by and with the consent of the senate, each to serve for a term of six (6) years not to exceed two (2) terms. Two (2) commissioners shall be appointed at-large for a term of six (6) years. The director of the department shall serve as an ex officio and eighth member of the commission but shall not vote on matters before the commission. The governor may remove any appointed commissioner as provided in W.S. 9-1-202. (b) One (1) commissioner shall be appointed from each of the following districts: (i) District 1. Counties of Laramie, Albany, Platte and Goshen; (ii) District 2. Counties of Carbon, Sweetwater, Uinta, Lincoln, Sublette and Teton; (iii) District 3. Counties of Niobrara, Converse, Natrona and Fremont; (iv) District 4. Counties of Hot Springs, Washakie, Big Horn and Park; and (v) District 5. Counties of Sheridan, Johnson, Campbell, Crook and Weston. (c) If any commissioner ceases to be a resident of the district from which he is appointed, his office shall be vacant. All vacancies from any cause shall be filled by appointment by the governor as provided in W.S. 28-12-101. (d) Each of the commissioners shall qualify by taking the constitutional oath of office and each shall act without pay except that he may receive his actual traveling expenses according to law. (e) Repealed by Laws 1991, ch. 241, § 4. (f) The department may receive on behalf of the state all grants of money, property or other things of value from the federal government, the state of Wyoming or other public agency or person. (g) Effective July 1, 1979, appointments and terms shall be in accordance with W.S. 28-12-101 through 28-12-103. (h) The commission shall meet as necessary to properly exercise its functions, but shall meet not less than quarterly to consider the distribution of grants under W.S. 10-3-401 and provide information and recommendations based upon existing airport planning priorities to the state loan and investment board for actions on loan applications under W.S. 16-1-109(d)(vi).

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 10-3-201 Powers and duties generally.

(a) The commission shall cooperate with: (i) The federal aviation administration; (ii) Any existing federal aviation commission; (iii) The cities and counties in Wyoming; (iv) The chambers of commerce, commercial clubs and all aviation and business concerns interested in the development of aeronautics within the state. (b) In lieu of the requirements of this subsection, any airport sponsor may directly apply for, receive or disburse federal airport funds, and may also direct all construction and maintenance of the airport. The aeronautics commission may designate the airports to be built and maintained with the assistance of state or federal funds and is the sole authority to determine the disbursement of funds for the state's airports. The aeronautics commission through the department shall be the authority in the state to apply for, or directly accept, receive, receipt for or disburse any funds granted by the United States government for airport construction or maintenance. A county, city, town or joint powers board may enter into an agreement with the division describing the terms and conditions of the agency in accordance with federal laws, rules and regulations and applicable laws of this state. The division may enforce the proper maintenance of these airports by the counties, cities and towns or joint powers boards as agreed in the contracts existing between the sponsors of the airports and the federal government. All construction and maintenance of these airports shall be under the direction of the department. (c) The department may offer engineering or other technical advice to any municipality, county, joint powers board or other qualified party in connection with the construction, maintenance or operation of airports. The commission shall encourage: (i) Development of private aviation schools; (ii) Interest in private flying and privately-owned planes; (iii) Study of aerospace engineering and allied subjects in the various schools of Wyoming and assist in forming classes in aviation; (iv) Repealed By Laws 2003, Ch. 104, § 2. (v) Sponsorship and participation in aerospace education workshops. (d) The commission shall establish policies as may be appropriate for the division to implement the decisions of the commission and the aeronautical purposes of this title and for the exercise of duties of the division. The commission shall provide assistance and advice to the director of the department regarding the division's budget. The commission shall nominate candidates for the position of administrator of the division and upon request shall advise the department in regards to appointments within the division. (e) The commission shall assist communities in coordinating efforts, facilitating, recruiting and attracting and promoting the development, improvement and retention of commercial air service and accommodating military air service in the state. The assistance may include studying airline, aircraft, unmanned aircraft and vertical takeoff and landing aircraft profitability, route analysis, air fare monitoring and recommendations for legislative changes to enhance air services in the state. (f) There is created a new position in the office of the governor that shall coordinate with the commission to market and advocate airline service in Wyoming pursuant to subsection (e) of this section. The person appointed by the governor may be an at-will employee or an at-will contract employee and may be removed by the governor as provided in W.S. 9-1-202. (g) The commission may promulgate reasonable rules, regulations and procedures and establish standards as necessary to carry out the functions of the division. (h) Repealed By Laws 2008, Ch. 44, § 2. (j) The commission shall promulgate reasonable rules governing where unmanned aircraft or vertical takeoff and landing aircraft may take off and land, giving consideration to public health and safety, aesthetics and the general welfare. Unless otherwise prohibited by or previously provided for in federal law, the commission may also promulgate reasonable rules governing the operation of unmanned aircraft or vertical takeoff and landing aircraft. In promulgating any rules under this subsection, the commission shall coordinate with the appropriate industry in Wyoming and political subdivisions of the state. The commission shall not have the power to regulate unmanned aircraft or vertical takeoff and landing aircraft operation in navigable airspace.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 10-3-202 Authority to provide air transportation to departments and agencies of state.

The division may provide air transportation to departments and agencies of state government directly, but may contract for the services under fractional ownership agreements or otherwise under conditions which are considered by the department or agency head to be urgent and to justify the air transportation and when justified within the limits of W.S. 9-4-205(e).

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 10-3-204 Termination of commission.

(a) Repealed By Laws 2008, Ch. 44, § 2. (b) Effective January 1, 1997, the aeronautics commission created under this chapter shall continue with the powers, duties and authority it possessed prior to January 1, 1997.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 10-3-301 Conducting investigations and hearings; accidents to be reported.

The commission may conduct investigations, inquiries and hearings concerning the laws of this state relating to aeronautics and accidents or injuries incident to the operation of aircraft, including unmanned aircraft or vertical takeoff and landing aircraft, occurring within this state. Members of the commission may administer oaths and affirmations, certify to all official acts, issue subpoenas and compel the attendance and testimony of witnesses and the production of papers, books and documents. All accidents or injuries incident to the operation of aircraft occurring within this state shall be immediately reported to the commission.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 10-3-302 Use in evidence of reports of investigations or hearings.

The reports of investigations or hearings shall only be used in proceedings instituted by or in behalf of the commission pursuant to the laws of this state relating to aeronautics.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 10-3-401 Grants-in-aid for airport construction and improvement and air service promotion; authority to make; limitation.

(a) The commission may make grants-in-aid from state funds for construction and development of airports to counties, cities, towns and joint powers boards within the state. No grant-in-aid for planning, construction or improvement of any airport shall be made unless the airport is owned, leased or held under a state or federal special use permit or agreement, exclusively or jointly, by the county, city, town or joint powers board to which the grant is made. Grants may be spent for runways, terminals, hangars and other improvements and for planning any improvements to the airport. The commission may designate state funds for purposes of creating, amending and updating any system plan of an airport for the state. (b) The commission may grant not more than five percent (5.0%) of the amount available for grants-in-aid under subsection (a) of this section to counties, cities and towns to promote air service in Wyoming. In accordance with W.S. 10-3-402, any amount granted under this subsection shall be equally matched by the recipient county, city or town. No amount granted under this subsection shall be used for airline subsidies. (c) Repealed By Laws 2000, Ch. 45, § 3. (d) In administering the grant program, and in consultation with the Federal Aviation Administration and local airport sponsors, the commission shall establish, amend and have available, at least one hundred twenty (120) days before each biennial legislative budget session, a five (5) year capital improvement plan for airports in the state and a system for prioritizing projects to be funded by state and federal grants.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 10-3-402 Grants-in-aid for airport construction and improvement; expenditures by county, city or town.

Expenditure of state funds shall be made under the discretion of the commission.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 10-3-601 Wyoming air services enhancement; legislative findings; Wyoming aeronautics commission authority to contract for services; requirements.

(a) The legislature finds that an adequate and comprehensive system of air service in Wyoming is vital for economic development within Wyoming. Competition among air service providers within the state is virtually nonexistent and, without competition, services will remain limited and unreliable and high air fares will remain a major impediment to use of air services by Wyoming residents and businesses. (b) The Wyoming aeronautics commission may enter into agreements to provide financial assistance to persons doing business or who will do business in the state, to economic development organizations within the state, to joint powers boards or to other entities formed to provide for enhanced air service to communities in Wyoming that have or are seeking commercial air service, for the enhancement of air services in the state conditioned upon contractual assurances that specified benefits will accrue to the state through increased air traffic and enplanements. For purposes of this article, "enhanced air service" shall include, but not be limited to, assisting airports in the state with commercial air service to have the appropriate level of state or federal security configuration to accommodate proposed air service and aircraft capacity. When entering into an agreement the commission shall give consideration to each of the following potential benefits accruing to the state: increasing the minimum number of enplanements at airports facing a possible loss of federal airport improvement program funding, increasing passenger enplanements at commercial airports in Wyoming, increasing the number of Wyoming passengers originating flights in Wyoming commercial airports rather than airports in other states, increasing frequency or sustaining flight operations from commercial airports in Wyoming to regional airport hubs, increasing the consistency of service, and lowering airfares in Wyoming communities as a result of an air service enhancement grant. The commission shall consult with counties, cities, towns, joint powers boards, airport boards or other entities pursuing air service enhancement before entering into agreements to provide air service enhancement and shall require local funds for the provision of air service enhancement grants. The amount of local funds required for the provision of enhancing air services shall be determined by the commission, taking into account the types of service for which grants are approved, the diverse characteristics of the communities to which air service is contracted for and other considerations examined by the commission. (c) The commission has primary responsibility and may consult with or delegate to the aeronautics division of the Wyoming department of transportation, Wyoming business council or other entities as necessary, to develop criteria and contracts for financial aid under this section. (d) All applications for financial aid under this section shall be submitted to the aeronautics commission. The aeronautics commission shall approve or deny the application. The applicant shall be promptly notified of the decision. In making the decision to approve or deny the application, the commission shall give priority to an applicant whereby: (i) The applicant can provide assurances that the enhancement has a reasonable chance of success and will achieve benchmarks specified by the applicant; (ii) Participation by the commission is necessary to the success of the enhancement because funding from other sources for the enhancement is unavailable; (iii) The applicant will use the proceeds of the financial assistance provided under this section only to secure or enhance air services within the state or to market or promote the service for which the financial assistance is granted; (iv) The financial assistance has the reasonable potential in the opinion of the aeronautics commission to create a substantial amount of air travel originating within the state; (v) The applicant has already made or is contractually committed to make a substantial financial and time commitment to the enhancement and local funds are provided to secure a financial grant under this section, in an amount determined by the commission; (vi) The applicant will not pledge financial aid granted pursuant to this section as collateral for any other purpose than is specified in the contract between the applicant and the commission; (vii) The applicant will provide reasonable assurances that within a time specified by the commission, the state shall benefit from its investment by means of commercial airports having sufficient enplanements to retain or reestablish eligibility for federal airport improvement program funding and that commercial airports in the state will receive increased revenues from established passenger facility charges as a result of increased enplanements or from other benefits. (e) Before granting any financial aid under this section, the commission shall enter into an agreement with the applicant providing for a benefit to the state which is commensurate with the level of risk and amount of the financial aid, using the criteria specified in paragraph (d)(vii) of this section. The attorney general shall review and approve the contract before the commission enters into any agreement under this section. (f) As used in this article, "commission" means the Wyoming aeronautics commission created by W.S. 10-3-101. (g) The Wyoming aeronautics commission will establish benchmarks for determining the success of the program.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 10-3-602 Wyoming air services enhancement account.

(a) The commission shall establish and maintain a Wyoming air services enhancement account under this article to provide the financial aid specified in W.S. 10-3-601 to enhance air services within the state. Any funds deposited in the account shall only be expended by the commission as provided in W.S. 10-3-601 and to administer this article. (b) Any funds appropriated by the legislature to the account established under subsection (a) of this section shall not lapse as provided by W.S. 9-4-207(a). (c) The commission shall report to the joint minerals, business and economic development interim committee, the joint appropriations interim committee and the air transportation liaison committee annually no later than September 30, with respect to the status of the program under W.S. 10-3-601. The report shall include any actions taken and funds expended in consideration of, and pursuant to, any contract entered into under W.S. 10-3-601, and the performance of any recipient of funds under the contract including measurements of contractual assurances of benefits accruing to the state.
Source: WY Statutes (Official Site)URL: https://wyoleg.gov/statutes/compress/title10.pdfFetched: 10/4/2026