(A) All airports, landing fields, and landing areas shall be approved by the department of transportation before being used for commercial purposes. The department may issue a certificate of approval in each case. The department shall require that a complete plan of such airport, landing field, or landing area be filed with it before granting or issuing such approval; provided that in no case in which the department licenses or certifies an airport, landing field, or landing area constructed, maintained, or supported, in whole or in part, by public funds, under sections 4561.01 to 4561.151 of the Revised Code, shall the public be deprived of the use thereof or its facilities for aviation purposes as fully and equally as all other parties.

In any case in which the department rejects or disapproves an application to operate an airport, landing field, or landing area, or in any case in which the department issues an order requiring certain things to be done before approval, it shall set forth its reasons therefor and shall state the requirements to be met before such approval will be given or such order modified or changed. In any case in which the department considers it necessary, it may order the closing of any airport, landing field, or landing area for commercial purposes until the requirements of the order made by the department are complied with.

Appeal from any action or decision of the department in any such matter shall be made in accordance with sections 119.01 to 119.13 of the Revised Code.

The department shall require that any person engaged within this state in operating aircraft, in any form of navigation, shall be the holder of a currently effective aviator's license issued by the civil aeronautics administration.

The aviator's license required by this section shall be kept in the personal possession of the pilot when the pilot is operating aircraft within this state, and shall be presented for inspection upon the request of any passenger, any authorized representative of the department, or any official manager or person in charge of any airport, landing field, or area in this state upon which the pilot lands.

(B) Whoever violates this section shall be fined not more than five hundred dollars, imprisoned not more than ninety days, or both.

Effective Date: 01-01-2004.