Chapter 114

114.20(1)(c) (c) An aircraft is presumed to be based in this state if it is kept in the state for a period of 30 consecutive days or for a cumulative period of 60 days in any calendar year. An aircraft is not based in this state if it is brought into the state solely for the purpose of repair, maintenance or restoration.

114.20(2) (2) Exceptions to registration requirements. The registration requirements under sub. (1) do not apply to aircraft based in this state that are:

114.20(2)(a) (a) Aircraft, as defined in s. 76.02 (1);

114.20(2)(b) (b) Antique aircraft registered under sub. (6);

114.20(2)(d) (d) Museum aircraft designated under sub. (4);

114.20(2)(e) (e) Unairworthy aircraft designated under sub. (5);

114.20(2)(f) (f) Amateur built aircraft registered under sub. (8); or

114.20(2)(g) (g) Ultralight aircraft as defined in s. 114.195 (1).

114.20(3) (3) Fees in lieu of property taxes. Fees paid on aircraft under this section are in lieu of general property taxes.

114.20(4) (4) Museum aircraft. Any museum desiring to designate aircraft as museum aircraft shall, on or before November 1 of each year, submit to the department an inventory of all aircraft held by the museum for display or other museum purposes. The inventory shall identify the owner of the aircraft and whether it is being held by the museum under loan or other arrangements. The aircraft designated as museum aircraft are exempt from registration under this section during the time they are owned or held by the museum for display or other museum purposes and are not flown for any purpose except to and from displays. The museum shall promptly notify the department of any additions or deletions to the annual inventory of designated museum aircraft.

114.20(5) (5) Unairworthy aircraft. Any person desiring to have an aircraft designated as an unairworthy aircraft may apply to the department in the manner the department prescribes. No application may be acted upon unless all information requested is supplied. Upon receipt of an application and a registration fee to be established by rule and after determining from the facts submitted and investigation that the aircraft qualifies as an unairworthy aircraft, the department shall issue an unairworthy aircraft certificate. The certificate shall expire upon transfer of ownership or restoration. An aircraft is presumed restored if it is capable of operation. The annual or biennial registration fee is due on the date of restoration. Operation of the aircraft is conclusive evidence of restoration. A late payment charge to be established by rule shall be assessed on all applications filed later than 30 days after the date of restoration.

114.20(6) (6) Antique aircraft. Any antique aircraft may be registered upon receipt of the proper application and payment of a $50 registration fee. The registration remains effective without payment of an additional fee while the aircraft is owned by the registrant.

114.20(8) (8) Amateur built aircraft. Any amateur built aircraft may be registered upon receipt of the proper application and payment of a $50 registration fee. The registration remains effective without payment of an additional fee while the aircraft is owned by the registrant.

114.20(9) (9) Annual registration fees. Except as provided in sub. (10), the owner of an aircraft subject to the annual registration requirements under sub. (1) shall pay an annual registration fee established in accordance with the following gross weight schedule:

[Maximum gross weight in pounds]   [Annual fee]

114.20(9)(d) (d) Not more than 3,500   $ 70

114.20(9)(e) (e) Not more than 4,000   95

114.20(9)(f) (f) Not more than 5,000   135

114.20(9)(g) (g) Not more than 6,000   190

114.20(9)(h) (h) Not more than 7,000   240

114.20(9)(i) (i) Not more than 8,000   300

114.20(9)(j) (j) Not more than 9,000   375

114.20(9)(k) (k) Not more than 10,000   525

114.20(9)(L) (L) Not more than 11,000   690

114.20(9)(m) (m) Not more than 12,500   940

114.20(9)(n) (n) Not more than 15,000   1,125

114.20(9)(o) (o) Not more than 20,000   1,310

114.20(9)(p) (p) Not more than 25,000   1,500

114.20(9)(q) (q) Not more than 30,000   1,690

114.20(9)(r) (r) Not more than 35,000   1,875

114.20(9)(s) (s) Not more than 40,000   2,190

114.20(9)(t) (t) Not more than 100,000   2,500

114.20(9)(u) (u) More than 100,000   3,125

114.20(9m) (9m) Biennial registration fees. Except as provided in sub. (10), the owner of an aircraft subject to the biennial registration requirements under sub. (1) shall pay a biennial registration fee established in accordance with the following gross weight schedule:

[Maximum gross weight in pounds]   [Biennial fee]

114.20(9m)(a) (a) Not more than 2,000   $ 60

114.20(9m)(b) (b) Not more than 2,500   78

114.20(9m)(c) (c) Not more than 3,000   100

114.20(10) (10) Municipal and civil air patrol aircraft. Aircraft owned and operated exclusively in the public service by this state, by any county or municipality or by the civil air patrol shall be registered annually on or before November 1, by the department upon receipt of the proper application accompanied by payment of $5 for each aircraft.

114.20(11) (11) Issuance of certificate of registration; display of certificate; refunds. Upon payment of a registration fee or transfer of registration fee, the department shall issue evidence of registration which shall be displayed at all times in the manner prescribed by the department. A refund may be made for aircraft registration fees paid in error as determined by the department.

114.20(12) (12) Initial registration. For new aircraft, aircraft not previously registered in this state or unregistered aircraft for which annual registration is required under sub. (9), the fee for the initial year of registration shall be computed from the date of purchase, restoration, completed construction or entry of the aircraft into this state on the basis of one-twelfth of the registration fee specified in sub. (9) multiplied by the remaining number of months in the current registration year which are not fully expired. For new aircraft, aircraft not previously registered in this state or unregistered aircraft for which biennial registration is required under sub. (9m), the fee for the initial 2-year period of registration shall be computed from the date of purchase, restoration, completed construction or entry of the aircraft into this state on the basis of one twenty-fourth of the registration fee specified in sub. (9m) multiplied by the remaining number of months in the current 2-year registration period which are not fully expired. Application for registration shall be filed within 30 days from the date of purchase, restoration, completed construction or entry of the aircraft into this state and if filed after that date an additional administrative fee of $5 shall be charged. If the date of purchase, restoration, completed construction or entry into this state is not provided by the applicant, the full annual or biennial registration fee provided in sub. (9) or (9m) shall be charged for registering the aircraft.

114.20(13) (13) Late payment charges.

114.20(13)(b) (b)

114.20(13)(b)1. 1. If an annual or biennial registration fee is not paid by November 1, from November 2 to the following April 30, the department shall add a late payment charge of $50 or 10 percent of the amount specified for the registration under sub. (9), (9m) or (10), whichever is greater, to the fee.

114.20(13)(b)2. 2. If an annual or biennial registration fee is not paid by the following April 30, from May 1 to October 31 or, for a biennial registration, the end of the biennial period, the department shall add a late payment charge of $50 or 20 percent of the amount specified for the registration under sub. (9), (9m) or (10), whichever is greater, to the fee.

114.20(13)(b)4. 4. Late payment charges under this paragraph are not cumulative.

114.20(13)(b)5. 5. This paragraph applies after October 31, 1995.

114.20(14) (14) Lost or destroyed registration certificates. Upon satisfactory proof of the loss or destruction of the registration certificate, the department shall issue a duplicate to the owner upon payment of a fee of $1.50.

114.20(15) (15) Lien on aircraft for fees due and owing.

114.20(15)(a) (a) In addition to all existing remedies afforded by civil and criminal law, upon complaint of the department the fees, interest and late filing charges specified in this section shall be and will continue to be a lien against the aircraft for which the fees are payable until such time as the fees, along with any accrued charges or interest, are paid.

114.20(15)(b) (b) The lien against the aircraft for the original registration fee shall attach at the time the fee is first payable, the lien for all renewals of annual registration shall attach on November 1 of each year thereafter and the lien for all renewals of biennial registration shall attach on the first November of the registration period and every 2 years thereafter.

114.20(17) (17) Sale of registered aircraft. An aircraft which is registered in this state and sold within this state shall be transferred to the name of the purchaser upon application by the purchaser and upon payment of a $5 fee to the department. Application for transfer of registration shall be filed on the date of purchase. An additional administrative fee of $10 shall be charged on all applications filed later than 30 days after the purchase date.

114.20(18) (18) Penalties.

114.20(18)(a) (a) Any person who fails to register an aircraft in accordance with this section shall be required to forfeit not more than $500.

114.20(18)(b) (b) Any person who sells or otherwise transfers an interest in an aircraft for which a certificate of registration is required under this section, or causes or authorizes to be operated an aircraft which that person owns in whole or in part or has a leasehold or equivalent interest and for which a certificate of registration is required by this section, without a certificate having been issued or an application for a certificate having been filed with the department, shall be required to forfeit not more than $500.

114.20(18)(c) (c) Any person who knowingly makes a false statement in any application or in any other document required to be filed with the department or who knowingly foregoes the submission of any application, document, or any registration certificate or transfer is guilty of a Class H felony.

114.20(18)(d) (d) In addition to imposing the penalty under par. (a), (b) or (c), the court shall order the offender to make application for registration or reregistration and to pay the required registration fee and any applicable late payment charges and administrative fees.

114.20(19) (19) Collection of fees. In addition to any other remedies of law, the department may collect the fees, interest and late filing charges specified in this section in a proceeding before the division of hearings and appeals. An order of the division of hearings and appeals which specifies the amount to be paid to the department shall be of the same effect as a judgment for purposes of execution under ch. 815. The institution of a proceeding for review under s. 227.52 shall stay enforcement of the division of hearings and appeals order.

114.20 History History: 1977 c. 29 ss. 1061, 1062, 1654 (5); 1977 c. 273; 1981 c. 20; 1981 c. 347 s. 80 (4); 1981 c. 391; 1983 a. 27, 151; 1985 a. 29 s. 3202 (51); 1985 a. 182 s. 57; 1989 a. 31, 56, 359; 1991 a. 315; 1993 a. 16; 1995 a. 113; 1997 a. 35, 283; 1999 a. 9; 2001 a. 109.

114.27 114.27 Penalty. Except as provided in ss. 114.103 and 114.40, any person failing to comply with the requirements or violating any of the provisions of this chapter shall be fined not more than $500 or imprisoned for not more than 90 days or both.

114.27 History History: 1987 a. 225; 1991 a. 269.

114.31 114.31 Powers and duties of the secretary of transportation.

114.31(1) (1) General. The secretary shall have general supervision of aeronautics in the state and promote and foster a sound development of aviation in this state, promote aviation education and training programs, assist in the development of aviation and aviation facilities, safeguard the interests of those engaged in all phases of aviation, formulate and recommend and promote reasonable regulations in the interests of safety, and coordinate state aviation activities with those of other states, the federal government, and the Wisconsin Aerospace Authority. The secretary shall have all powers that are necessary to carry out the policies of the department of transportation, including the right to require that statements made to the secretary be under oath. The secretary is especially charged with the duty of informing himself or herself regarding all federal laws that affect aeronautics and astronautics in this state, all regulations pursuant to such laws, and all pending legislation providing for a national airport system, in order that the secretary may recommend to the governor and the legislature such measures as will best enable this state to derive the maximum benefits from such legislation if and when it shall become effective. It shall be the duty of all other state boards, commissions, departments and institutions, especially the appropriate educational institutions and the Wisconsin Aerospace Authority, to cooperate with the secretary.

114.31(2) (2) Studies, investigations, airport development plan. The secretary shall conduct studies and investigations with reference to the most effective development and operation of airports and all other aeronautical facilities, and issue reports of the findings of these studies and investigations. The secretary shall prepare and may modify in recognition of changing conditions an airport development plan.

114.31(3) (3) Aviation education and training.

114.31(3)(a) (a) In cooperation with the appropriate educational institutions of the state, and jointly with them, the secretary shall formulate programs of aviation education and training, and disseminate information regarding such programs.

114.31(3)(b) (b) From the appropriation under s. 20.395 (2) (ds), the department shall administer an aviation career education program to provide training and apprenticeship opportunities associated with aviation careers for socially and economically disadvantaged youth.

114.31(4) (4) Cooperation with federal aeronautical or astronautical agency. The secretary shall cooperate with and assist the federal government, the political subdivisions of this state, and others engaged in aeronautics or astronautics or the promotion of aeronautics or astronautics, and shall seek to coordinate the aeronautical or astronautical activities of these bodies. To this end, the secretary is empowered to confer with or to hold joint hearings with any federal aeronautical or astronautical agency in connection with any matter arising under this chapter, relating to the sound development of aeronautics or astronautics, and to take advantage of the cooperation, services, records and facilities of such federal agencies, as fully as may be practicable, in the administration of said sections. The secretary shall furnish to the federal agencies cooperation, and the services, records and facilities of the department, insofar as may be practicable.

114.31(5) (5) Air marking system. The secretary shall cooperate with the federal government in any air marking system and weather information.

114.31(5m) (5m) Promotion of air services. In recognition of the importance of effective scheduled air service in the southeastern region of the state and the impact of that service on statewide economic development, the secretary shall, in cooperation with the appropriate airport governing bodies, promote expanded and improved air services, help provide information on available air services for potential users, develop efficient ground access to air services, monitor changes in air services and charges to passengers, and develop other programs as he or she considers advisable for the overall improvement of air services for residents of this state.

114.31(6) (6) Technical services to municipalities. The secretary may, insofar as is reasonably possible, offer the engineering or other technical service of the department, to any municipality desiring them in connection with the construction, maintenance or operation or proposed construction, maintenance or operation of an airport. The secretary may assess reasonable costs for services including services performed while acting as agent for a municipality. Such assessment shall include properly allocated administrative costs. Municipalities are authorized to cooperate with the secretary in the development of aeronautics and aeronautical facilities in this state. The Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation and all agencies are authorized and directed to make available such facilities and services, and to cooperate as far as possible to promote the best interests of aeronautics of the state.

114.31(7) (7) State aid. The secretary shall establish, by rule, such conditions as he or she deems necessary to the grant of state aid.

114.31(8) (8) Priorities.

114.31(8)(a) (a) On July 1 of each even-numbered year the governing body of each county, city, village or town that contemplates an airport development project in the next 6 years for which it proposes to request state or federal aid shall notify the secretary of such intention and submit such information as the secretary requires.

114.31(8)(b) (b) The secretary shall establish priorities for the projects proposed under s. 114.33 (2) in relation to the overall airport development plan taking into account such factors as industrial, commercial, recreational and resources development and transportation needs.

114.31(8)(c) (c) As part of the secretary’s budget report, the secretary shall submit a tentative priority list of projects that the secretary recommends for state aid in the following biennium.

114.31(9) (9) Maps. With respect to aeronautical maps distributed by the secretary pursuant to this section, the secretary shall ensure that such maps printed on and after July 20, 1985, do not display the picture of the secretary.

114.31 History History: 1971 c. 125; 1973 c. 243 s. 82; 1977 c. 29 ss. 1063, 1654 (5); 1977 c. 273; 1979 c. 361 s. 112; 1981 c. 390 s. 252; 1983 a. 27; 1985 a. 29; 1987 a. 399; 1993 a. 492; 1995 a. 27 s. 9116 (5); 1999 a. 9; 2005 a. 335; 2011 a. 32.

114.31 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also ch. Trans 55, Wis. adm. code.

114.315 114.315 Review. Orders of the secretary of transportation shall be subject to review in the manner provided in ch. 227.

114.316 114.316 Use of department airplanes for transportation. Acting upon its own discretion, the department may, either in the interest of furthering aeronautics or for other reasons, use airplanes owned or rented by it to transport persons and property of state institutions, departments or officials. In such instance the department may make charges therefor to such institutions or departments.

114.316 History History: 1971 c. 125; 1977 c. 29 s. 1654 (5).

114.32 114.32 Federal aid for airports.

114.32(1) (1) Secretary may accept. The secretary may cooperate with the government of the United States, and any agency or department thereof in the acquisition, construction, improvement, maintenance and operation of airports and other air navigation facilities in this state, and comply with the laws of the United States and any regulations made thereunder for the expenditure of federal moneys upon such airports and other air navigation facilities, and may enter into any contracts necessary to accomplish such purpose. The secretary may accept, receive and receipt for federal moneys and other moneys, either public or private, for and in behalf of this state or any municipality thereof, for training and education programs, for the acquisition, construction, improvement, maintenance and operation of airports and other aeronautical facilities, whether such work is to be done by the state or by such municipalities, or jointly, aided by grants of aid from the United States, upon such terms and conditions as are or may be prescribed by laws of the United States and any rules or regulations made thereunder, and the secretary may act as agent of any municipality of this state or the owner of any public-use airport upon the request of such municipality or the owner of the public-use airport, in accepting, receiving and receipting for such moneys in its behalf for airports, and in contracting for the acquisition, improvement, maintenance or operation of airports financed either in whole or in part by federal moneys, and the governing body of any such municipality or the owner of the public-use airport may designate the secretary as its agent for such purposes and enter into an agreement with the secretary prescribing the terms and conditions of such agency in accordance with federal laws, rules and regulations and with this chapter. Such moneys as are paid over by the U.S. government shall be retained by the state or paid over to said municipalities or to the owners of the public-use airports under such terms and conditions as may be imposed by the U.S. government in making such grants.

114.32(3) (3) Contracts. All contracts for the acquisition, construction, improvement, maintenance and operation of airports and other aeronautical facilities, made by the secretary of transportation either as the agent of this state or as the agent of any municipality or as the agent of the owner of a public-use airport, shall be made pursuant to the laws of this state governing the making of like contracts; provided, however, that where the acquisition, construction, improvement, maintenance and operation of any airport or landing strip and other aeronautical facilities is financed or partially financed with federal moneys, the secretary of transportation, as agent of the state or of any municipality thereof or of the owner of a public-use airport, may let contracts in the manner prescribed by the federal authorities, acting under the laws of the United States, and any rules or regulations made thereunder, notwithstanding any other state law to the contrary.

114.32(4) (4) Disposition of federal funds. All moneys accepted for disbursement by the secretary of transportation pursuant to this section shall be deposited in the state treasury, and, unless otherwise prescribed by the authority from which the money is received, kept in separate funds, designated according to the purpose for which the moneys were made available, and held by the state in trust for such purposes. All such moneys are appropriated for the purposes for which the same were made available to be expended in accordance with federal laws and regulations and with this chapter. The secretary of transportation, whether acting for this state or as the agent of any of its municipalities or as the agent of the owner of a public-use airport, or when requested by the U.S. government or any agency or department thereof, may disburse such moneys for the designated purposes, but this shall not preclude any other authorized method of disbursement.

114.32(5) (5) Local projects and funds; secretary’s functions. No county, city, village or town, whether acting singly or jointly with a county, city, village or town, shall submit to a federal aeronautical agency or department any project application requesting federal assistance, for any airport improvement, aeronautical facility or planning study, unless the project and the project application have been first approved by the secretary. No such county, city, village or town shall directly accept, receive, receipt for or disburse any funds granted by the United States for the project, but it shall designate the secretary as its agent and in its behalf to accept, receive, receipt for and disburse such funds. It shall enter into an agreement with the secretary prescribing the terms and conditions of the secretary’s functions under such agency in accordance with federal laws, rules and regulations and applicable laws of this state.

114.32 History History: 1971 c. 192; 1981 c. 390 s. 252; 1983 a. 159; 1993 a. 492.

114.32 Annotation The secretary of transportation possesses the requisite implied authority to enter into contracts with the federal government to secure federal funds to enable the department to undertake airport system planning. 60 Atty. Gen. 68. See also 60 Atty. Gen. 225.