RELATING TO AIRCRAFT.

HB666

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

666

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025

STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING
TO AIRCRAFT
.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

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SECTION
1
.
�
Section 261-12, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is
amended by amending subsection (b) to read as follows:

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"
(b)
�
Tour aircraft operations.
�
Any other law to the contrary
notwithstanding, no tour aircraft operation shall be permitted in any airport
under the State's control without having a permit.
�
The director shall adopt rules to regulate
tour aircraft operations by permit, which shall include but not be limited to:

����
(1)
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Identification of
the types of aircraft to be utilized;

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(2)
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The number of
operations daily for each type of aircraft used and the days and hours of
operation;

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(3)
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Verification that
the applicant is in compliance with all state statutes, including but not
limited to this section;

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(4)
�
Verification that
the applicant has the Federal Aviation Administration certificate 121 or 135;

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(5)
�
A written
assessment by the department of the impact to the surrounding area and to the
subject state airport;

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(6)
�
Revocation of a
permit based on the failure to comply with the information provided by the
applicant and the terms and conditions set forth by the department in the
permit; and any false statement or misrepresentation made by the applicant;

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(7)
�
Establishment of
penalties for revocation and suspension of a permit for failure to comply with
permit conditions;

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(8)
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Submission of
monthly written reports to the department, which shall be made available to the
public, of each tour operation that occurred during the duration of the
preceding month, including:

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(A)
�
The date and time
that the aircraft took off and landed;

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(B)
�
The number of
individuals aboard the aircraft during the operation;

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(C)
�
The flight path
from takeoff through landing; and

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(D)
�
Whether the
aircraft deviated from its intended flight plan;

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(9)
�
Verification
that the applicant has in effect aircraft liability insurance coverage of no less
than $5,000,000 per person per incident, that covers at a minimum:

���������
(A)
�
Bodily
injury and death; and

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(B)
�
Loss
and damage to property;

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[
(9)
]

(10)
�
Annual renewal of permits; and

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[
(10)
]

(11)
�
Any change of operations under the
existing permit to be approved by the director.

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No permit shall be authorized unless
accompanied by a Hawaii sectional aeronautical chart marked to indicate routes
and altitudes to be used in conducting aerial tours and noise abatement
procedures to be employed in the vicinity of identified noise sensitive areas.

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For the purposes of this subsection,
"tour aircraft operations" means any business operation that offers
aircraft for hire by passengers for the purpose of aerial observation of
landmarks and other manmade or natural sites within an island of the State and
for the purpose of transporting passengers for tourist-related activities."

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SECTION
2.
�
Statutory material to be repealed is
bracketed and stricken.
�
New statutory
material is underscored.

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SECTION 3.
�
This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2025.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

Department
of Transportation; Tour Aircraft Operations; Aircraft Liability Insurance;
Rules

Description:

Requires
the Director of Transportation to adopt rules that require tour aircraft
operators to have aircraft liability insurance coverage no less than $5,000,000
per person per incident.

The summary description
of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is
not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.