Public Law 80–473

The term “airport property” means any property, real or personal, or any interest therein, used or useful, directly or indirectly, in connection

“Airport property.”

with the administration, operation, or maintenance of an airport, including but not limited to (1) land; (2) runways, strips, taxiways, and parking aprons;(3) buildings, structures, improvements, and facilities, whether or not used in connection with the landing and take-off of aircraft; and (4) equipment (including parts and components thereof), furniture, vehicles, and supplies.

The term “airway property” means any property, real or

“Airway property.”

personal, or any interest therein, used or useful, directly or indirectly, in connection with the administration, operation, or maintenance of any ground installation, facility, or equipment (including parts and components thereof) necessary or desirable for the orderly and safe operation of air traffic, including but not limited to air navigation, air-traffic control, airway communications, and meteorological facilities.

The term “foreign territory” means any area of land or water

“Foreign territory.”

over which no nation or a nation other than the United States exercises the incidents of sovereignty (including territory of undetermined sovereignty and the high seas), any area of land or water temporarily under military occupation by the United States, and any area of land or water occupied or administered by the United States or any other nation under any international agreement.

Subject to the approval of the Secretary of Defense, the Administrator is authorized to provide air navigation, communications, and air traffic control facilities and services in the Canal Zone and the Republic of Panama and to do all things necessary in connection with the operation and maintenance thereof.

In exercising and performing his powers and duties under this section, the Administrator shall do so consistently with any obligation assumed by the United States in any treaty, convention, or agreement that may be in force between the United States and the Republic of Panama.

Any department of the National Military Establishment is authorized in its discretion to transfer without charge therefor to the Administrator any airport property or airway property or other real or personal property which (1) is located in the Canal Zone or the Republic of Panama, and (2) is determined by the Administrator to be, or likely to become, useful in carrying out the purposes of this Act.

Transfer of property.

The authority conferred by this section may be exercised without regard to sections 3 and 8 (a) of this Act.

When considered consistent with the needs of national defense, and subject to such conditions, if any, as may be agreed upon in specific cases between the parties, any department of the National Military Establishment is authorized to transfer at its discretion to the Administrator, without charge therefor, airport property and airway property, exclusive of meteorological facilities, installed by or in the possession of such department in territory (including Alaska) outside the continental limits of the United States, which such department has found to be no longer required exclusively for military purposes and which in the opinion of the Administrator are, or are likely to become, necessary for carrying out the purposes of this Act. Transfer of property in foreign territory shall be made hereunder only after consultation with the Air Coordinating Committee.

When considered consistent with the needs of national defense,

Transfer of meteorological facilities.

and subject to such conditions, if any, as may be agreed upon in specific cases between the parties, any department of the National Military Establishment is authorized to transfer at its discretion to the Chief of the Weather Bureau without charge therefor, meteorological facilities installed by or in the possession of such department in territory (including Alaska) outside the continental limits of the United States, which such department has found to be no longer required exclusively for military purposes, and which, in the opinion of the Chief of the Weather Bureau are, or are likely to become, necessary for carrying out the purposes of this Act. Transfer of property in foreign territory shall be made hereunder only after consultation with the Air Coordinating Committee.

All property transferred to the Department of Commerce under the provisions of Executive Order 9709, dated March 29, 1946, and

3 CFR, 1946 Supp., pp. 115,175.

Executive Order 9797, dated November 6, 1946, and which is in the possession of the Department of Commerce on the date of the enactment of this Act shall be considered as property transferred pursuant to this section.

With regard to airport property and airway property in territory (including Alaska) outside the continental limits of the United States which he has acquired pursuant to this Act or any other provision of law, the Administrator is empowered and directed to do and perform, by contract or otherwise, all acts and things necessary or incident to their consolidation, operation, protection, maintenance, improvement, and administration, including but not limited to the power (1) to adapt, from time to time, such properties to the needs of civil aeronautics by construction, installation, reengineering, relocation, or otherwise; (2) to make and amend such reasonable rules and regulations as he may deem necessary to the proper exercise of the powers granted by this section; (3) to lease under such conditions as he may deem proper and for such periods as may be desirable (not to exceed twenty years) space or property for purposes essential or appropriate to their consolidation, operation, protection, and administration under this Act; (4) to contract for, or to provide directly for, the sale of fuel, oil. equipment, food and supplies, hotel accommodations, and other facilities and services necessary or desirable for the operation and administration of such properties; (5) to make just and reasonable charges for aeronautical services (including but not limited to landing fees and fees for the use of communication services); and (6) to acquire, by purchase or otherwise, real or personal property, or interests therein, which he may consider necessary for the purposes

Penalty.

of this section. Any person who knowingly and willfully violates any rule or regulation issued by the Administrator under clause (2) of this section, if such violation is committed in any area under the civil jurisdiction of the United States, shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction thereof shall be subject to a fine of not more than $500 or to imprisonment not exceeding six months, or to both such fine and imprisonment.

With regard to meteorological facilities in territory (including Alaska) outside the continental limits of the United States which he has acquired pursuant to this Act or any other provision of law, the Chief of the Weather Bureau is vested with all powers to consolidate, operate, protect, maintain, improve, and administer granted the Administrator by subsection (a) with respect to facilities the latter has acquired.

Crediting of funds.

All funds received under this section, as a result of direct sale or charge by the Administrator or the Chief of the Weather Bureau and which, in the judgment of the Administrator or the Chief of the Weather Bureau, as the case may be, are equivalent to the cost, including handling charges, of the fuel, oil, equipment, food, supplies, services, shelter, or other assistance or services sold or furnished shall be credited to the appropriation from which the cost thereof was paid, and the balance, if any, shall be credited to miscellaneous receipts.

The provisions of section 3709 of the Revised Statutes, as amended (41 U. S. C. 5), shall not apply to any of the leases or contracts made by the Administrator or the Chief of the Weather Bureau pursuant to the provisions of this Act.