Indiana enacts abandoned aircraft bill

AOPA and the Experimental Aircraft Association worked with Aviation Indiana, the state aviation agency, at its request to develop procedures to accomplish the disposal of derelict aircraft or the recovery of delinquent hangar or ramp fees by airport management or a fixed-base operator.

“Current Indiana law concerning abandoned motor vehicles did not cover aircraft specifically, and due to the sometimes-complex nature of aircraft ownership, a stand-alone bill was drafted,” said Kyle Lewis, AOPA’s Great Lakes region manager.

The bill gives the owner notified that an aircraft in a “wrecked, inoperative, or partially dismantled condition” for a period of at least 60 days may be subject to disposal 30 days to remove it and pay outstanding fees before action is taken.

The law does not apply to unmanned or ultralight aircraft, and an aircraft being repaired is not considered an abandoned aircraft under the measure.

“Aviation Indiana appreciates AOPA’s work with us throughout the legislative process,” said Bart Giesler, the agency’s director. “Both in the House and the Senate, legislators asked where AOPA was on the issue and it was reassuring to them that AOPA was working with us on the legislation.”

Before the bill’s enactment, an airport operator had limited means of resolving abandoned-aircraft situations, Lewis said, noting that placing a lien on an abandoned aircraft might help recover delinquent fees but had not provided a way to remove the aircraft from the premises.

“In Indiana, these aircraft have become a growing concern at airports with limited ramp and/or hangar space,” he said.“Paying customers support airports and FBOs, and abandoned aircraft make that more difficult by consuming precious ramp or hangar space.”