The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-06-13
Connecticut the
First State to
Control Airships
Text of Novel Bill, Which Was
Drawn up by A. Holland
Forbes

The following bill recently passed
by the Connecticut state legislature
and signed by the governor was
drawn up by A. Holland Forbes, pres
ident of the Aero club of Connecticut
and former governor and acting pres
ident of the Aero club of America.
This is the first law for the regula-
ton of aerial navigation ever passed
by any state or country in the world.
An act concerning the registration
numbering and use of airships and
the licensing Of operators of such air.
ships.
Section 1. The term "airship" in
this act includes every kind of vehi-
Gle or structure intended for use as a
means of transporting passengers or
goods or both in the air. The term
'aeronaut' in this act includes ev-
eryone who, being in or upon such
vehicle or structure or anything at
tached thereto, undertakes to direct
it's ascent or course or descent in the
air or the ascent or course or descent
in the air of anything attached TO
such vehicle or structure. The verb
fly and the word voyage" as used
in this act, include every kind of To-
comotion by an airship.
more airships kept in this state, shall
file annually in the office of. the Sec
rotary of state a blank furnished by
the secretary; a statement of his
home residence. postoffice address.
and a description of each airship
owned or controIleld by him, land shall
give such other information required
by the secretary, and said secretary
shall register such airship, assigning
to 1t a distinguishing number, and
shall thereupon issue to such owner
a certificate of registration, which
idence and post office address of such
owner and the number or mark as
signed to such airship and shall in
form contain such further informa-
ton as said secretary may determine.
Such certificate shall at all times be
carried upon such airship and shall be
subject to examination upon demand,
by any proper officer. An applica-
ton for the registration of an airship
by an owner who does not file his APP
plication until after the first day Of
June in any year, shall be entitled to
registration, calculated to the first
day of the month in which said ap-
plication is made. Upon the trans
fer of ownership of any airship, It's
registration shall expire and the per-
son in whose name such airship IS
certificate Of registration to the sec
rotary, with written notice contain
ing the date of such transfer or own
ership and the name, place of resi-
dence and post office address of the
new owner. The registration of ev-
cry airship shall expire at midnight
on the thirty-first day of December in
each year.
Section g. Every airship while in
use or operation, shall display, in a
conspicuous place, as designated by
the secretary, duplicaso @-l0ers in
characters not less than three feet in
height, SO as to be visible to those
who may be beneath it; said num-
bers to be displayed in such manner
as the secretary may direct.
Section A. A person may fly over
land or water owned or leased by
err of which has given written per-
mission to him to 50 fly, but no 9TH
err person shall direct or operate an
airship or act as aeronaut of any
airship until he shall have obtained
from the secretary license for the
purpose, and no such license shall be
issued until the said secretary has eX-
amined said applicant or caused him
to be examined by one or more COM
petent persons in such a manner as
said secretary may deem advisable
and said secretary is satisfied that
the applicant is a proper person to re-
ceive it. Nothing herein contained
shall prevent the operating of an
airship by an unlicensed person over
the age of Fl years or more, other
than a person whose application has
been refused or where a license has
been suspended or revoked, II accom-
panied by a licensed aeronaut which
said licensed aeronaut shall be per-
sonally liable for any violation of the
provisions of this act Licenses for
directing or operating an airship
shall be issued by said secretary, but
no license shall be issued to any per-
son under, the age Of FL years. Lii
censes shall be divided into three
separate and distinct classes-licen-
ses to operate spherical balloons, IL
cense to operate dirigible balloons. Ii
cense to operate aeroplanes or heav-
for licenses shall be made upon
blanks furnished by said secretary
and such application blanks shall be
in such form and contain such pro-
visions, not inconsistent with this act,
as said secretary may determine. A
number shall be assigned to each Ii
cense and a proper record of all ap-
plications for licenses and licenses is
sued shall be kept by said secretary
at his office and shall be open to
public inspection. Each license ~Tls Il
state the name, place of res-~ nee
anu pOSlO1llCS dduTSSS VI lIlc liCel-
see and the number assigned to him
and such provisions not inconsistent
with this act as said secretary may
determine. Such licenses shall ex-
pire at midnight on the last day of
February in each year. Such a Ii
cense shall, at all times, be carried
by the Icensee when he is directing
or operating an airship in this state
and shall be subject to examination,
upon demand, by any proper officer.
Section 5. The secretary shall col
lect fees as follows: For the regis
tration Of every airship, SIS; for ex-
animation and tests of applicant for
license to direct and operate airships
as provided in this act, such sum as
he may demand, in any instance not
exceeding $25; for license to operate
and direct airships, 81; for every ad-
ditional copy Of certificate of registra-
ton or license. 80 cents.
Section 6. The secretary may sus-
pend or revoke any certificate of reg
istration or any license issued to any
person under the provisions of this
act, after due hearing, for any cause
he may deem sufficient and may sus-
pend the license of the operator