Chapter 114 — AERONAUTICS AND ASTRONAUTICS

114.001 Definitions. In this chapter: (1) “Department” means the department of transportation. (2) “Division of hearings and appeals” means the division of hearings and appeals in the department of administration. (3) “Secretary” means the secretary of transportation. History: 19…

114.002 Definitions. As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise requires: (1) “Aeronautics” means the science and art of aircraft flight and including but not limited to transportation by aircraft; the operation, construction, repair or maintenance of aircraft, aircraf…

114.01 State airport system. The department is directed to cooperate with and assist any federal aeronautical agency in the preparation and annual revision of the national airport plan and to lay out a comprehensive state system of airports adequate to provide for the aeronautica…

114.02 Sky sovereignty. Sovereignty in the space above the lands and waters of this state is declared to rest in the state, except where granted to and assumed by the United States.

114.03 Landowner’s rights skyward. The ownership of the space above the lands and waters of this state is declared to be vested in the several owners of the surface beneath, subject to the right of flight described in s. 114.04.

114.04 Flying and landing, limitations. Subject to ss.

114.045 Limitation on the operation of drones. (1) No person may operate a drone, as defined in s. 941.292 (1), over a correctional institution, as defined in s. 801.02 (7) (a) 1., including any grounds of the institution, except that a person may operate a drone over an institut…

114.05 Damages by aircraft or spacecraft. The liability of the owner, lessee and pilot of every aircraft or spacecraft operating over the lands or waters of this state for injuries or damage to persons or property on the land or water beneath, caused by the ascent, descent or fli…

114.06 Inter-aircraft liability. The liability of the owner of one aircraft, to the owner of another aircraft, or to aeronauts or passengers on either aircraft, for damage caused by collision on land or in the air shall be determined by the rules of law applicable to torts on lan…

114.07 Criminal jurisdiction. All crimes, torts and other wrongs committed by or against an aeronaut, astronaut, or passenger while in flight over this state shall be governed by the laws of this state; and the question whether damage occasioned by or to an aircraft or spacecraft…

114.08 Contracts made in flight. All contractual and other legal relations entered into by aeronauts or passengers while in flight over this state shall have the same effect as if entered into on the land or water beneath.

114.09 Intoxicated and reckless flying; penalty. (1) (a) In this subsection: 1. “Drug” has the meaning specified in s. 450.01 (10). 2. “Prohibited alcohol concentration” means an alcohol concentration of 0.04 or more if there is no passenger in the aircraft, more than 0.00 if the…

114.095 Dropping objects prohibited. No operator of an aircraft and no passenger therein shall drop any object therefrom except loose water or loose sand ballast; provided, however, that this section shall not prohibit the dusting or spraying of vegetation with insecticides dropp…

114.10 Killing birds or animals. Any person who, while in flight within this state, intentionally kills or attempts to kill any birds or animals or who shoots at any bird or animal from an aircraft is subject to the penalties provided under s. 29.971 (7). History: 1981 c. 243; 19…

114.103 Private security personnel; report to a law enforcement authority. (1) In this section: (a) “Controlled substance” has the meaning given in s. 961.01 (4). (am) “Controlled substance analog” has the meaning given in s. 961.01 (4m). (b) “Law enforcement officer” has the mea…

114.105 (3) and 175.55, and except as provided in ss. 114.045 and 942.10, flight of or in aircraft or spacecraft over the lands and waters of this state is lawful, unless at such a low altitude as to intentionally interfere with the then existing use to which the land or water, o…

114.11 Local airports and spaceports; interstate reciprocity. (1) The governing body of any county, city, village or town in this state is hereby authorized to acquire, establish, construct, own, control, lease, equip, improve, maintain and operate airports or landing fields or l…

114.12 Condemnation of lands for airports and spaceports. Any lands acquired, owned, controlled or occupied by such counties, cities, villages and towns for the purposes enumerated in s. 114.11 shall and are hereby declared to be acquired, owned, controlled and occupied for a pub…

114.13 Purchase of land for airports and spaceports. Private property needed by a county, city, village or town for an airport or landing field or landing and take-off strip, or for a spaceport or spacecraft launch or landing area, or property or rights for the protection of the …

114.134 Airport and spaceport standards and approval. (1) PUBLIC AIRPORT AND SPACEPORT INFORMATION. No person shall operate an airport or spaceport within this state that is open to the general public unless effective runway and landing strip lengths are properly reported, publis…

114.135 Airport and spaceport protection. It is declared to be in the public interest that the navigable airspace over the state and the aerial approaches to any airport or spaceport be maintained in a condition best suited for the safe operation of aircraft or spacecraft and to …

114.136 or to objects located within areas zoned under s. 62.23 (7) where the zoning ordinance enacted under said subsection controls the height of structures. Cross-reference: See also ch. Trans 56, Wis. adm. code. (8) RULES, REGULATIONS, STANDARDS AND CRITERIA. In carrying out …

114.14 Equipment, control of airport; expense; regulations. (1) The governing body of a city, village, town or county which has established an airport or landing field, or landing and take-off strip, and acquired, leased or set apart real property for such purpose may construct, …

114.15 Appropriation, taxation for airports. The local authorities of a city, village, town or county to which this chapter is applicable having power to appropriate money therein may annually appropriate and cause to be raised by taxation in such city, village, town or county, a…

114.151 Union airports and spaceports. All powers conferred upon any county, city, village or town by ss. 114.11 to 114.15, relating to the acquisition, establishment, construction, ownership, control, lease, equipment, improvement, maintenance, operation and regulation of airpor…

114.16 Pilots; federal license or permit. It shall be unlawful for any person to pilot within this state any civil aircraft, unless such person is the holder of a currently effective pilot’s license or student’s permit issued by the government of the United States; but this restr…

114.17 Mechanic’s license, issue, presentation. Any person repairing, adjusting, inspecting or overhauling aircraft or aircraft engines within this state shall be in possession of a mechanic’s license issued to the person by the federal government, which must be presented for ins…

114.18 Aircraft; airworthiness; federal license. It shall be unlawful for any person to operate, pilot or navigate, or cause or authorize to be operated, piloted or navigated within this state any civil aircraft, unless such aircraft has a currently effective license issued by th…

114.19 Display of licenses. The certificate of the license or permit respectively required of a pilot or a student shall be kept in the personal possession of the licensee or permittee when the licensee or permittee is operating an aircraft within this state. The certificate of t…

114.195 Ultralight identification. (1) In this section, “ultralight aircraft” means an aircraft which meets all of the following requirements: (a) Is used or intended to be used for manned operation in the air by a single occupant. (b) Is used or intended to be used for recreatio…

114.20 (4) and which is owned or held by a museum owned or operated by an organization qualified as a tax exempt organization under section 501 of the internal revenue code. (17) “Operation of aircraft” or “operate aircraft” means the use, navigation or piloting of aircraft in th…

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. History: 1987 a. 225; 1991 a. 269…

114.31 Powers and duties of the secretary of transportation. (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…

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

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, departme…

114.32 Federal aid for airports. (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 faci…

114.33 Initiation of airport project; sponsorship; land acquisition. (1) Any county, city, village or town, either singly or jointly with one or more counties, cities, villages or towns, or any owner of a public-use airport desiring to sponsor an airport development project to be…

114.34 State and sponsor’s share of cost. (1) The costs of airport improvement projects involving federal aid, in excess of the federal government’s share, shall be borne by the sponsor and the state, except that the state shall pay not more than one-half of the excess costs, nor…

114.35 and 114.37, the secretary may acquire by gift, devise, purchase or condemnation any lands for establishing, protecting, laying out, enlarging, extending, constructing, reconstructing, improving and maintaining airports, or interests in lands in and about airports. After co…

114.37 Advance land acquisition loan program for airport projects. (1) PURPOSE. The purpose of this section is to promote the state’s interest in preserving and improving a safe and efficient air transportation system by means of a program to provide loans for advance land acquis…

114.375 Advance land acquisition loan program for spaceport projects. (1) PURPOSE. The purpose of this sec- May 22, 2026, are designated by NOTES. (Published 5-22-26) 114.375 Updated 23-24 Wis. Stats. AERONAUTICS AND ASTRONAUTICS tion is to promote the state’s interest in aerospa…

114.40 Disclosure of insurance coverage for renter pilots. (1) DEFINITION. In this section, “rental agent” means a person who, on a regular basis and in the ordinary course of business, rents or leases an aircraft to another person. (2) REQUIRED DISCLOSURES. Except as provided in…

114.60 Definitions. In this subchapter: (1) “Aerospace facilities” means facilities and infrastructure in this state used primarily to provide aerospace services, including: laboratories and research facilities; office, storage, and manufacturing facilities; instructional and oth…

114.61 Creation and organization. (1) There is created a public body corporate and politic to be known as the “Wisconsin Aerospace Authority.” The board of the authority shall consist of the following members: (a) Six members nominated by the governor, and with the advice and con…

114.62 Powers of authority. The authority has all of the powers necessary or convenient to carry out the purposes and provisions of this chapter. In addition to all other powers granted by this chapter, the authority may do any of the following: (1) Adopt bylaws and policies and …

114.63 Duties of authority. The authority shall do all of the following: (2) Promote this state’s aerospace industry; analyze trends in the aerospace industry and recommend actions to be taken by this state to compete in the global aerospace industry; and coordinate access to com…

114.64 Annual reports. (1) The authority shall keep an accurate account of all of its activities and of all of its receipts and expenditures, and shall annually in January make a report of its activities, receipts, expenditures, and financial condition to the governor and the chi…

114.65 Maintenance of records. (1) (a) Subject to rules promulgated by the department of administration under s. 16.611, the authority may transfer to or maintain in optical disc or electronic format any record in its custody and retain the record in that format only. (b) Subject…

114.67 Cooperation with governmental units. To enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of the authority, the state, any political subdivision of the state, municipality, or other governmental unit may enter into cooperative agreements with the authority for furnishing any facili…

114.68 Political activities. (1) No employee of the authority may directly or indirectly solicit or receive subscriptions or contributions for any partisan political party or any political purpose while engaged in his or her official duties as an employee. No employee of the auth…