The Aircraft Act, 1934

(1) This Act may be called the 1*** Aircraft Act, 1934. 2[(2) It extends3to the whole of India 4*** and applies also-- (a) to citizens of India wherever they may be; 5*** (b) to and to the persons on aircraft registered in India wherever they may be;] 6[(c) to and to the persons on aircraft registered outside India but for the time being in or overIndia; and (d) to an aircraft operated by a person who is not a citizen of India but has his principal place ofbusiness or permanent residence in India.]

In this Act, unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or context, -- (1) "aircraft" means any machine which can derive support in the atmosphere from reactions ofthe air, 7[other than reactions of the air against the earth's surface] and includes balloons whetherfixed or free, airships, kites, gliders and flying machines; (2) "aerodrome" means any definite or limited ground or water area intended to be used, eitherwholly or in part, for the landing or departure of aircraft, and includes all buildings, sheds, vessels,piers and other structures thereon or appertaining thereto; 7[(2A) "aerodrome reference point", in relation to any aerodrome, means a designated pointestablished in the horizontal plane at or near the geometric centre of that part of the aerodromereserved for the departure or landing of aircraft;] (3) "import" means bringing into 2[India]; and (4) "export" means taking out of 2India].

The Central Government may, bynotification in the Official Gazette, exempt from 1[all or any of the provisions of this Act] any aircraft orclass of aircraft and any person or class of persons, or may direct that such provisions shall apply to suchaircraft or persons subject to such modifications as may be specified in the notification.

1[4. Power of Central Government to make rules to implement the Convention of 1944.--2[Subject to the provisions of section 14, the Central Government] may, by notification in the OfficialGazette, make such rules as appear to it to be necessary for carrying out the Convention relating toInternational Civil Aviation signed at Chicago on the 7th day of December, 1944 (including any Annexthereto relating to international standards and recommended practices) as amended from time to time.]

1[4A. Safety oversight functions.--The Director General of Civil Aviation or any other officerspecially empowered in this behalf by the Central Government shall perform the safety oversightfunctions in respect of matters specified in this Act or the rules made thereunder.]