ALBERT C. RITCHIE, GOVERNOR. 1279

SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Mary-
land, That an additional article be added to the Code of Public
General Laws to follow Article 1 of Bagby's Annotated Code of
1924 and to be known as Article 1 A and to read as follows:

SEC, 1. (Definition of Terms. ) In this Act, "aircraft" in-
cludes balloon, airplane, hydroplane, and every other vehicle
used for navigation through the air. A hydroplane, while
at rest on water and while being operated on or immediately
above water, shall be governed by the rules regarding water
navigation; while being operated through the air otherwise
than immediately above water, it shall be treated as an air-
craft.

"Aeronaut" includes aviator, pilot, balloonist, and every
other person having any part in the operation of aircraft
while in flight.

"Passenger" includes any person riding in an aircraft,
but having no part in its operation.

SEC. 2. (Sovereignty in Space. ) 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 pursuant to a constitutional grant from the peo-
ple of this State.

SEC. 3. (Ownership of Space. ) 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 Section 4.

SEC. 4. (Lawfulness of Flight. ) Flight in aircraft over
the lands and waters of this State is lawful, unless at such
a low altitude as to interfere with the then existing use to
which the land or water, or the space over the land or water
is put by the owner, or unless so conducted as to be imminently
dangerous to persons or property lawfully on the land or
water beneath. The landing of an aircraft on the lands or
waters of another, without his consent, is unlawful, except in
the case of a forced landing. For damages caused by a forced
landing, however, the owner or lessee of the aircraft or the
aeronaut shall be liable, as provided in Section 5.

SEC. 5. (Damage on Land. ) The owner of every aircraft
which is operated over the lands or waters of this State is ab-
solutely liable for injuries to persons or property on the land
or water beneath, caused by the ascent, descent or flight of
the aircraft, or the dropping or falling of any object there-