Grand Canyon Airlines, Inc. v. Arizona Aviation, Inc.

469 P.2d 486, 12 Ariz. App. 252, 1970 Ariz. App. LEXIS 625
CourtCourt of Appeals of Arizona
DecidedMay 14, 1970
Docket1 CA-CIV 779, 1 CA-CIV 780
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 469 P.2d 486 (Grand Canyon Airlines, Inc. v. Arizona Aviation, Inc.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals of Arizona primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Grand Canyon Airlines, Inc. v. Arizona Aviation, Inc., 469 P.2d 486, 12 Ariz. App. 252, 1970 Ariz. App. LEXIS 625 (Ark. Ct. App. 1970).

Opinion

ROGER G. STRAND, Superior Court Judge.

These actions, consolidated for appeal, were commenced to enjoin Arizona Aviation, Inc. and Tusayan Helicopters from conducting further flight operations and to enjoin the Arizona Department of Aeronautics and the members thereof from attempting to authorize the operation of aircraft within the State of Arizona for the purpose of transporting persons or property for a monetary consideration. The complaints also seek to recover damages from the defendants. Appellant and appel-lees will be referred to as plaintiff and defendants respectively.

The relevant facts are as follows:

On September 1, 1948, the Arizona Corporation Commission issued its General Order No. A-l dealing with the regulation of intra-state air commerce and operation of aircraft as common carriers within the State of Arizona.

In 1962, the Arizona Legislature enacted statutes establishing a Department of Aeronautics to administer the laws relating to-aeronautics in this State. By this legislation, the Department of Aeronautics was given authority to make such rules and regulations concerning aviation as may be necessary to promote public safety and the best interests of aviation in the State.

In accordance with the appropriate enabling legislation, the Department of Aeronautics, acting on behalf of the State of Arizona, received land and funds from the United States Government which were then used in the construction of portions of the Grand Canyon National Park Airport.

Plaintiff was an Arizona corporation doing business as a common carrier by aircraft in Coconino County with headquarters at Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona. Plaintiff was also the holder of a Certificate of Convenience and Necessity issued by the Corporation Commission of the State of Arizona.

The defendant, Arizona Aviation, Inc., is an Arizona corporation conducting flight operations in Coconino County, Arizona. On May 15, 1967, this corporation and the State of Arizona, through the Arizona Department of Aeronautics, entered into a lease agreement for a parcel of land located at Grand Canyon National Park Airport.

The defendants Thurston and Learn, doing business as Tusayan Helicopters, furnish flying services from Grand Canyon Airport in Coconino County, Arizona.

Arizona Aviation, Inc. and Tusayan Helicopters are both holders of appropriate Operating Certificates issued by the Federal Aviation Agency and both are licensed as Commercial Flight Operators by the Arizona Department of Aeronautics. Neither Arizona Aviation, Inc. nor Tusayan Helicopters holds a Certificate of Convenience and Necessity issued by the Arizona Corporation Commission.

*254 The trial court granted a Motion to Dismiss plaintiff’s complaint as to certain defendants and granted Summary-Judgment in favor of the remaining defendants. Appeals from these orders present the following questions for review .by this court.

1. Whether or not persons or corporations engaged in intra-state air commerce as common carriers are subject to regulation and control by the Arizona Corporation Commission, and must obtain certificates of convenience and necessity from that body.
.2. Whether or not §§ 40-205 and 2-209 •of the Arizona Revised Statutes (Supp. 1969-70) pertaining to the regulation of •commercial flight operators and commercial flight operations are in such conflict with Article 15 of the Arizona Constitution as to render said statutes unconstitutional.
3. Whether or not the United States Government has by Congressional enactment preempted the control and regulation of the Grand Canyon National Park Airport and its operation.

The answers to questions 1 and 2 have recently been decided adversely to defendants in the Supreme Court decision of Arizona Corporation Commission v. Superior Court, 105 Ariz. 56, 459 P.2d 489 (1969).

The Court held

“ * * * that any person engaged in the transportation of persons or property for compensation as a common carrier, including transportation by aircraft, shall not operate within this State as such without first having obtained from the Commission a certificate of public convenience and necessity. Our decision is consistent with the well-settled policy of regulated monopoly in this State as laid down by our legislature and long recognized by this Court.” 459 P.2d, at 494.

The Court further held in connection ■with the interrelation of A.R.S. § 40-205 •and § 2-209 (Supp. 1969-70) :

“In the instant case, prior to the passage of A.R.S. § 40-205 and A.R.S. § 2-209, jurisdiction was granted by the Constitution to the Commission to regulate common carriers; A.R.S. § 40-607 enlarged the Commission’s power to include the granting of certificates of convenience and necessity.
* * * * * *
“ * * * A.R.S. § 2-209 provides for (1) certificating of commercial flight operators, and (2) carrying of a certain amount of insurance by such operators. It is our determination that A.R.S. § 40-205 provides simply that the Commission shall have no power or authority to certificate commercial flight operators or to require such operators to carry insurance.
“This Court has recognized the authority of the State to exercise its police power in areas involving public health, safety, and welfare.
* jfc * * ‡
“We therefore hold that A.R.S. § 40-205 is not in conflict with Article 15 of the Arizona Constitution; we further hold that A.R.S. § 2-209 does not limit whatever power the Commission has to require and issue certificates of public convenience and necessity for common carriers by aircraft.” 459 P.2d, at 495-496.

The remaining issue to be considered is whether or not the United States Government has, by Congressional enactment, preempted the control and regulation of the Grand Canyon National Park Airport and its operation; or, stated in another fashion, may the State of Arizona, acting through the Arizona Corporation Commission, lawfully require issuance of a Certificate of Convenience and Necessity as a condition precedent to operation from the Grand Canyon National Park Airport, this facility having been constructed on land and funds furnished in part by the federal government.

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Bluebook (online)
469 P.2d 486, 12 Ariz. App. 252, 1970 Ariz. App. LEXIS 625, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/grand-canyon-airlines-inc-v-arizona-aviation-inc-arizctapp-1970.