The following definitions apply in this part, unless otherwise stated:

(a) Aircraft. An “aircraft” is any device now known, or hereafter invented, used or designed for navigation or flight in the air. It does not include hovercraft.

(b) Aircraft commander. An “aircraft commander” is any person serving on an aircraft who is in charge or has command of its operation and navigation.

(c) Agent. An “agent” is any person who is authorized to act for or in place of:

(1) An owner or operator of a scheduled airline by written authority; or

(2) An owner or operator of a non-scheduled airline, by power of attorney.

(d) Commercial aircraft. A “commercial aircraft” is any aircraft transporting passengers and/or cargo for some payment or other consideration, including money or services rendered.

(e) International airport. An “international airport” is any airport designated by:

(1) The Secretary of the Treasury or the Commissioner of Customs as a port of entry for aircraft arriving in the U.S. from any place outside thereof and for the merchandise carried on such aircraft;

(2) The Attorney General as a port of entry for aliens arriving on such aircraft; and

(3) The Secretary of Health and Human Services as a place for quarantine inspection.

(f) Landing rights airport. A “landing rights airport” is any airport, other than an international airport or user fee airport, at which flights from a foreign area are given permission by Customs to land.

(g) Preclearance. “Preclearance” is the examination and inspection of air travelers and their baggage, at the request of an airline, at foreign places where Customs personnel are stationed for that purpose. Preclearance may be used only for air travelers and their baggage, not for merchandise.

(h) Private aircraft. A “private aircraft” is any aircraft engaged in a personal or business flight to or from the U.S. which is not:

(1) Carrying passengers and/or cargo for commercial purposes;

(2) Leaving the U.S. carrying neither passengers nor cargo in order to lade passengers and/or cargo in a foreign area for commercial purposes; or

(3) Returning to the U.S. carrying neither passengers nor cargo in ballast after leaving with passengers and/or cargo for commercial purposes;

(i) Public aircraft. A “public aircraft”, is any aircraft owned by, or under the complete control and management of the U.S. government or any of its agencies, or any aircraft owned by or under the complete control and management of any foreign government which exempts public aircraft of the U.S. from arrival, entry and clearance requirements similar to those provided in subpart C of this part, but not including any government owned aircraft engaged in carrying persons or property for commercial purposes. This definition applies if the aircraft is:

(1) Manned entirely by members of the armed forces or civil service of such government, or by both;

(2) Transporting only property of such government, or passengers traveling on official business of such government; or

(3) Carrying neither passengers nor cargo.

(j) Residue cargo. “Residue cargo” is any cargo on board an aircraft arriving in the U.S. from a foreign area if the:

(1) Final delivery airport in the U.S. is not the port of arrival; or

(2) Cargo remains on board the aircraft and travels from port to port in the U.S., for final delivery in a foreign area.

(k) Scheduled airline. A “scheduled airline” is any individual, partnership, corporation or association:

(1) Engaged in air transportation under regular schedules to, over, away from, or within the U.S.; and

(2) Holding a Foreign Air Carrier Permit or a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity, issued by the Department of Transportation pursuant to 14 CFR parts 201 and 213.

(l) United States. Except when used in another context, “U.S.” means the territory of the several States, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico, including the territorial waters and overlying airspace.

(m) User fee airport. A “user fee airport” is an airport so designated by Customs. Flights from a foreign area may be granted permission to land at a user fee airport rather than at an international airport or a landing rights airport. An informational listing of user fee airports is contained in § 122.15.

Except as otherwise provided for in this chapter, and insofar as such laws and regulations are applicable, aircraft arriving or having arrived from or departing for any foreign port or place, and the persons and merchandise, including baggage, carried thereon, shall be subject to the laws and regulations applicable to vessels to the extent that such laws and regulations are administered or enforced by Customs, as provided in 19 U.S.C. 1644 and 1644a.

The forms mentioned in this part may be purchased from the director of port of entry. A small quantity of each form is set aside by port directors for free distribution and official use.

A translation in the English language shall be attached to the original and each copy of any form or document written or printed in a foreign language.

(a) Specifications. Subject to approval by Customs, the forms mentioned in this part may be printed by private parties if the specified size, wording arrangement, style and size of type, and quality of paper are used.

(b) Exceptions. Port directors may accept privately printed copies of the General Declaration (Customs Form 7507) and air cargo manifest (Customs Form 7509) which are different from the official forms. The privately printed forms shall include all information required on the official forms. The differences allowed are:

(1) General Declaration. Customs Form 7507 may be printed in several languages, so long as the form includes an English version. The instructions on the reverse side of the official form may be omitted.

(2) Air cargo manifest. Customs Form 7509 may be changed to allow for additional information used by the airline.