Operation of aircraft transport vehicle; conditions; application for and issuance of license or annual renewal; fee; certificate of insurance; communications system; equipment; amount of liability coverage; determination.

(1) A person shall not operate an aircraft transport vehicle unless the vehicle is licensed by the department under this section and is operated as part of a licensed aircraft transport operation. (2) Upon proper application and payment of a $100.00 fee, the department shall issue an aircraft transport vehicle license or annual renewal to the applicant aircraft transport operation. Receipt of the application by the department serves as attestation to the department by the aircraft transport operation that the vehicle is in compliance with the minimum standards required by the department. The inspection of an aircraft transport vehicle by the department is not required as a basis for licensure renewal, unless otherwise determined by the department. (3) An aircraft transport operation shall submit an application and required fee to the department for each vehicle in service. Except as provided in subsection (6), each application shall include a certificate of insurance for the vehicle in the amount and coverage required by the department. (4) An aircraft transport vehicle shall be equipped with a communications system utilizing frequencies and procedures consistent with the statewide emergency medical services communications system developed by the department. (5) An aircraft transport vehicle shall be equipped according to the department's minimum equipment list based upon the level of life support the vehicle and personnel are licensed to provide. (6) When determining the amount of liability coverage required by the department under subsection (3), an aircraft transport operation that transports patients less than an average of 45 times a year over the 5-year period preceding the date coverage begins, is not required to have more than $2,000,000.00 in liability coverage on each aircraft transport vehicle in that aircraft transport operation. An aircraft transport operator described under this subsection that has a valid federal aviation regulation part 135 air carrier certificate issued by the federal aviation administration shall have its base of operation and primary business address on an island in the Great Lakes more than 20 miles from the nearest mainland airport. The aircraft transport operator's primary business address is the address shown in the operations specifications and on the air carrier certificate.