R.I. Gen. Laws § 1-4-10
The president and CEO shall adopt and promulgate, and may amend or repeal, rules and regulations establishing minimum standards with which all air navigation facilities, air schools, and flying clubs must comply, and shall adopt and enforce, and may amend or repeal rules, regulations, and orders, to safeguard from accident and to protect the safety of persons operating or using aircraft and persons and property on the ground, and to develop and promote aeronautics within this state. No rule or regulation of the president and CEO shall apply to airports, landing fields, air beacons or other air navigation facilities owned or operated within this state by the federal government. In order to avoid the danger of accident incident to confusion arising from conflicting rules, regulations, and orders governing aeronautics, the rules, regulations, and orders of the president and CEO shall be kept in conformity as nearly as may be with the federal legislation, rules, regulations, and orders on aeronautics, and shall not be inconsistent with paramount federal legislation, rules, regulations, and orders on the subject.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 1-4-10