Aerospace law is seeing a gradual merger between the two previously isolated regimes of human conduct pertaining separately to air and to space law. The use of information technology is arguably the foremost compelling force responsible for the unity of the aviation and space activities of man. It is therefore inevitable that information technology, computer law and the laws pertaining to State and individual responsibility are inextricably intertwined in a net of legal issues which would emerge in this new millennium. Frontiers of Aerospace Law introduces such issues as challenges to be addressed, both as corollaries and concomitants to this fundamental and overriding trend in the merger between air and space law. The issues range in space from legal liabilities pertaining to extra-terrestrial intelligence; environmental pollution in outer space; conduct of persons in outer space; to cyber crimes affecting outer space activities; and in air law, issues such as aircraft noise; economic trends of airports and air navigation services; funding for aviation safety projects; and emergent aero-medical issues and privacy of airline pilots. Its recommendations are geared to look future reality directly in the face and find legal solutions. In the realm of public international law, remedial measures are almost non-existent in the field of aerospace law, except for a solid foundation given to the Council of the International Civil Aviation Organization to hear disputes between States on matters relating to civil aviation, a facility which has so far scarcely been used in the Organization’s 55 year old history. Apart from a few provisions in the various space law conventions, there is no single coherent settlement mechanism at space law. The increasingly rapid proliferation of space activities in the coming years and their diversity leave no room for doubt that new laws will have to be put into place and new mechanisms to combat problems will have to be carefully thoug

    Contents: Space law concepts; Space law issues; Space law - emergent trends; Summary of the Issues; Air law issues; Conclusion; Index.

    Biography

    Ruwantissa I.R. Abeyratne, International Civil Aviation Organization, Montreal, Canada. A senior official in the International Civil Aviation Organization. He holds the degree of doctor of civil laws from McGill University (1996), where he wrote his thesis on aviation security laws in McGill’s Institute of Air and Space Law. He is also a law graduate of the University of Colombo, Sri Lanka (1978), and a masters graduate in law of Monash University, Victoria, Australia (1981), where he specialized in international law and air law. After his graduation from Monash in 1982, he joined Air Lanka and worked as the airline’s Chief Co-ordinator and Head of International Relations and Insurance, holding both positions concurrently, until he joined ICAO in 1990.

    ’This book fills a great lacuna in the legal literature pertaining to current and future issues in aerospace law which have thus far not been given sufficient attention. This is a fascinating, original book and an asset to existing literature. Dr Abeyratne has made excellent use of his distinguished service as an aviation lawyer and economist at ICAO by addressing current and topical issues in their true perspective and practical application.’ Professor I.H. Ph. Diederiks-Verschoor, Vice Chairman of the International Institute of Air and Space Law at the University of Leiden, The Netherlands ’Contrasted with the entry into the twentieth century, we have now entered the twenty-first century at supersonic speed with respect to the continuing development of aviation and space activity. The challenges ahead are ominous. The legal issues relating to the continuing development of international and domestic air transportation and the exploration and utilization of outer space are becoming considerably more complex. The issues must be addressed early in the twenty-first century in order to continue the orderly development of air transportation and outer space utilization. Dr. Ruwantissa Abeyratne, in his book, Frontiers of Aerospace Law, addresses the challenges that lie ahead and the anticipated legal issues that must be addressed in the future. This book is a must read for all who presently are or may become involved in this area of the law and should be on the desk of every lawyer who may be called upon to address these challenges.’ George N. Tompkins, Jr. Counsel, Schnader Harrison Segal & Lewis, New York, USA ’...a good collection of studies on today's problems...Abeyratne is where the action is, and as he is a good analyst and a professional reporter, his book should lie under the Christmas tree.’ Air and Space Law ’It is refreshing to read a legal book that not only identifies future problem areas but also is bold enough to offer solutio