Aviation law

Aviation law is the branch of law that concerns flight, air travel, and associated legal and business concerns. Some of its area of concern overlaps that of admiralty law and, in many cases, aviation law is considered a matter of international law due to the nature of air travel. However, the business aspects of airlines and their regulation also fall under aviation law. In the international realm, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) provides general rules and mediates international concerns to an extent regarding aviation law. The ICAO is a specialized agency of the United Nations.

History

The earliest form of aviation law is the Paris Convention of 1919, which was signed by 27 nations. This convention established the International Commission for Air Navigation (ICAN) which produced the first international standards for aviation, such as rules of the air and signaling.

National Regulation

In the United States, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) oversees all aspects of civil aviation. The FAA was created in 1958 to regulate civil aviation and to oversee the development of the air traffic control system and the National Airspace System, primarily to ensure safety.

In the United Kingdom, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) is the statutory corporation which oversees and regulates all aspects of civil aviation.

International Regulation

The Chicago Convention on International Civil Aviation, signed in 1944, established the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) as a specialized agency of the United Nations charged with coordinating and regulating international air travel. The Convention establishes rules of airspace, aircraft registration and safety, and details the rights of the signatories in relation to air travel.

Air Accident Investigation

In aviation law, an important aspect is the investigations following an aircraft accident to determine the cause and responsibility. In the United States, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) conducts these investigations and provides a report with recommendations to improve aviation safety.

See Also

• Air traffic control
• Aircraft hijacking
• Airline
• Airport
• Aviation safety
• Pilot licensing and certification