Air and Space Law Commons^™

Drones, Henry H. Perritt Jr., Eliot O. Sprague

Vanderbilt Journal of Entertainment & Technology Law

Drones represent the latest revolution in civilian aviation. The sophisticated miniaturized electronics, electric propulsion systems, low cost, and ability to capture close-in imagery make microdrones attractive assets for aerial activities that have never before been feasible. Larger configurations--machodrones--have longer endurance and range and the capability to fly at higher altitudes. They will complement manned airplanes and helicopters in missions for which their cost proves advantageous or for which manned flight is too hazardous or otherwise undesirable. Specific features of electric propulsion, control systems, and the capability of autonomous flight maneuvers will stimulate new types of missions for microdrones; in other …

The Regulation Of The Recreational Use Of “Drones” For Aerial Photography And Videography: Comparing Singapore’S Unmanned Aircraft Act With Other Legislation, Siyuan Chen

Research Collection Yong Pung How School Of Law

In the last few years, there has been a dramatic increase in the use of remote-controlled copters or “drones” by recreational users to capture aerial photographs and videos on an unprecedented scale. The convergence of cutting-edge technological developments in gyroscopic gimbals, long-range wireless transmissions, GPS-enabled stabilisation and flightpath-preprogramming, first-person-views, and compact digital imaging has led to the proliferation of these camera-carrying devices that even hobbyists can pilot with reasonable safety. However, there has been a consistent stream of public concern relating to issues of safety, privacy, and disruption of commercial interests. Lost in the paranoid cacophony is a question that …

Law Abiding Drones, Henry H. Perritt Jr., Eliot O. Sprague

Henry H. Perritt, Jr.

Warsaw Convention--A New Cause Of Action For Emotional Distress Under Old Section 17: A Look At Floyd V. Eastern Airlines, 872 F.2d 1467 (11th Cir. 1989), Larry Johnson

Georgia Journal of International & Comparative Law

No abstract provided.

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles: Legitimate Weapon Systems Or Unlawful Angels Of Death?, Michael J. Deegan

Pace International Law Review

Since the invasion of Afghanistan, the United States has utilized Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) to locate, surveil and kill members of the Taliban, Al-Qaeda and its associated forces. Such killings have decimated the leadership of these groups and disrupted their operations. However, there are collateral effects from UAV killings including civilian deaths. These deaths increase resentment and hatred toward the US, which is channeled by terrorist groups to recruit new members and for local support. Moreover, targeted killings outside a combat zone have political and diplomatic consequences. This paper argues that the current uses of UAV are legal under international …

U.S. Private On-Orbit Space Situational Awareness Systems And Services: Legal And Regulatory Challenges, Michael Mineiro

Space Traffic Management Conference

One component of Space Traffic Management (STM) is on-orbit Space Situational Awareness (SSA) systems and services. Advances in technology and a growing demand for SSA services, information, and data, coupled with U.S. Government policy that promotes the purchase and use of commercial SSA capabilities, means that private commercial sector is likely to have an important role to play. To date, there is no federal agency with clear jurisdiction over on-orbit remote sensing operations. This paper examines the current regulatory framework, identifies gaps and limitations, and identifies possible ways forward.

Small Satellites And Liability Associated With Space Traffic Situational Awareness, George Anthony Long

Space Traffic Management Conference

At the commencement of the space age, satellites were very small objects that subsequently grew in size and complexity. A re-emergence of small satellites is occurring given that technology now allows them to perform certain operations of large satellites. This paper will explore the risk and liability in space traffic situational awareness associated with the proliferation in the deployment of small satellites.

Small satellites encompass a range of space objects referred to as nanosatellites, microsatellites, picosatellites, cube satellites, femtosatellites and other designations. These satellites are generally placed into orbit as part of a “piggyback” payload on other launches or cargo …

Toward The International Regime For Space Traffic Management -What To Fix The Current International Regulations-, Yu Takeuchi

Space Traffic Management Conference

Space Traffic Management (STM) is an effective concept for providing a solution to the current congested, contested, and competed situation of outer space. However the status of international legal system governing outer space remains at its original formation of the 1960s. Filling this gap is an inescapable task soon or late and it is necessary to establish the international regime for STM to do so. Various issues of the UN Space Treaties and relevant soft laws have been discussed in the context of STM item-by-item, but few are oriented to the establishment of a comprehensive international regime for STM.

This …

How To Reach An International Civil Aviation Organization Role In Space Traffic Management, Lt. Col. Stephen Hunter

Space Traffic Management Conference

The late President Emeritus of the ICAO Council, Assad Kotaite, recommended a new annex to the Chicago Convention to extend ICAO responsibilities for producing International Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs) for suborbital and orbital civil space flights[i]. Additionally, the U.S. Office of the Secretary of Defense and the European Union have independently conceived standards that have yet to mature to an amicable stage. This impetus to develop SARPs is growing more urgent as space becomes more congested, contested and competitive. In order to best determine how to mature internationally acceptable SARPs for seamless operations from tropospheric to exo-atmospheric …

The Cape Town Convention And The Law Of Outer Space: Five Scenarios, Mark J. Sundahl

Law Faculty Articles and Essays

The adoption of the Space Assets Protocol to the Cape Town Convention marked a new era in the evolution of the law of outer space by providing the first space treaty regarding private international law. This Protocol was not created in a legal vacuum, but was drafted against the background of the existing United Nations space treaties that were drafted in the 1960s and 1970s. Although the existing UN treaties address public international law and therefore cover subject matter that is quite distinct from the private law issues addressed by the Space Assets Protocol, there are still points at which …

Recovery For Mental Injuries That Are Accompanied By Physical Injuries Under Article 17 Of The Warsaw Convention: The Progeny Of Eastern Airlines, Inc. V. Floyd, Jean-Paul Boulee

Georgia Journal of International & Comparative Law

No abstract provided.

Blue Helmets In The Next Frontier: The Future Is Now, Sean R. Mikula

Georgia Journal of International & Comparative Law

No abstract provided.

The International Air Transportation Association's Attempt To Modify International Air Disaster Liability: An Admirable Effort With An Impossible Goal, Jonathan L. Neville

Georgia Journal of International & Comparative Law

No abstract provided.

National Airline Policy, Timothy M. Ravich

University of Miami Business Law Review

No abstract provided.

Flights Of Fancy And Fights Of Fury: Arbitration And Adjudication Of Commercial And Political Disputes In International Aviation, Paul S. Dempsey

Georgia Journal of International & Comparative Law

No abstract provided.

U.S.-Eu Second Stage Air Transport Agreement: Toward An Open Aviation Area, Charles A. Hunnicutt

Georgia Journal of International & Comparative Law

No abstract provided.

Is Statutory Immunity For Spaceflight Operators Good Enough?, Maria-Vittoria “Giugi” Carminati

Legislation and Policy Brief

Over the past decade, the commercial spaceflight industry has seen a growth never witnessed before. The likes of Virgin Galactic and Xcor are promising suborbital flights to anyone willing to pay the price. Golden Spike is selling tickets to the moon. And SpaceX was re-supplying the ISS as a commercial provider as of 2012. States have responded to this growth by trying to make themselves more attractive to these commercial providers of space services (hereinafter generally referred to as “spaceflight entities”). Attractiveness has become synonymous with overt efforts to decrease spaceflight entities’ liability from injuries to their spaceflight participants (“SFPs”). …

Self-Defense Against Robots, A. Michael Froomkin, Zak Colangelo

A. Michael Froomkin

This paper examines when, under U.S. law, humans may use force against robots to protect themselves, their property, and their privacy. May a landowner legally shoot down a trespassing drone? May she hold a trespassing autonomous car as security against damage done or further torts? Is the fear that a drone may be operated by a paparazzo or a peeping Tom sufficient grounds to disable or interfere with it? How hard may you shove if the office robot rolls over your foot? This paper addresses all those issues and one more: what rules and standards we could put into place …

The Role Of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (Uas) In Disaster Response And Recovery Efforts: Historical, Current And Future, Dennis Vincenzi, David C. Ison, Brent A. Terwilliger

Publications

A wide range of legislation has been proposed or put into place that restricts the use of unmanned systems. These actions by legislators and regulators will stifle the growth of this technology and the associated surrounding industry. The largest obstacle to the proliferation of UAS in the U.S. is the FAA. The FAA has designated the location of six test sites that are anticipated to allow for less restrictive and formative research to assess the technologies that the FAA has claimed need to exist in order to integrate UAS into the NAS. Further complicating the adoption of UAS for beneficent …

Developing Space: Political And Socio-Economic Rationales Of Emerging Space Programs, Sandra Cabrera-Alvarado, Sara Langston, Tanay Sharma

Publications

A presentation on developing space programs in Latin America and the need to work together cooperatively to maximize budgets to support scientific and technological research.