Institute of Air and Space Law
McGill University
Course Outline
Fall 2014
PUBLIC INTERNATIONAL AIR LAW
Term I - (3 credits)
Instructor: Prof. Paul Stephen Dempsey
COURSE DESCRIPTION
Course No: ASPL 633
The course in Public International Air Law examines the relevant principles and rules of
international law that affect the use of air space and aeronautics. The following topics
are reviewed:
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Public international law : jurisdiction over persons, territory and airspace, law of
treaties, settlement of international disputes, incidents of statehood, law of
international organisations;
sources of international air law;
the relevant international aviation organizations and their law-making functions;
the law-making institutions and processes affecting the regime of air space and
international air navigational and air transport;
the legal regime of the national and international air space;
the international standards and recommended practices and domestic laws
regulating safety, security, air navigation, airports, and the environment;
aircraft accident investigation;
the concept of civil and state aircraft;
State certification and licensing of aircraft and airmen under international
standards;
the exchange of air traffic rights; and
dispute resolution.
Method of Evaluation: Optional essay (20%) and 80% or 100% final 24-hour take-home
examination. The optional 20% will be based on the student’s performance in on a written 1012 page essay comparing, contrasting and analyzing material discussed in the text with
material outside the assigned text. Examinations and papers shall be double spaced with 12
point font for the text, and 10 point font for the footnotes, with one-inch margins per page.
The optional essay shall be due on the last scheduled day of class. Late-submitted essays will
not be accepted. Students shall have 24-hours from the time they pick up the examination to
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MCGILL POLICY STATEMENTS
1.
"McGill University values academic integrity. Therefore, all students must understand the meaning and consequences
of cheating, plagiarism and other academic offences under the Code of Student Conduct and Disciplinary Procedures (see
www.mcgill.ca/students/srr/honest/ for more information). (approved by Senate on 29 January 2003)
2.
“In accord with McGill University’s Charter of Students’ Rights, students in this course have the right to submit in
English or in French any written work that is to be graded.” (approved by Senate on 21 January 2009 - see also the section in this
document on Assignments and evaluation.)
3.
Use of Text-matching software: "Instructors who may adopt the use of text-matching software to verify the originality
of students' written course work must register for use of the software with the ICS Service Desk (http://www.mcgill.ca/it/) and
must inform their students before the drop/add deadline, in writing, of the use of text-matching software in a course." (approved
by Senate on 1 December 2004).
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Institute of Air and Space Law
McGill University
Course Outline
Fall 2014
complete and submit it.
Professor Information: 3690 Peel Street, Suite 203; Tel. 514-398-8370; Email:
paul.dempsey@mcgill.ca
Office hours: open door; or contact Ms. Maria D’Amico at maria.damico@mcgill.ca or 514 3985095 to arrange for a meeting at mutually convenient day and time. Also, do not hesitate to
contact the Professor via e-mail or after class.
Visiting Lecturers: Several visitors have been invited to the class. The dates of their
presentations will be announced during the Semester
TEXT:
READINGS. Students are requested to purchase copies of
Dempsey, P., Public International Air Law, McGill 2008
and the requisite basic documents volume of the
Annals of Air and Space Law, vol. XXX No. 1 (2005)
from Maria D’Amico at the IASL Secretariat office, at 3690 Peel St, suite 204. Required
readings will all be from these two volumes.
SUPPLEMENTARY BIBLIOGRAPHY:
Banner, S., Who Owns the Sky? 2008
Bartsch, R., Aviation Law in Australia, Thompson Reuters 4th ed. 2013
Birnie, P. & Boyle, A., International Law and the Environment, 1993
Brownlie, I., Principles of Public International Law, 4th ed., 1990
Buergenthal, T., Law-making in the International Civil Aviation Organization, 1969
Cartou, L., Droit aérien, 1963
Cheng, B., Law of International Air Transport, 1977
Cooper, J.C., Explorations in Aerospace Law, (I.A. Vlasic, ed.), 1968
--- The Right to Fly, 1947.
de Coninck, F., European Air Law: New Skies for Europe, 1993
Dempsey, P.S., Hardaway, R. & Thoms, W., Aviation Law & Regulation (two volumes),
1993
Dempsey, P.S., Law and Foreign Policy in International Aviation, 1987
Dempsey, P., Janda, R., Nyampong, Y., Saba, J. & Wilson, J. “Governance of
Commercialized Air Navigation Services”, XXXI Annals of Air & Space Law 213-347
(2006)
Dempsey, P. "The Role of the International Civil Aviation Organization on Deregulation,
Discrimination & Dispute Resolution" 52 JOURNAL OF AIR LAW & COMMERCE 529-83
(1987)
Diederiks-Verschoor, I., An Introduction to Air Law, 3rd rev. ed., 1988
Folliot, M.G., Les relations aériennes internationales, 1985
Gesell, L. & Dempsey, P., Aviation and the Law, Coast Aire 2005, ch. 20
Giemulla, E. & Schmid, R., European Air Law (Loose-leaf), 1992
Giemulla, E., & Weber, L., International and EU Aviation Law: Selected Issues
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Institute of Air and Space Law
McGill University
Course Outline
Fall 2014
Havel, B., Beyond Open Skies: A New Regime for International Aviation, 2009
Havel, B. & Sanchez, G., The Principles and Practice of International Aviation Law,
Cambridge 2014
Heere, W.P., International Bibliography in Air Law 1900-1971, 1972
Honig, J.P., The Legal Status of Aircraft, 1956
Juglart, M., Traité de Droit aérien, 2nd ed., 1989, v. I, 1992, v. II (by E. du Pontavice, J.
Dutheil de la Rochère & G. Miller)
Lissitzyn, O., International Air Transport and Policy 1942
Loewenstein, A., European Air Law: Towards a New System of International Air Transport
Regulation, 1991
Matte, N.M., Treatise on Air-Aeronautical Law, 1981
McGill Centre for Research in Air and Space Law, Legal, Economic and Socio-Political
Implications of Canadian Air Transport, 1980
McWhinney, E., Aerial Piracy and International Terrorism, 1987
Mendes de Leon, P., Air Transport Law and Policy in the 1990s, 1991;
-----Cabotage in Air Transport Regulation, 1992.
Milde, M., International Air Law and ICAO, 2008
Naveau, J., International Air Transport in a Changing World, 1989
Park, Ki-Gab, La Protection de la Souveraineté aérienne, 1991
Peng, M.-M., Le statut juridique d'aéronef militaire, 1957
Pharand, D., Canada's Arctic Waters in International Law, 1988
Sampson, A., Empires of the Sky: The Politics, Contests and Cartels of World Airlines 1984
Shawcross, C.N. & Beaumont, K.M., Air Law, 4th ed., 1985
Sochor, E., The Politics of International Aviation, 1991
Starke, J.G., Introduction to International Law, 11th ed., 1994
Weber, L., The International Civil Aviation Organization, 2011
Weber, L., International Organizations, in International and EU Aviation Law, Wolters
Kluwer 2011
Zylicz, M., International Air Transport Law, 1992
Additional reading material will be recommended during the lectures on specific subjects.
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