The Institute of Air & Space Law hosted a Workshop and Conference on Air Transport, Air & Space Law and Regulation, in collaboration with the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) of the United Arad Emirates in Abu Dhabi, from April 12 to 16, 2009.

The Workshop (April 12-14) was designed to introduce participant s to the basic principles of air transportation, aviation & space law and regulation. It was primarily aimed at lawyers new to the field, as well as airline and airport managers and government officials.

The Conference (April 14-16) addressed contemporary, cutting edge issues in the field of aerospace industry, aviation law and regulation. It was designed for aerospace executives and lawyers who already have expertise in these fields, and seek an update on what is new, current, and relevant to today’s air transportation environment, or those who have taken the introductory Workshop.

The Middle East, in particular the Gulf region, is one of the fastest growing aviation markets in the world, and the UAE is an integral driver of that robust growth. Information and knowledge are essential to capitalize on the economic opportunities being created in this part of the world. Both events were well attended by a wide variety of participants hailing mainly from the Gulf region.

Below are conference and workshop notes from our speakers, available for download, or you can view the Abu Dhabi Workshop and Conference - Programme and registration [.pdf] document.

Workshops – 12-14 April 2009

Sunday, April 12, 2009

• Prof. Paul Stephen Dempsey - Introduction to the Airline Industry: Economics, Marketing, Pricing and Distribution [.pdf]
• Prof. Ludwig Weber - Origins of International Lawmaking: The Chicago Convention [.pdf]
• Prof. Peter van Fenema - Bilateral Air Transport Agreements: Negotiation and Implementation [.pdf]
• Mark Glynn - Traffic Rights and Air Transport Agreements; Liberalisation and “Open Skies” [.pdf]
• Prof. Peter van Fenema - Beyond “Open Skies:” Cabotage, Foreign Ownership, and Seventh Freedom Rights [.pdf]
• Prof. Paul Stephen Dempsey - Competition Law and Airline Alliances [.pdf]

Monday, April 13, 2009

• Prof. Paul Stephen Dempsey - Air Carrier Liability for Passenger Death or Injury [.pdf]
• Yaw Nyampong - Air Carrier Liability for Loss and Damage of Air Freight [.pdf]
• Prof. Ludwig Weber - Surface Liability and the Rome Convention; Manufacturer Liability [.pdf]
• Prof. John Saba - Air Traffic Liability [.pdf]
• Yaw Nyampong - Environmental Regulation [.pdf]
• Prof. Ludwig Weber - Aircraft Finance and Registration of Security Interests [.pdf]
• Prof. Donald Bunker - Aircraft Leasing Operations and Article 83bis Agreements [.pdf]

Tuesday, April 14, 2009

• Prof. Paul Stephen Dempsey - Aviation Security: The Role of International Law [.pdf]
• Prof. John Saba - Aviation Safety [.pdf]
• Prof. Ram Jakhu - International Regulation of Space Law Activities [.pdf]
• Michael C. Mineiro - Commercial Development of Space [.pdf]
• Prof. Ram Jakhu - National Regulation of Space Law Activities [.pdf]

Conference – 15-16 April 2009

Wednesday, April 15, 2009

Session 1 – Roundtable Discussion: Contemporary Issues in Middle East Aviation

Chair: Prof. Paul Stephen Dempsey – McGill University Institute of Air & Space Law
Speakers:

• Gautam Acharya – Jet Airways, India
• Fatti Atti – Head of Government Affairs, Etihad Airways
• Prof. Donald Bunker – McGill University, Institute of Air and Space Law
• Carlos Grau Tanner – IATA
• Abdul Wahab Teffaha [.pdf]– Arab Air Carrier Organization

Session 2 – European Laws, Policies and Practices, and Their Impact on Middle East

Chair: Prof. Peter van Fenema – McGill University Institute of Air & Space Law
Speakers:

• Martin Bartlik [.pdf]– Gleiss, Lutz Law Firm, Frankfurt, Germany
• Nikolai Ehlers [.pdf]– Ehlers, Ehlers & Partner, Germany
• Giuseppe Guerreri [.pdf]– Studio Legale Guerreri, Rome, Italy

Session 3 – Aviation Safety

Chair: Prof. Francis Schubert – McGill University, Institute of Air & Space Law; VP, Skyguide
Speakers:

• Paul Stephen Dempsey [.pdf]– McGill University, Institute of Air & Space Law
• John Saba [.pdf]– McGill University, Institute of Air & Space Law
• Jackeline Serrao [.pdf]– Associate Director NCRS, University of Mississippi

Session 4 – Aviation Security

Chair: Jalal Haidar – UAE Representative on the ICAO Council
Speakers:

• Paul Stephen Dempsey [.pdf]– McGill University, Institute of Air & Space Law
• Rachel Pachoud [.pdf]– McGill University, Institute of Air & Space Law
• Jeffrey Shane – Hogan & Hartson, Washington

Session 5 – Current Issues in Air Traffic Management

Chair: Prof. John Saba – McGill University, Institute of Air & Space Law
Speakers:

• Mahmoud Ghonaim [.pdf]– Kingdom of Bahrain University
• Jiří Horník [.pdf]– Kocián Solc Balastík, Prague, Czech Republic
• Hassan Karam [.pdf]– ANS Director at GCAA
• Alexander ter Kuile [.pdf]– Secretary General, CANSO
• Michael Kellaway – Aviation Advisor, Department of Transport, Abu Dhabi
• Francis Schubert [.pdf]– McGill University, Institute of Air & Space Law; VP, Skyguide

Thursday, April 16, 2009

Session 6 – The Liberalization of Air Transport: Government Regulation, Bilateral, Multilateral and Now “Unilateral”?

Chair: Juan Carlos Salazar – UAE General, Civil Aviation Authority
Speakers:

• Adel Ali – CEO, Air Arabia
• Vijay Poonoosamy [.pdf]– VP, Government and International Affairs, Etihad Airways
• Jeffrey Shane – Hogan & Hartson, Washington
• Alan Tan Khee – National University of Singapore
• Carlos Grau Tanner – IATA
• Alan Khee-Jin Tan [.pdf]
• Joseph Wilson [.pdf]– Pakistan Competition Commission

Session 7 – Aviation and Aerospace Risk, Liability & Insurance

Prof. Ram Jakhu – McGill University, Institute of Air & Space Law
Speakers:

• Mansour Jabbari [.pdf]– Allameh Tabatabaee University, Iran
• George Leloudas [.pdf]– Gates and Partners, London
• Pamela L. Meredith [.pdf]– Zuckert Scoutt & Rasenberger, L.L.P, Washington
• Urban Olson [.pdf]– Advokatfirman Urban Olson AB, Stockholm, Sweden
• Jae Woon Lee [.pdf]– Korean Air Legal Affairs Department., Korea

Session 8 – Aerospace Equipment and Infrastructure Finance

Prof. Ludwig Weber – McGill University, Institute of Air & Space Law
Speakers:

• Prof. Donald Bunker – McGill University, Institute of Air & Space Law, and Donald H. Bunker & Associates, Dubai
• Maria Buzdugan [.pdf]– Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy, New York
• Lesley Jones – General Counsel, Dubai Aerospace Enterprise
• John Matthews [.pdf]– Mideast Commercial Aviation Finance, Boeing Capital Corp.

Session 9 – Emerging Issues for Airports and Spaceports

Prof. Prof. Paul Stephen Dempsey – McGill University, Institute of Air & Space Law
Speakers:

• Prof. Ram Jakhu – McGill University, Institute of Air & Space Law
• Yaw Nyampong [.pdf]– McGill University, Montreal
• Michael C. Mineiro [.pdf]– McGill University, Montreal