7 October 2016

1. State of the Institute of Air and Space Law
by
Prof. Dr. Ram S. Jakhu
Director, Institute of Air and Space Law
McGill University, Montreal, Canada
7 October 2016
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2.  Since its creation in 1951, the Institute of Air and Space Law
(IASL) has been the uncontested world leader in its field of
speciality.
 Mission of the IASL has always been to educate the next
generation of air and space lawyers to serve the needs of
the air and space community worldwide.
 The research arm of the Institute is the Centre for Research in
Air and Space Law (CRASL), which was established in 1976.
 During the last fourteen years, the Institute has generated
revenue and received donations worth more than $5 million.
Institute of Air and Space Law:
Introduction
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3.  The IASL offers the most advanced and extensive graduate
level programs in air and space law in the world.
 Programs: (1) Graduate Certificate; (2) Master of Laws; (3)
Doctor of Civil Law; (4) Post-doctoral Research.
 Regular Courses: (1) Airline Business and Law; (2) Public
International Air Law; (3) Private International Air Law; (4)
Space Law: General Principles; (5) Theoretical Approaches to
Law; (6) Government Regulation of Air Transport; (7)
Comparative Air Law; (8) Law of Space Applications; and (9)
Government Regulation of Space Activities.
3Institute of Air and Space Law:
Programs & courses

4.  The Institute offers the largest number of fellowships and
prizes for study of air and space law at the master,
doctoral and post-doctoral levels. Some of them,
specifically for the IASL students, are:
 José Bogolasky Memorial Prize
 Boeing Fellowships in Air and Space Law
 Setsuko Ushida-Aoki Prize
 Robert E. Morrow Fellowships
 Nicolas Matte Essay Prize and Fellowships
 Masao Sekiguchi Fellowships in Air and Space Law
 Erin J. C. Arsenault Fellowships in Space Governance
 George S. and Ann K. Robinson Space Law Prize
 Paul S. Dempsey Fellowships in Air and Space Law (being
established)
4Institute of Air and Space Law:
Fellowships & prizes

5.  During the past 65 years, the Institute
has produced more than 1,000
graduates from more than 120 countries.
 Graduates of the IASL hold high
positions in various national and
international institutions around the
world.
 For the last 30 years, the USAF has been
regularly sending their best and
brightest JAG Officers to study at the
Institute.
5Institute of Air and Space Law:
Students & graduates
IASL Class of 1971-1972
3 JAG officers in 2006 Class

6. The Institute has undertaken disciplinary as well as
cross-sectional advanced research on a variety of
aviation, aerospace and space issues.
Currently, the IASL is pursuing 11 research projects.
 Institute’s research became the basis for discussion on the
regulation of aerospace transportation by the ICAO in 2015.
 Pursuant to our ground-breaking research related to Global
Space Governance, the United Nations invited us to organize
international conference on this issue in May 2017.
 Considering our expertise in air and space law, the ITU has
invited us to organize international conference on the
regulation of drones in summer 2017.
6Institute of Air and Space Law:
Research
McGill Manual

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 The CRASL annually publishes the Annals of Air and Space
Law, Monographs and Occasional Papers. Other
publications include:
 Public International Air Law (2008) by Paul Dempsey
 International Air Carrier Liability (2005) by Paul Dempsey, Michael Milde
 Small Satellites and Their Regulation (2014) by Ram Jakhu, Joseph Pelton
 Routledge Handbook of Public Air Law (2016) edited by Paul Dempsey,
Ram Jakhu
 Space Mining and Its Regulation (2017) by Ram Jakhu, Joseph Pelton,
Yaw Nyampong
 Routledge Handbook of Space Law (2017) edited by Ram Jakhu, Paul
Dempsey
Institute of Air and Space Law:
Publications

8.  The Institute and its Faculty members have
often been consulted by ICAO, the ITU,
Permanent Court of Arbitration, the World
Economic Forum, governments, airlines, and
space agencies from several countries.
 Annually, the Institute and Centre organize
numerous workshops or conferences
around the world.
 Currently, the IASL is involved in 6 outreach
activities.
8Institute of Air and Space Law:
Consultation & outreach activities
McGill-Adelaide Strategic Law

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 In 1996, the IASL received the prestigious
Edward Warner Award, the highest distinction in
the field of civil aviation awarded by the
Council of ICAO.
 IASL students have won several awards and
trophies.
 On 29 September 2016, Institute’s Team won the
Best Memorial Award at the World Finals of the
Manfred Lachs Space Law Moot Competition, in
Guadalajara, Mexico.
Institute of Air and Space Law:
International recognition & awards

10. Former Directors: Scholars with vision
and dedication
Armand De Mestral
Michael Milde
Paul S. Dempsey
Maxwell CohenJohn C. Cooper
Nicholas M. Matte
Eugene Pepin Sir Francis Vallat,
Edward McWhinney
Alfred B. Rosevear
Ivan A. Vlasic
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Highly dedicated alumnae
Five graduates of the 1966-67 class celebrated their
50th Anniversary Reunion on 22 September 2016 at the IASL

12.  During the past 65 years, numerous individuals and institutions have
helped the Institute at various levels. Those we must specifically
acknowledge and express our profound gratitude to for their
generous support include:
 The Faculty of Law, McGill University
 The Boeing Company
 The Erin J C Arsenault Foundation
 The Secure World Foundation
 Dr. Peter Nesgos
 ROOM, The Space Journal
12Acknowledgement of generous support

13. Lifelong Dedicated Service Award
presented to
Maria D’Amico
In profound appreciation of 38 years of her
dedicated service to the Institute of Air and
Space Law, McGill University, Montreal,
Canada; in grateful recognition of her
exceptional enthusiasm to support the
students, the alumni and the faculty of the
Institute; and in acknowledgement of her
endless efforts to create a cheerful and vibrant
atmosphere at the Institute; presented at the
65th Anniversary Celebration of the Institute on
7 October 2016.
13Recognition of exceptional dedication

14.  The Institute has the necessary intellectual and
organizational expertise, the required financial resources
and institutional support, and, most importantly, a strong
commitment to actively move forward.
 Thus, irrespective of some challenges, the current state of
the Institute of Air and Space Law is excellent and its
future is bright.
14Institute of Air and Space Law:
In brief

15. Thank you for your attention !
Please spread the word that the deadline for
applications for admission to the 2017-2018
academic session is 15 December 2016.
https://www.mcgill.ca/iasl/institute-air-and-space-law
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