H.R. 712: To require air carriers to refund passenger baggage fees if such baggage is lost, delayed, or damaged, and require air carriers and ticket agents to include the actual cost of checked baggage when quoting an airfare
February 17, 2011 at 11:26 am | Posted in Aviation Law | Leave a commentby P.J. Blount with the blog faculty
H.R. 712: To require air carriers to refund passenger baggage fees if such baggage is lost, delayed, or damaged, and require air carriers and ticket agents to include the actual cost of checked baggage when quoting an airfare was introduced on February 15, 2011 by Rep. Michael Capuano (D-MA8).
Nigeria and UK firm sign MOU on exclusive distribution license for NigerSat imagery worldwide
February 17, 2011 at 11:13 am | Posted in Aerospace Law Interfaces | 1 Commentby Sara M. Langston with the blog faculty
Source: All Africa
Abuja — The Nigerian federal government has expressed the determination to tap into over $200 billion revenue accruable from the sales of satellite imagery worldwide, when the national Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the DMC International Imaging Limited (DMCII), UK as the exclusive distributor for the sale of NigerSat-2 and NigeriaSat-X. [Full story]
Echostar Corporation to Acquire Hughes Communications
February 17, 2011 at 11:07 am | Posted in Space Law Current Events | Leave a commentby Sara M. Langston with the blog faculty
Source: Space Mart
EchoStar Corporation and Hughes Communications, Inc. have announced an agreement pursuant to which EchoStar will acquire all of the outstanding equity of Hughes and its subsidiaries including its main operating subsidiary, Hughes Network Systems, L.L.C. in a transaction valued at approximately $2 billion, including Hughes debt expected to be refinanced in connection with the transaction.
Congressman introduces clause to fund aviation’s equipage of NextGen
February 16, 2011 at 1:15 pm | Posted in Aviation Law Current Event | Leave a commentby Sara M. Langston with the blog faculty
Source: Aviation Week
Rep. Dan Lipinski (D-Ill.) is proposing to add a clause to the FAA reauthorization bill that would provide grants and loan guarantees for aircraft operators to equip for the NextGen program.
Lipinski is one of the minority members of the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee. He has not said how he will attempt to include his proposal in the reauthorization bill that will soon be introduced by Committee Chairman John Mica (R-Fla.). Unless Mica decides to incorporate it, the proposal will likely be offered as an amendment. While there is broad bipartisan support for NextGen, authorizing new spending could be a tough sell in the House.
Under the proposal, the FAA would be authorized to issue grants of up to 20% of the cost of equipping aircraft for automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast (ADS-B). The proposal specifies ADS-B “out,” which will be used to improve surveillance for controllers.
A second part of the proposal would authorize loan guarantees of up to 80% of equipage costs. Under certain conditions, the remaining 20% could be met by the direct grant.
H.R. 719: To award a Congressional Gold Medal to the World War II members of the Civil Air Patrol
February 16, 2011 at 11:11 am | Posted in Aviation Law | 1 Commentby P.J. Blount with the blog faculty
H.R. 719: To award a Congressional Gold Medal to the World War II members of the Civil Air Patrol was introduced on February 15, 2011 by Rep. Bob Filner (D-CA51).
H.R. 729: To amend title 49, United States Code, to ensure air passengers have access to necessary services while on a grounded air carrier, and for other purposes
February 16, 2011 at 11:06 am | Posted in Aviation Law | Leave a commentby P.J. Blount with the blog faculty
H.R. 729: To amend title 49, United States Code, to ensure air passengers have access to necessary services while on a grounded air carrier, and for other purposes was introduced on February 15, 2011 by Rep. Michael Thompson (D-CA1).
White House freezes NASA’s budget at 2010 level
February 16, 2011 at 10:51 am | Posted in Space Law Current Events | Leave a commentby Sara M. Langston with the blog faculty
Source: msnbc.com
The Obama administration has announced its 2012 budget request, which if approved would freeze spending for NASA and other federal agencies at 2010 levels for the next fiscal year.
The 2012 budget request allocates $18.7 billion for NASA, the same amount the agency received in 2010. That’s about $300 million less than NASA was alloted in the president’s 2011 budget request.
“The times today are very difficult fiscally, and we’re going to live within a budget,” NASA Administrator Charles Bolden said at a press conference Monday. “What we do has to be affordable, sustainable, and it has to make sense.”
The move is part of an overall five-year freeze on non-security discretionary spending that the White House is proposing. [Full story]
H.R. 685: To amend title 18, United States Code, to criminalize the unauthorized recording and distribution of security screening images of individuals created by advanced imaging technology utilized by the Transportation Security Administration or other Federal authority, require the Transportation Security Administration to disable image retention capabilities of advanced imaging technology, and for other purposes
February 16, 2011 at 10:48 am | Posted in Aviation Law | Leave a commentby P.J. Blount with the blog faculty
H.R. 685: To amend title 18, United States Code, to criminalize the unauthorized recording and distribution of security screening images of individuals created by advanced imaging technology utilized by the Transportation Security Administration or other Federal authority, require the Transportation Security Administration to disable image retention capabilities of advanced imaging technology, and for other purposes was introduced on February 14, 2011 by Rep. Sheila Jackson-Lee (D-TX18):
H.R.685 — Checkpoint Images Protection Act of 2011 (Introduced in House – IH)
HR 685 IH
112th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 685
To amend title 18, United States Code, to criminalize the unauthorized recording and distribution of security screening images of individuals created by advanced imaging technology utilized by the Transportation Security Administration or other Federal authority, require the Transportation Security Administration to disable image retention capabilities of advanced imaging technology, and for other purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
February 14, 2011
Ms. JACKSON LEE of Texas (for herself, Mr. CUMMINGS, Mr. CHABOT, Mr. POE of Texas, Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas, and Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Homeland Security, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
A BILL
To amend title 18, United States Code, to criminalize the unauthorized recording and distribution of security screening images of individuals created by advanced imaging technology utilized by the Transportation Security Administration or other Federal authority, require the Transportation Security Administration to disable image retention capabilities of advanced imaging technology, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the `Checkpoint Images Protection Act of 2011′.
SEC. 2. CRIMINAL PENALTY FOR UNAUTHORIZED RECORDING OR DISTRIBUTION OF SECURITY SCREENING IMAGES.
(a) In General- Part I of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:
`CHAPTER 124–UNAUTHORIZED RECORDING OR DISTRIBUTION OF SECURITY SCREENING IMAGES
`2371. Criminal penalty for unauthorized recording or distribution of security screening images.
`Sec. 2371. Criminal penalty for unauthorized recording or distribution of security screening images
`(a) In General- Except as specifically provided in subsection (b), it shall be unlawful for an individual–
`(1) to knowingly photograph or otherwise record an image produced using advanced imaging technology during the screening of an individual at an airport, or upon entry into any building owned or operated by the Federal Government, without express authorization pursuant to a Federal law or regulation; or
`(2) to knowingly distribute any such image to any individual who is not authorized pursuant to a Federal law or regulation to receive the image.
`(b) Exception- The prohibition under subsection (a) shall not apply to an individual who, during the course and within the scope of the individual’s employment, records or distributes an image described in subsection (a) solely to be used in a criminal investigation or prosecution or in an investigation relating to foreign intelligence or a threat to the national security.
`(c) Penalty- An individual who violates the prohibition in subsection (a) shall be fined under this title, imprisoned for not more than 1 year, or both.
`(d) Definitions- In this section:
`(1) The term `advanced imaging technology’–
`(A) means a device that creates a visual image of an individual showing the surface of the skin and revealing other objects on the body; and
`(B) include devices using backscatter x-rays or millimeter waves and devices referred to as `whole-body imaging technology’ or `body scanning’.
`(2) The terms `foreign intelligence’ and `threat to the national security’ have the meanings given those terms in part VII of the guidelines entitled `The Attorney General’s Guidelines for Domestic FBI Operations’, dated September 29, 2008, or any successor thereto.’.
(b) Clerical Amendments- The table of chapters for part I of title 18, United States Code, is amended by inserting after the item relating to chapter 123 the following:
2371′.
SEC. 3. DISABLING IMAGE RETENTION.
Not later than 30 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Assistant Secretary, Transportation Security Administration of the Department of Homeland Security shall certify to the Committees on Judiciary and Homeland Security of the House of Representatives and the Committees on Judiciary and Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate that, in order to improve airport security screening processes while ensuring passenger privacy protection, the image retention capabilities of all advanced imaging technology utilized by the Transportation Security Administration to screen passengers at checkpoints in our Nation’s airports have been disabled.
Legal Workshop- Aviation Law after 9/11: Passenger Rights and Aviation National Security, on 22 March 2011 in Miami
February 16, 2011 at 9:53 am | Posted in Aviation Law Current Event | Leave a commentby Sara M. Langston with the blog faculty
Source: Aeropodium
Legal Aviation Workshop – LAW
Aviation Law after September 11th:
Passengers Rights and Aviation National Security
Tuesday 22nd March 2011
Sheraton Miami Airport & Executive Meeting Center
Miami, FL, USA
Workshop Leader:
Timothy M. Ravich, Esq, Founding Partner of Ravich Law Firm, P.A.
Workshop Themes:
Historical Background
- Aviation Travel Rights
- Airline Passenger Rights
- “Rates, Routes, and Services”
Consumer Protection and Aviation Security
- Delays, Bumping, etc. – Contracts versus Tort Remedies
- Profiling, Searches and the “No-Fly” List
International Liability Treaties
- Warsaw/Montreal Conventions – History and Background
- Preemption Issues
- Jurisdictional Issues, “Fifth Jurisdiction,” and Forum Non Conveniens
- Damages for Terrorist Events
- Open Skies and Cabotage Rights
Hijackings, Terrorism and Civil Rights
- Interference with Flight Crew
- Fourth Amendment Rights
The Workshop participants will receive a free copy of the recently published book: “Aviation Law after September 11th”
For the Workshop Agenda and to Register, please visit
www.aeropodium.com/law/aviationlaw.html
Dept of Transportation promises comment period on BARR program
February 16, 2011 at 9:07 am | Posted in Aviation Law Current Event | Leave a commentby Sara M. Langston with the blog faculty
Source: AVweb
DOT will invite comments from affected parties before it changes eligibility requirements for the Block Aircraft Registration Request program. As reported last week, the National Business Aviation Association sent notice to members warning that the DOT was reviewing the program, which allows aircraft owners to conceal their registration to prevent tracking of aircraft movements. The program was introduced in 2000. In 2010, ProPublica, an investigative journalism website, won a court decision that resulted in the BARR program tail numbers being released.
NBAA has been in contact with DOT since it learned the department was looking at making it a lot harder to qualify for the program. NBAA was given until Tuesday to comment on the proposal and that might be the end of it. If, however, the DOT decides to consider the idea further, it will broaden its search for comments. NBAA says the DOT has assured that “prior to making any decision to limit eligibility for the BARR program, it will issue a notice inviting interested persons to submit comments on such limitations.” If and when that happens, the notice will be immediately circulated to members.
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