Libya bans unauthorised Thurayas [satellite phones] to treat users as spies
August 11, 2011 at 9:44 am | Posted in Space Law Current Events | Leave a commentby Joanne Irene Gabrynowicz with the blog faculty
Source: Reuters
RABAT (Reuters) – Libya warned Thursday that any of its citizens found using a Thuraya satellite phone without a permit would be treated as a spy for NATO.
The official JANA news agency said people using Thurayas, one of the most easily available portable satellite telephones, without a permit would be charged with collaborating with the enemy, and may face the death penalty. More…
FAA publishes new Advisory Circular for aviation fuel approvals
August 11, 2011 at 8:03 am | Posted in Aviation Law Current Event | Leave a commentby Sara M. Langston with the blog faculty
Source: FAA
AC 20-24C Approval Propulsion Fuels and Lubricating Oils (July 29, 2011)
Source: AVweb
The FAA has published a new Advisory Circular providing guidance for the approval of new aeronautical fuels. Issuance of the document aims to “facilitate the aviation fuel approval process,” according to the FAA, by “clarifying and describing” acceptable methods of compliance to existing FAA regulations. But unknown to most in the industry who aren’t involved in fuel work, AC 20-24 sparked controversy last summer when proponents of a quick replacement for 100LL complained to FAA’s upper management that the agency’s Engine and Propeller Directorate was dragging its feet on allowing STCs for fuel approvals. [more]
FAA offers new terminology for inspector authorizations
August 10, 2011 at 12:18 pm | Posted in Aviation Law Current Event | Leave a commentby Sara M. Langston with the blog faculty
Source: AOPA
The FAA has adopted many of AOPA’s recommendations for its newly published policy to clarify the term “actively engaged” as it is used for purposes of airframe and powerplant mechanics’ inspector authorizations (IA).
The FAA issued the clarifying language in a notice of policy Aug. 4 in the Federal Register. AOPA reported Nov. 11, 2010, that the FAA planned to write a formal definition of the term, which has generated confusion in its application. The clarification will affect IA renewals as of the March 2013 renewal cycle. [Full story]
H.R. 2814: To provide authority to compensate Federal employees for the 14-day period in which authority to make expenditures from the Airport and Airway Trust Fund lapsed, and for other purposes
August 10, 2011 at 10:22 am | Posted in Aviation Law | Leave a commentby P.J. Blount with the blog faculty
H.R. 2814: To provide authority to compensate Federal employees for the 14-day period in which authority to make expenditures from the Airport and Airway Trust Fund lapsed, and for other purposes was introduced on August 9, 2011 by Rep. Frank LoBiondo (R-NJ2):
112th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 2814
To provide authority to compensate Federal employees for the 14-day period in which authority to make expenditures from the Airport and Airway Trust Fund lapsed, and for other purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
August 9, 2011
Mr. LOBIONDO (for himself, Mr. MICA, Mr. WESTMORELAND, Mr. KING of New York, Mr. RUNYAN, and Mr. CONNOLLY of Virginia) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, 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 provide authority to compensate Federal employees for the 14-day period in which authority to make expenditures from the Airport and Airway Trust Fund lapsed, 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 `Furloughed FAA Employees Compensation Act of 2011′.
SEC. 2. COMPENSATION AND RATIFICATION OF AUTHORITY.
(a) Compensation for Federal Employees- Any Federal employees furloughed as a result of the lapse in expenditure authority from the Airport and Airway Trust Fund after 11:59 p.m. on July 22, 2011, through August 5, 2011, shall be compensated for the period of that lapse at their standard rates of compensation, as determined under policies established by the Secretary of Transportation.
(b) Ratification of Essential Actions- All actions taken by Federal employees, contractors, and grantees for the purposes of maintaining the essential level of Government operations, services, and activities to protect life and property and to bring about orderly termination of Government functions during the lapse in expenditure authority from the Airport and Airway Trust Fund after 11:59 p.m. on July 22, 2011, through August 5, 2011, are hereby ratified and approved if otherwise in accord with the provisions of the Airport and Airway Extension Act of 2011, Part IV (Public Law 112-27).
(c) Funding- Funds used by the Secretary to compensate employees described in subsection (a) shall be derived from funds previously authorized out of the Airport and Airway Trust Fund and made available or limited to the Department of Transportation by the Full-Year Continuing Appropriations Act, 2011 (division B of Public Law 112-10) and shall be subject to the obligation limitations established in such Act.
(d) Expenditures From Airport and Airway Trust Fund- To permit expenditures from the Airport and Airway Trust Fund to effectuate the purposes of this section, this section shall be deemed to be included in the Airport and Airway Extension Act of 2011, Part IV (Public Law 112-27) as enacted.
OFFENSIVE CYBER TOOLS TO GET LEGAL REVIEW, AIR FORCE SAYS
August 10, 2011 at 10:12 am | Posted in Cyber Law | Leave a commentby Joanne Irene Gabrynowicz with the blog faculty
Source: Secrecy News
Even the most highly classified offensive cyberwar capabilities that are acquired by the Air Force for use against enemy computer systems will be subject to “a thorough and accurate legal review,” the U.S. Air Force said in a new policy directive (pdf).
The directive assigns the Judge Advocate General to “ensure all cyber capabilities being developed, bought, built, modified or otherwise acquired by the Air Force that are not within a Special Access Program are reviewed for legality under LOAC [Law of Armed Conflict], domestic law and international law prior to their acquisition for use in a conflict or other military operation.”
In the case of cyber weapons developed in tightly secured Special Access Programs, the review is to be performed by the Air Force General Counsel, the directive said. See “Legal Reviews of Weapons and Cyber Capabilities,” Air Force Instruction 51-402, 27 July 2011.
The Air Force directive is somewhat more candid than most other official publications on the subject of offensive cyber warfare.
Thus, “for the purposes of this Instruction, an Air Force cyber capability requiring a legal review prior to employment is any device or software payload intended to disrupt, deny, degrade, negate, impair or destroy adversarial computer systems, data, activities or capabilities.”
On the other hand, cyber capabilities requiring legal review “do not include a device or software that is solely intended to provide access to an adversarial computer system for data exploitation,” the directive said.
One challenge facing such legal reviews is that law and policy in the relatively new field of cyberwar are not fully articulated. Another challenge is that where applicable law and policy do exist, they may be inconsistent with the use of offensive cyber tools.
In response to a question (pdf) on cyberwarfare from the Senate Armed Services Committee at his confirmation hearing last year, Lt. Gen. Keith Alexander of U.S. Cyber Command said: “President Obama’s cybersecurity sixty-day study highlighted the mismatch between our technical capabilities to conduct operations and the governing laws and policies, and our civilian leadership is working hard to resolve the mismatch.” (page 9)
But he added: “Given current operations, there are sufficient law, policy, and authorities to govern DOD cyberspace operations. If confirmed, I will operate within applicable laws, policies, and authorities. I will also identify any gaps in doctrine, policy and law that may prevent national objectives from being fully realized or executed to the Commander, U.S. Strategic Command and the Secretary of Defense.”
Asked whether DoD possesses “significant capabilities to conduct military operations in cyberspace,” Gen. Alexander would only provide an answer on a classified basis.
The Pentagon does not often acknowledge the existence of offensive cyber capabilities. The “Department of Defense Strategy for Operating in Cyberspace” (pdf) that was released in unclassified form last month does not address offensive cyber warfare at all.
Bill would authorize back pay for furloughed workers
August 10, 2011 at 9:41 am | Posted in Aviation Law | Leave a commentby Joanne Irene Gabrynowicz with the blog faculty
Source: GovExec.com
Furloughed employees at the Federal Aviation Administration would receive retroactive pay for the two weeks they were off the job under legislation introduced Tuesday in the House.
Rep. Frank LoBiondo, R-N.J., is sponsoring the bipartisan legislation that would authorize back pay for the 4,000 federal employees furloughed when the agency’s funding expired July 23 after Congress failed to come to an agreement. The funding for the retroactive pay would come from the Aviation Trust Fund.
President Obama on Friday signed a temporary measure that funds FAAthrough Sept. 16, and those employees returned to their jobs Monday. More…
Library: A Round-up of Reading
August 8, 2011 at 1:39 pm | Posted in Library | Leave a commentArticles
G. S. Sachdeva, “Commercial Order of Outer Space: Quest for Ethical Values,” 51 Indian Journal of International Law __ (2011)
Reports
Christophe Venet, Laurence NARDON – The use of space for maritime security in Europe (IFRI)
Videos
David Welch: Space Law
Blogs
Congressional Inaction Halts Aviation Projects Across US – White House Blog
As Congress continues to ignore the FAA, more critical work stops, more workers are sent home – Fast Lane
Briefly: optimism, pessimism, and export control – Space Politics
July 28, 2011 LightSquared Updates – NSGIC
Russia Has Decided To Throw the ISS Away in 2020 (Update) – NASA Watch
Utah Trial Court Rejects “Negligent Directions” Claim Against Google – Volokh Conspiracy
The Kansas airspace awareness tool – Google Earth Blog
Blinded: The Decline of U.S. Earth Monitoring Capabilities and Its Consequences for National Security – Got GEOINT?
Proposed Legislation Would Grant Noise Relief from Helicopter Overflights – Aviation and Airport Development Law Blog
Don’t jet out of town, leaving the FAA grounded – The Fast Lane
President Obama: FAA Shutdown a “Washington-Inflicted Wound on America” – The White House Blog
Congress takes its vacation; 74,000 workers, off the job in FAA impasse, take their lumps – The Fast Lane
Federal Court Requires Additional Public Explanations for TSA’s Advanced Imaging Technology – Security Debrief
Obama Decries “Lose, Lose, Lose” Situation at FAA Because of Congress – Space Policy Online
Government Contractor Defense Protects Helicopter Manufacturer – Aviation Law Monitor
Will Drones Save Privacy Law? – Concurring Opinions
When Does South Sudan Get To Become a Country in the Eyes of Google Maps? – UN Dispatch
How That FAA Bill Got Passed – Space Policy Online
H.R. 2553: Airport and Airway Extension Act of 2011, Part IV
August 8, 2011 at 12:46 pm | Posted in Aviation Law | Leave a commentby P.J. Blount with the blog faculty
H.R. 2553: Airport and Airway Extension Act of 2011, Part IV was signed into law by President Obama on August 5, 2011:
The White House
Office of the Press Secretary
For Immediate Release
August 05, 2011
Statement by the Press Secretary on H.R. 2553On Friday, August 5, 2011, the President signed into law:
H.R. 2553, the “Airport and Airway Extension Act of 2011, Part IV,” which extends through September 16, 2011, authorities to collect taxes that fund the Airport and Airway Trust Fund, make expenditures from the Airport and Airway Trust Fund, and make grants to airports under the Airport Improvement Program and limits eligibility for the Transportation Department’s Essential Air Service program, which provides subsidies to maintain commercial air service in small communities.
Brazil and China to sign agreement on establishing a nanotechnology centre in Sao Paulo
August 8, 2011 at 10:02 am | Posted in Space Law Current Events | Leave a commentby Sara M. Langston with the blog faculty
Source: Macau hub
Sao Paulo, Brazil, 4 Aug – The Brazilian government is due this month in china to sign an agreement with the Chinese Academy of Sciences for construction of a nanotechnology centre in Campinas, in the Brazilian state of Sao Paulo, which will be set up in the Brazilian Synchrotron Light Technology Association (ABTLuS).
With the signing of the new agreements Brazil will also boost its relationship with China in the area of space research. Brazil and China are already partners in satellite launches, such as [CBERS-3], which is scheduled to be launched in 2012. “We are going to expand our partnership in the space sector with China, now not only with the Chinese space agency but also with the Chinese Academy of Sciences,” he said. [Full story]
Workshop: Legal Aspects of Aircraft Finance
August 8, 2011 at 8:10 am | Posted in Aviation Law Current Event | Leave a commentby Sara M. Langston with the blog faculty
Source: Aeropodium
Legal Aspects of Aircraft Finance
Legal Aviation Workshop – LAW
Monday 12th September 2011
London, UK
Workshop Leaders
Austen Hall, Partner, Hogan Lovells Jamie Baldwin, Lecturer, Writer, Consultant on Air Transportation
Workshop Highlights
Introduction to Aircraft Lease Agreements - Types of Lease Agreements
Aircraft Lease Agreements and Contract Law - Brief Refresher on Contract Formation and Enforcement
Aircraft Finance Agreements - Introduction - Types - The Parties - Standard Terms and Conditions
- Negotiating Issues - The Collateral - Default and Remedies
Practical Exercise
For more information and to register, click here
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