The methods of distribution of air transport services evolved tremendously through the years. Based on the airlines' internal reservation systems, the Computerized Reservation Systems (CRS) became the key element of today's distribution process. Their operation involves different parties: consumers, system vendors, be they air carriers or not, other air carriers and subscribers. CRS operation generated many problems, mainly when they were almost exclusively carrier owned. / In my opinion, in the absence of specific regulations, competition law and antitrust laws were likely to address these issues efficiently, particularly through the application of the essential facility doctrine. / However that may be, specific regulations were adopted in the United States, Europe, and within the ICAO framework. If these regulations proved to be efficient to solve CRS related problems, one may regret their lack of uniformity. Indeed, having in mind the nationality of the predominant CRS on the market, uniformity among these regulations would have created, de facto, a universal legal framework. CRS' industry having a strong international flavour, many disputes will go beyond the limits of a single jurisdiction. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)

The historic relationship between Nigeria as a former British colony and Britain has significant influence on the development and problems of air law in Nigeria. The wobbling state of air law in the country after about 72 years of civil aviation's existence, and about 47 years since the evolution of a regulatory environment, bears glaring testimony to this fact. Essentially, some of the air law problems in the country are not entirely dissimilar to problems which have for over 50 years confronted the legal system of international civil aviation. / This Dissertation attempts to provide an account of the nature of each air law instrument, and the source from which they derive, taking into consideration international air law requirements, the manner of their application, and a critical appraisal of their suitability to local circumstances, responsiveness to national and global changes and challenges in the economies and technologies of civil aviation. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)

Code-sharing agreements between international airlines are designed to address passenger preferences, structural impediments, and in some situations, bilateral restrictions, through a cost efficient system of operations. / In most instances, code-sharing operations divert traffic from other carriers rather an stimulating and generating new traffic. If the parties were direct competitors prior to code sharing operations, the resulting harm on competition will undoubtedly negate the benefits which may accrue towards passengers. / However, the main concerns, from the passenger's viewpoint, are that of disclosure of the operating carrier and the certainty of the applicable liability regime. Furthermore, the passenger must receive clear details of the joint product without being deprived of information concerning other available options. / The growing use of international code-sharing has resulted in airlines searching for potential partners without proper evaluation of the consequences. Similarly, regulators face the daunting task of defining, articulating and enforcing a clear, consistent policy on the matter. / This paper will initially examine the nature of code-sharing, its perceived benefits and thereafter discuss the prevailing regulatory regimes. Subsequently, a detailed discussion on the probable legal implications will be undertaken and finally concerns of the airlines will be addressed in order to identify essential elements which should be dealt with by the agreement.

Civil aerospace products manufacturers in the EEC may, as in the USA, be called into litigation as co-defendant following an aircraft accident by the victims or their dependents. As opposed to the airlines, their liability is not limited by international conventions. / This thesis examines their liability and insurance in case of damage to third parties after the entry into force of EEC Directive 85/374 on liability for defective products. / First, a brief description will be given of the evolution of the aerospace industry in Europe and its governmental regulation through certification. In the second part we will examine the evolution of product liability in Europe. The main focus will be on the Directive. After a discussion of aspects of conflict of laws and enforcement of judgments, the particulars of aviation products liability in Europe will be looked at. Finally, we will consider aviation product liability insurance.

Looking at the current air traffic system developments and the use of satellite for communication, navigation, surveillance and air traffic management, an emerging trend of institutions and law can be observed. This thesis assesses the institutional and legal contributions of the satellite services to civil aviation. / This thesis is divided into three parts. Part I sets the scene by giving the reader a brief look at the technical side of the current air navigation system. Chapter I explores the current system's deficiencies and Chapter II explains the framework of selected existing aeronautical and general operating satellite systems and institutions. / Part II deals with the prospective long-range needs of air navigation. Chapter III focuses on the characteristics and capabilities of the new systems and Chapter IV sets out the available financial options. / Part III deals with the vital legal and institutional aspects involved in using satellite systems for civil aviation purposes. Chapter V reviews the legal problems of safety and non-safety aeronautical air-ground communications, Chapter VI identifies the current applicable air, space and telecommunication law, and their impact on the new systems, Chapter VII deals with the institutional aspects of the new systems and Chapter VIII sets out this writer's recommendations. Lastly, final remarks are presented.

Containerization, a technical innovation for transport initiated in late 1950s, has invigorated the evolution of the shipping industry. The shipping rules hence need to be restructured to keep abreast of the times, especially those enacted prior to the era of containerization (the Hague Rules 1924). / The thesis presents and discusses the carrier's liability in containerized transport under the current shipping rules, comparing particularly the regimes of the United States and Taiwan, both of which still apply the Hague Rules. A subsidiary examination is extended to the MTO's liability in multimodal transport, which has an essential correlation with containerization.

The research designs, develops, and applies a methodology to characterize hourly traffic variations in urban areas. The research documents current traffic monitoring practices in urban areas and assesses the need to understand hourly variations using the city of Winnipeg, Manitoba as a case study. The methodology applied to develop temporal variations for traffic patterns in urban areas uses a hybrid approach that compares the results from the statistical analysis with variables that explain hourly temporal variations, including road class, traffic volume, and land use. The research specifically identifies: arterial and non-arterial roads, low and high volume roads, and residential, industrial, and commercial zones as variables that explain hourly temporal variations. Six traffic pattern groups in Winnipeg are developed and characterized based on this approach. These variables are used to develop decision flow charts to assign road segments to TPGs.

This thesis examines the legal aspects of aviation insurance and reinsurance regarding passenger liability, in particular in Europe. The paper identifies and describes four main trends currently affecting the aviation insurance industry: the globalization of aviation insurance and reinsurance undertakings, increased competition in aviation insurance sector, the liberalization of the European insurance market, and the evolution of the international and European air carriers liability regime. The implications of these trends for premium rates, and for insurance and reinsurance activities in general, are then assessed. / This analysis indicates that the liberalization of the European insurance and reinsurance markets remains incomplete, given that certain essential aspects linked to the activities of insurance undertakings are not harmonized. This lack of consistency within the European regulatory regime is found to be a source of invisible barriers which hamper the effective application of the European freedoms of establishment and of providing services as established in the Treaty of Rome. Furthermore, the author identifies a potential for growing friction between the different international regulatory regimes governing air carriers liability. Looking to the future, the expected effects of the single European currency and the expansion of the WTO services disciplines is also examined. / The author concludes that the effectiveness of traditional structures and organizations of insurance and reinsurance markets are being challenged by profound structural changes in the industry. In this context, the European liberalization could serve as a model for adapting to this changing environment on a regional level so as to benefit from the opportunities provided by competition and globalization.

The Federal Government, in the exercise of its exclusive constitutional jurisdiction over aeronautics, has adopted laws and regulations that address the various aspects of the aviation system. These laws and regulations have evolved significantly from the first piece of Federal legislation passed in 1919. / Some of those laws and regulations have as their objective achieving and maintaining an adequate level of aviation safety, while others are intended to ensure that Canadians have access to an efficient and reliable national air transportation system. / On the safety side, there are laws and regulations that establish standards of quality for the aircraft, standards of competence for air carriers and standards of competence and medical fitness of the personnel. There are also regulations that specify the conditions that must be met in order to register an aircraft in Canada. / On the economic side, there are laws and regulations that set the terms and conditions for the operation of domestic and international air services. In the domestic context, such laws and regulations have gone from strict and almost complete government intervention, to giving effect to recent policies of less regulation and more competition. / These same laws and regulations, while providing the regulatory authority with the necessary enforcement tools, also recognize the need to ensure that it does not act improperly or abusively. For such purpose, the stakeholders have access to several different recourses to challenge the actions of the regulatory authority.

The research designs, develops, and applies a methodology to characterize hourly traffic variations in urban areas. The research documents current traffic monitoring practices in urban areas and assesses the need to understand hourly variations using the city of Winnipeg, Manitoba as a case study. The methodology applied to develop temporal variations for traffic patterns in urban areas uses a hybrid approach that compares the results from the statistical analysis with variables that explain hourly temporal variations, including road class, traffic volume, and land use. The research specifically identifies: arterial and non-arterial roads, low and high volume roads, and residential, industrial, and commercial zones as variables that explain hourly temporal variations. Six traffic pattern groups in Winnipeg are developed and characterized based on this approach. These variables are used to develop decision flow charts to assign road segments to TPGs.