Participants pose during the inaugural Qatar Airways/McGill conference in Montreal, Canada on
Qatar Airways has announced its strategic collaboration with McGill University’s Institute of Air and Space Law, the world’s premier institution for innovative research and education in the field of air and space law.
The inaugural Qatar Airways/McGill Air Law Moot Court Competition and the Qatar Airways/McGill Rising Scholars in Air and Space Law Conference were held in Montreal, Canada, on March 22 and 23, 2019.
The event was attended by a wide range of government officials and aviation and space industry professionals, as well as scholars and graduate students from more than 20 countries.
The 2019 Qatar Airways/McGill Air Law Moot Court Competition was based on a case before the International Court of Justice concerning drone interference with operations at an international airport. Parties had to make submissions and present arguments on whether a revocation of traffic rights is a justified measure in international aviation.
Participants presented their research on various leading-edge topics, including the legal and regulatory regime for autonomous flying taxis in urban centres. Prizes were awarded for the best overall presentation, the best air law presentation, the best space law presentation, and the most innovative research, as well as a special ‘spirit of the conference’ award.
The conference also highlighted the importance of the 2019 Doha Declaration — a manifesto that calls for a serious review of the existing aviation regulatory framework. The declaration, which was announced at the conclusion of the CAPA Qatar Aviation, Aeropolitical and Regulatory Summit held in February in Doha, comes 75 years after the historic Chicago Convention, which established the International Civil Aviation Organisation as well as a set of global rules for airspace, air safety and air travel.
Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, Akbar Al Baker, said: “Qatar Airways is extremely proud of our new strategic collaboration with the Institute of Air and Space Law at McGill University, which is renowned for developing aviation professionals that hold some of the highest positions in international organisations, governments, airlines, and law firms around the world.”
“Participants in the Qatar Airways/McGill Air Law Moot Court Competition and the Qatar Airways/McGill Rising Scholars in Air and Space Law Conference demonstrated academic excellence, as well as a willingness to challenge the status quo and to rethink the law and existing aeropolitical and regulatory frameworks. I am confident that the future of our industry is in good hands.”
The Director of McGill University’s Institute of Air and Space Law, Dr. Brian F. Havel, said: “The McGill Institute of Air and Space Law is proud to enter this ground-breaking educational collaboration with Qatar Airways, one of the world’s leading air carriers. Our first priority as an Institute is the professional development of our highly accomplished students, and Qatar Airways’ support enables us to offer exciting new programmes that nurture and showcase our students as future leaders of the global civil aviation community.”
