AIR SPACE CONTROL

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28752, 25 November 1958, Page 18

AIR SPACE CONTROL

Co-ordination Urged

Two resolutions calling for the positive control of air space and closer co-ordination of civil and military aircraft movements and for the preparation of an international collisions convention to outline the rights and obligations of aircraft owners involved in accidents have been adopted by the International Air Transport Association. Both resolutions were carried by a vote of the 86 member airlines of the association, at its annual meeting at New Delhi. “Several incidents and unfortunate recent fatal accidents in various parts of the world have proved that there is still not sufficient co-ordination of the civil and military aircraft movements under the present systems of air traffic control.” the meeting said. The resolution on air traffic control noted that the association had brought the need for the co-ordination of military and civil aircraft movements in Europe to the attention of individual states and to the International Civil Aviation Organisation on several occasions, but it said that the problem now “has become of a world-wide nature and there is urgent need for action on a worldwide basis to alleviate this most unfortunate and dangerous situation.” The resolution urged all states and also 1.C.A.0. to take every available means to provide aj system or systems of positive airspace control over national terri-i tory and over the high seas. “This would ensure that both military and civil aviation could perform their tasks under a single air traffic control authority in the respective air traffic control areas.” the resolution said. On collisions the meeting emphasised the need for an international convention setting forth the rights and obligations of the owners of aircraft involved in accidents vis-a-vis their passengers and shippers, third persons and [property on the ground, and to each other. Thr resolution urged the legal committee of 1.C.A.0. to give first priority to the preparation of a draft collisions convention to be [submitted to a diplomatic conference and thereafter to the several states for ratification, and it emphasised that the scope of such a convention should include both civil and state aircraft. All member airlines were reiquested to urge their respective governments to action appropriate to carrying out these resolutions.