The aviation community, in which the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and the Civil Air Navigation Services Organization (CANSO) play leading roles, is hard at work in bringing aviation into the 21st Century. In doing so, the United States and Europe have taken proactive steps forward in introducing modernization, particularly in moving towards more efficient air traffic management systems within NextGen and SESAR. Elsewhere, in the fields of personnel licensing, rules of the air, accident investigation and aeronautical charts and information, significant strides are being made in moving from mere regulation to implementation and assistance calculated to make all ICAO member States self sufficient in international civil aviation. However, these objectives can be achieved only if the aviation industry has a sustained understanding of the legal and regulatory principles applying to the various areas of air navigation. This book provides that discussion. Some of the subjects discussed in this book are: sovereignty in airspace; flight information and air defence identification zones; rules of the air; personnel licensing; meteorological services; operations of aircraft; air traffic services; accident and incident investigation; aerodromes; efficiency aspects of aviation and environmental protection; aeronautical charts and information; the carriage of dangerous goods; and NextGen and SESAR . Except for NextGen and SESAR, these subjects form the titles of the Annexes to the Chicago Convention that particularly involve the rights and liabilities of the key players involved in air navigation.

First published in 1997, this volume responds to the increase in air traffic, as there has been a great deal of work by the nations of the world, under the auspices of ICAO, toward developing the concept for a future air navigation infrastructure to serve worldwide civil aviation efficiency. Even though the concept is well described and implementation is beginning, only technical manuals are available to advance the systems concept. This book describes the global vision for the Future Air Navigation System (FANS) and is the first text of its kind dedicated solely to Communications Navigation, Surveillance/Air Traffic Management and the CNS/ATM systems concept. In addition to the technical issues associated with CNS/ATM, the book also examines institutional, economic, labour and Human Factors issues. It is designed as a text usable in the classroom environment in universities and aviation technical schools.

To build a firm foundation for [the readers'] aerospace education and start [them on their] trek through space, [the authors] have developed this textbook.... It contains the basic information [the readers] need to start on [their] journey. -Intro.