Aviation, Drones & Space
Aviation, Drones & Space
Johnston Law is a market leader in aviation and aerospace law. We are one of the preeminent aviation practice groups located in the Asia-Pacific region, and Rebecca Johnston is ranked as a Leading Aviation Lawyer 2019, 2020 and 2021 in Chambers and Partners Asia-Pacific.
We advise Australian and international clients on all aspects of aviation law including legislative and regulatory frameworks, conditions of carriage and passenger liability, sale and purchase of aircraft, aircraft charter and lease agreements, aircraft co-ownership agreements, aircraft financing, safety and security issues, the testing and regulation of unmanned aerial vehicles (drones), and space law.
aviation law
Aircraft sale, purchase, and maintenance
- Purchase of new aircraft from manufacturers and assignment of aircraft slots before delivery
- Sale and purchase of aircraft on Australian and foreign registers
- Registering interests in aircraft and aircraft objects on the Personal Property Securities Register and International Registry of Mobile Assets
- Aircraft and engine maintenance and service agreements
- Import and export of aircraft
Airports
- Negotiating, drafting and reviewing airport-related commercial agreements including ground handling agreements, airport conditions of use, terminal services agreements, and asset leases and real property leases
- Compliance with legal and regulatory frameworks
- Protection of airspace and controlled activities
- Obtaining permissions, authorisations and exemptions
- Representing clients in negotiations with Australian and international aviation safety and regulatory agencies and government bodies
- Advising on government tenders, procurement and other approaches to market
- Representation and advice on liability, safety and security issues arising from airport operations
- Advice on IATA Standard Ground Handling Agreements
- Facilitating aviation-related transactions including cross-border transactions
- Delivering training courses and seminars for in-house counsel and industry professionals on aviation law
Carrier, industry and regulatory expertise
- Advice on fly-in, fly-out operations and agreements
- Air operator’s certificates including the preparation of applications and associated compliance manuals for submission to the Civil Aviation Safety Authority
- Applications for landing rights in Australia for scheduled and charter operations
- Contracts of carriage and air waybills
- Interline, codeshare and frequent flyer agreements
- Interpretation, operation of and compliance with international aviation conventions including the Chicago Convention and the Warsaw and Montreal Conventions
- Registration and deregistration of aircraft
Charter operations
- Advice on slot management schemes, their implementation and operation
- Fixed base operator ground handling support services
- International and domestic charter operations
drones & autonomous vehicles
- Advising Australian and international clients on all legal and regulatory issues relating to UAVs
- Managing UAV projects
- Preparing applications regarding UAV operations and permissions in Australia for Australian and foreign corporations
- Advising on frequency spectrum allocation matters and liaising with the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA)
- Advising on the development of UAV legislative and regulatory frameworks
- Applying for related certificates, licences and permissions from Australian regulatory authorities
- Representing and advising Australian and international UAV operators and corporations on UAV commercial and regulatory matters and in negotiations with Airservices Australia, the Civil Aviation Safety Authority and other Australian and international government agencies and departments
- Working with Australian regulators to develop UAV law in Australia
