An Introduction

Airline travel has become a routine part of life, but modern airline passengers—among whom are members of Congress—fume at airline automation, overbooking practices, delays, and congestion at airports.  They demand an expansion of rights in the form of “Airline Passengers’ Bill of Rights.”  Meanwhile, the terrorist attacks of September 11th jolted the nation’s focus from issues of comfort and convenience to safety and security.  Air travelers are subjected to—and in some cases welcome—restrictive and invasive security protocols such as “No-Fly” lists and profiling. 

 

This blawg explores the legal and business realities of flying today, including issues that arise in the robust general aviation marketplace. 

 

Not to be forgotten is outer space travel and the new laws that are being created to usher in a new era of private space exploration.  Today is reminiscent of the period following the Wright Brothers’ historic first flight of a powered, heavier-than-air airplane in 1903.  Only 11 years later, the first scheduled airline passenger flight in the United States departed—an 18-mile, 23-minute, one-passenger journey between Tampa and St. Petersburg for $5 one-way. 

 

Blue Skies! 

 

Timothy M. Ravich, J.D., M.B.A.