| The law of global navigation satellite systems is a nascent, yet growing academic field. The subject matter it studies, GNSS, has been and is becoming ever-more important in the modern world, both for transportation, as well as for commerce. Indeed, globalization has seen billions of euros in trade associated with both nautical and aviation shipping, and this trend is likely to grow larger with the passage of time. Additionally, the nations of the world are fast realizing the potential of GNSS to make their aviation industries more robust and efficient, with integration of GNSS into air traffic management certain to increase the number of aircraft in flight at any given time, decrease the separation between such craft, and allow for safer takeoffs and landings, as well as improve flight in areas whose terrain has traditionally been quite challenging for contemporary navigational aids. In 2004, the United States and the European Community signed an Agreement intended to ensure radio compatibility and interoperability between the U.S. Global Positioning System and the upcoming Galileo GNSS. This collaboration should enable continued and rapid growth of commerce and navigation improvements to aviation, but several of its provisions are poorly, if at all, defined. As a result, this thesis attempts to elaborate the nature and meaning behind the 2004 Agreement, while also serving to illuminate current legal theories concerning the liability regimes that accompany GNSS. |
