Evening star., 1937-05-08
STUDY
AIR LAW MODEL
Proposed Statute Defines
Liabilities for Loss of
Life and Property.

comprehensive statute clearly de-
fning the liabilities Of owners and
pilots for loss Of life and property
damage In aiplane accidents was
under consideration today by the
American Law Institute as possible
model for proposal to the Congress
and the Legislatures of the 48 States.
The institute, composed of out
standing barristers, jurists and law
teachers from all parts OF the country,
was to close its annual session at the
Mayflower Hotel today.
The proposed statute, known as the
Law of Airflight," is divided into
three separate parts-uniform avia-
ton liability act, uniform law Of
airf1ight and uniform air Jurisdiction
act 1t was drafted and prepared by
William A. Schnader, former attorney
general of Pennsylvania and chair
man Of the Committee on Aeronautical
Code of the National Conference Of
Commissioners on Uniform State Laws
and also chairman of the Committee
on Aeronautical Law of the American
Bar Association.
Provisions of Act.
The aviation liability act provides:
l. The owner of an aircraft shall
be liable, regardless of negligence, for
injuries to individuals on the land or
property on the land caused by ascent
or descent or other movement of an
aircraft, or by the dropping or falling
OF any object therefrom. It sets $l0,-
600 as the maximum damage for per-
sonal injury or death of one indi-
vidual. Otherwise, the damage Is
limited to 100000 maximum for an
airplane fully loaded, and maximum
liabilities within this sum would de-
pend on the size OF the craft.
2. The owner shall be liable, regard
less Of negligence, for injuries to
paying passengers for death or in
juries sustained in accordance with the
schedule of amounts set forth in
the act.
3. The owner shall be liable, If
negligent, for death or injuries to
passenger guests, on the same basis
of liability as applies to guests riding
in automobiles.
Other provisions cover liability for
baggage, collision of aircraft and COM
pulsory insurance in certain cases,
with penalties for violations.
The Law Of Airflight provides for
the conditions under which 1t shall
be lawful to operate aircraft and re-
lates to licensing, the rules OF the
Commerce Department, penalties for
use of drugs or intoxicants or carrying
of guns or explosives, and $4,000 fine
or a years imprisonment for viola
tions.
The uniform air Jurisdiction act
provides for the jurisdiction over con-
tracts, over torts and crimes, the pre-
sumption as to jurisdiction and the
uniformity of Interpretation.
The institute held its annual dinner
at the Mayhower last night with its
president, former Senator George
Wharton Pepper OF Pennsylvania, in
charge.
Discuss Institutes Work.
Prof. w. Barton Leach Of Harvard
Law School departed from formal
legal style of delivery and phrase
ology to dicuss the Institutes work
in restating the law and to carry out
his instructions from the ex-senator,
Ito put across q few worthwhile
thoughts with q sufficiently light
touch and a sufficient supply Of
humor" to provide "well-deserved
entertainment" to the members.
The growth of law education In
the United States and England was
outlined by DR.. John Stewart Bryan,
president of William and Mary COL
lege and publisher O., the Richmond
NeWs-Leader.