effectiveness of the 2010 beijing convention and protocol in addressing aviation security threats

170 Pages·2014·0.57 MB·English

EFFECTIVENESS OF THE 2010 BEIJING CONVENTION AND
PROTOCOL IN ADDRESSING AVIATION SECURITY THREATS

RAMADHANI ALLY MALETA

A THESIS SUBMITTED IN FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR
THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF LAWS OF THE OPEN UNIVERSITY OF
TANZANIA
2014
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CERTIFICATION

The undersigned do hereby certify that I have read and hereby recommend for
acceptance thesis titled: “Effectiveness of the 2010 Beijing Convention and Protocol
in Addressing Aviation Security Threats” submitted in fulfillment of the
requirements for the Degree of Master of Laws (LL.M.) of the Open University of
Tanzania.

…………………………………………..
Dr. Paul Faustin Kihwelo
(Supervisor)

……………………………….…………
Date
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COPYRIGHT

No part of this thesis may be reproduced, stored in any retrieval system, or transmitted
in any form by any means, electronically, photocopying, recording or otherwise
without prior permission of the author or The Open University of Tanzania in that
behalf.
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DECLARATION

I, Ramadhani Ally Maleta, do hereby declare that, this research work is my own
original work, and that it has not been presented to any university for a similar or any
other degree award.

…………………………………………..
Signature

…………………………………………..
Date
v
DEDICATION

Dedicated to my beloved parents, Ally Athumani Maleta and Rukia Mfaume
Kawambwa, who brought me up with love and care and; who sacrificed their family’s
scarce resources for foundation of my advancement in the academic world.
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

My sincere gratitude to my employer, Tanzania Airports Authority whose sponsorship
has enabled me pursue this course.

I am indeed indebted to my Supervisor, Dr. Paul Faustin Kihwelo (Ph.D.) Senior
Lecturer of Law at the Open University of Tanzania for his professional guidance,
constructive criticism and brotherly patience which have substantially contributed to
modeling this work to the present form. To him I accord the best of his work and
whatever deficiencies appearing in this work are mine.

I convey my heart-felt thanks to my beloved wife, Salama Ramadhani Uchungu , and
beloved children; Faraji, Fatma and Fauziat. By the grace of God they endured the
pain of lacking my company, sometimes at critical moments when my company in the
family was most needed during the entire period of my study.

My extended gratitude is owed to Prof. Dr. Paul Stephen Dempsey, Director of
Institute of Air and Space Law at McGill University, Canada, for his learned lectures
and reading materials when he taught me an aviation law course on International Air
Law: Concept and Applications held at Singapore Aviation Academy (SAA) in May
2010. His teachings had assisted me in having a base on the subject of International
Air Law and I used that basic knowledge as a guidance for doing this research.

Likewise, I wish to value the contributions from my co-participants of IATA-aviation
law course on International Air Law for Lawyers and Legal Professionals, held at
Ghana Civil Aviation Academy (GCAA) in November, 2013. The participants are
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aviation lawyers from different countries in Africa hence their comments which based
on practical experience were very important for improving this work. Importantly, I
appreciate the inputs and wisdom of Mr. Udan P.N. Fulana who was a lecturer of the
course in Ghana. Mr. Fulana, being a retired pilot with Royal Air Force in UK and a
frequent lecturer on legal issues in air transportation for over 30 years, has agreed to
share with me his long practical experience in international air law and hence
encouraged me to have this study completed.

Finally, I thank all those whose works I have read and referred to in this work and;
any other person who in any way contributed to the results of my study.
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ABSTRACT

Following the September 11 terrorist attacks in America and the occurrence of other
new and emerging threats to civil aviation, the international community has been
faced with the harsh reality in the field of aviation security, hence, several legal
attempts were made to address such aviation threats. Consequently, the International
Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) in its 37th Diplomatic Conference of 2010 held
in Beijing, China, adopted two new international legal instruments namely;
Convention on the Suppression of Unlawful Acts Relating to International Civil
Aviation (Beijing Convention of 2010) and Protocol Supplementary to the Convention
for Suppression of Unlawful Seizure of Aircraft (Beijing Protocol of 2010). This study
reviews the historical background to the development of international air law on
aviation security and further assesses and analyzes in detail the provisions of the
Beijing legal instruments in comparison with the previous treaties. Finally, the key
question of whether or not the new Beijing Convention and the Protocol are adequate
and effective in combating threats to aviation security is addressed through doctrinal
research. In this regard, information was collected from various primary and
secondary sources of law including books, articles, conventions, protocols, statutes
and internets. Further information was gathered from various aviation stakeholders
including aviation experts, security staff, lawyers, passengers, ground handlers, crews,
regulators, airline and airport operators. From the information collected, the study
comes up with conclusion, observations and recommendations which may be useful in
addressing new and emerging threats to aviation security.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS

CERTIFICATION ................................................................................................... ii
COPYRIGHT.......................................................................................................... iii
DECLARATION .................................................................................................... iv
DEDICATION ......................................................................................................... v
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS .................................................................................... vi
ABSTRACT .......................................................................................................... viii
LIST OF CASES ................................................................................................... xiii
LIST OF LOCAL STATUTES ............................................................................ xiv
LIST OF FOREIGN STATUTES ......................................................................... xv
LIST OF INTERNATIONAL INSTRUMENTS ................................................ xvii
LIST OF ABREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS ................................................. xix
CHAPTER ONE ...................................................................................................... 1
1.0 GENERAL INTRODUCTION ........................................................................ 1
1.1 Introduction ....................................................................................................... 1
1.2 Background to the Problem ................................................................................ 3
1.3 Statement of the Problem ................................................................................... 5
1.4 Literature Review............................................................................................... 6
1.5 Objective of the Study ...................................................................................... 21
1.6 Research Questions .......................................................................................... 22
1.7 Significance of the Study ................................................................................. 22
1.8 Methodology .................................................................................................... 22
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CHAPTER TWO ................................................................................................... 25
2.0 GENESIS OF AVIATION SECURITY THREATS ....................................... 25
2.1 Introduction .................................................................................................. 25
2.1.1 Aviation Security ........................................................................................... 25
2.1.2 Aviation Threats ............................................................................................ 26
2.1.3 Terrorism and Aviation Security .................................................................... 27
2.2 Background to Aviation Security Threats ..................................................... 30
2.3 Common Types of Aviation Threats ............................................................. 32
2.3.1 Aircraft Hijackings ....................................................................................... 32
2.3.2 Missile Attacks to Aircraft ............................................................................ 36
2.3.3 Man Portable Air Defense System (MANPADS) .......................................... 39
2.3.4 Extortion ...................................................................................................... 41
2.3.5 Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) .......................................................... 43
2.3.6 Notable Plots of Threats To Aviation ............................................................ 44
2.3.7 Other New and Emerging Aviation Threats .................................................. 48
2.3.8 Threats Against Airline Facilities ................................................................... 51
2.3.9 Threats Against Airports ................................................................................ 52
2.4 Preventive Measures to Aviation Threats ...................................................... 53
2.4.1 Measures Adopted by the International Community ..................................... 55
2.4.2 Preventive Measures by Individual States ..................................................... 61
2.5 Conclusion ................................................................................................... 67
CHAPTER THREE ............................................................................................... 69