Guide last updated by Katherine Read, January 2025
This guide was created by Katherine Read, Principal Library Assistant at the IALS Library.
Email katherine.read@sas.ac.uk
We'd love to hear your comments about this Research Guide.
Email ials@sas.ac.uk
This guide aims to give a brief introduction to the Library's holdings on air and space law. Please consult the Library Search for complete information on current titles and locations. If you require further assistance please contact us.
Monday-Friday 9:30-17:00
Tel (0)20 7862 5790
Email ials@sas.ac.uk
This Subject Guide only lists a selection of Library resources on air and space law. To find additional resources you will need to search Library Search, which covers the complete holdings of the Library. It is possible to search for books, journals and series of law reports by author, title or keyword.
IALS Library is mainly open access and readers are able to browse the shelves in the main collection. There are two main exceptions to this:
Please request these at the Library Enquiry Desk.
For more information on understanding the catalogue record and further guidance on the location of materials please refer to our guide Classmarks and the Location of Resources in the Library.
The Library classifies textbooks either by jurisdiction (GO13, GA2 etc.) or according to subject area, examples of which include Comparative Law (SB), Public International Law (SG) and Private International Law/ Conflict of Laws (SH).
All classmark sections have a FOL section for oversize volumes, which is located on the same floor of the Library.
When you are searching the Library Search for books, please note that only the current edition is held on the open shelves or in the Short Loan collection. IALS has a rich collection of previous editions held in the closed basement and these will display a Depository number on the catalogue. Please request previous editions from the Library Enquiry Desk.
International air and space law material is shelved at SG90.
The following list represents a selection of textbooks on air and space law. Please follow the links to Library Search for further information and location. Titles are available in both print and electronic formats, unless indicated otherwise on the list below.
Benkö, M. Space law: reconsidering the definition/delimitation question and the passage of spacecraft through foreign airspace. 2013 (print only)
Bhat, S. and others International space law in the new space era: principles and challenges OUP 2024 (online only)
Blount, P. & Hofmann, M. Space law in a networked world Brill Nijhoff 2023 (online only)
Byers, M. Who owns outer space? : international law, astrophysics and the sustainable development of space. CUP 2023 (online only)
Diederiks-Verschoor, I. Introduction to air law. 9th rev. ed. 2012 (print only)
Dunk, F.G. Von der & Brus, M.M.T.A. The international space station: commercial utilisation from a European legal perspective. 2006
Dunk, F.G. Von der & Tronchetti, F. Handbook of space law 2015 Elgar
Dunk, F.G. Von der. International space law 2018
Dunk, F. G Von der Advanced introduction to space law 2020 (print only)
Failat, Y. & Ferrera-Snyman, A. Outer space law: legal policy and practice 2022 (print only)
Giemulla, E. & Weber, L. International and EU aviation law. Selected issues. 2011 (print only)
Goh, G. Dispute settlement in international space law : a multi-door courthouse for outer space. 2007 Brill
Haanappel, P. Law and policy of air space and outer space: a comparative approach. 2003 (print only)
Havel, B. The principles and practice of international aviation law 2014
Hobe, S et al. Cologne commentary on space law 3 vols. 2009-2015 (print only)
Hobe, S. Space law 2nd ed. Beck 2023
Hodgkinson, D. & Johnston, R. Aviation law and drones: Unmanned aircraft and the future of aviation 2018 (print only)
Jakhu, Ram S. National regulation of space activities. 2010 (print only)
Krause, Charles, F. Aviation tort and regulatory law. 2nd ed. 2023 (print only)
Larsen, P. Aviation law: cases, laws and related sources. 2nd ed. 2012
Lyall, F. & Larsen, P.Space law: a treatise 3rd ed. 2025 (print only)
Masson-Zwaan, T. & Hofmann, M. Introduction to space law 5th ed. 2025 Wolters Kluwer (print only)
McGill, M.et al. Sustainable Development, International Aviation, and Treaty Implementation. 2018 Cambridge (online only)
Oduntan, G. Sovereignty and jurisdiction in the airspace and outer space. 2012 (print only)
Ronzitti, N. & Venturini, G. Law of air warfare: contemporary issues. 2006 (print only)
Shawcross, C. & Beaumont. Air law. 4th ed. 1977- (print only)
Steer, C. & Hersch, M. War and Peace in Outer Space: Law, Policy, and Ethics. 2021 Oxford Academic
Tompkins, G. Liability rules applicable to international air transportation as developed by the courts in the United States. 2010 (print only)
Zannoni, D. Disaster management and international space law 2019 Brill (online only)
IALS Library holds a selection of current serial titles on air and space law from many different jurisdictions. These are located on all floors of the Library. Titles are available in both print and electronic formats, unless indicated otherwise on the list below. For more detailed help, please refer to the guide on Finding journal articles. The following titles focus particularly on Air and Space law but there may be relevant articles in less specialised journals.
Air and space law (print only)
Colloquium on the law of outer space. Proceedings
Journal of air law and commerce
Revue française de droit aérien et spatial (print only)
We also have electronic access to the HeinOnline Air and Space Law database which contains further journals on the topic, as well as books, official publications and a range of other documents.
If you are interested in legislation or cases concerning air and space law issues in specific countries you will need to consult the legislation or law reports for that jurisdiction.
Consult Library Search to find the general classmark for the country you require. Consult consolidations of legislation, digests or indexes to trace particular acts or cases.
Academic users may also use databases like Lexis/Westlaw to find UK, US, EU or international decisions. For further information please refer to Law Databases or ask at the Library Enquiry Desk.
You may also find it useful to refer to our guides on finding Legislation and Cases or check to see if we have a Jurisdiction Research Guide for the country you are interested in.
Eagle-i is an internet portal maintained and updated by IALS library staff. It allows you to search for quality web resources on air and space law.
The following represent a sample of the available quality individual web resources on air and space law.
Mobility and Transport Portal of the European Commission
European Space Policy Institute
International Civil Aviation Organization
International Institute of Air and Space Law