The World Assembly (WA),
Acknowledging the repeals of GARs 342 and 464 concerning aircraft and airspace;
Noting the WA's long interest in outer space (via GARs 349, 451, 460, and 615) and travels therein;
Desiring a common approach to defining what constitutes "airspace" and "outer space" in order to facilitate trade and travel between WA states;
The WA hereby enacts as follows:
- Definitions.
- "Flying object" means anything defined by the International Aero-Space Administration (IASA) or the International Transport Safety Committee as able to travel in "airspace" (defined below) and relying on its own power, such as aircraft, spacecraft, seaplanes, drones, helicopters, and other similar objects, but excluding:
- anything not relying on its own power, such as kites; or
- any sapient species that can fly.
- "WA organs" means the WA itself and all of its committees.
- Sovereignty.
- Each WA state is deemed to have sovereignty over its own airspace.
- "Airspace" is hereby defined as the atmosphere vertically over any land mass or any waters for which the said WA state claims sovereignty, up to the boundary where the exobase ends and barometric conditions no longer apply, and where outer space thereafter begins.
- For WA states in celestial bodies with differing physical features (such as the lack of an atmosphere), the said WA state may assert sovereignty in such proximate space as those strictly necessary for its domestic affairs, subject to recognition as such by IASA. For convenience, such proximate space shall also be referred to herein as a WA state's "airspace".
- "Outer space" is hereby defined as any space (excluding airspace) between celestial bodies.
- Outer space is international in nature, and no WA state may assert sovereignty over outer space, or assist anyone else in asserting sovereignty over outer space.
- In case of airspace vertically over terra nullis, or over international waters where no WA state has asserted sovereignty, such airspace is declared international airspace and no WA state may assert sovereignty over such airspace.
- Jurisdiction.
- A flying object registered to the competent authorities of a WA state is deemed to be under that WA state's jurisdiction, and that WA is deemed the "flag state" of that flying object.
- A flying object operated by, for, or on behalf of a WA organ is subject to the jurisdiction of that organ, regardless of the flag state of that flying object.
- Non-interference.
- A WA state may not impede the normal operations of any flying objects under the jurisdiction of a WA organ, except strictly for the purpose of:
- capacity management if it is traveling within the WA state's airspace; and/or
- quarantines, except if the said flying object's operation within that airspace only involves traveling through it without landing or disembarking.
- A WA state may not disrupt the normal operations of flying objects traveling under the flag of another WA state, or that of flying objects in the airspace of another WA state, or attack such flying objects, unless a declared state of war exists between the relevant states.
- Clarifications.
- The WA reserves the absolute right to regulate the use and jurisdiction of national airspace as well as the operation of all flying objects under the jurisdiction of a WA state (or WA organs) for the safety, security and collective benefits of all WA member states.
- The IASA is responsible for interpretation of this resolution and to adjudicate any disputes between WA states.
