Freedoms of the Air

Sheffield School of Aeronautics is one of the oldest and most prestigious dispatching schools. In our time, educating students on the wonders of the field of aviation expertise has changed quite a bit. When Sheffield opened its doors in 1944, the commercial aviation industry was still very young, and many of the rules and regulations we know today did not exist. There are nine fundamental freedoms of the air that aircraft dispatchers know. Sheffield expresses the freedom in its literal form, then breaks them down for you below.

 

First Freedom of the Air

The right or privilege, in respect of scheduled international air services, granted by one State to another State or States to fly across its territory without landing. This means that an airline from one country can overfly another country’s airspace.

 

Second Freedom of the Air

The right or privilege, in respect of scheduled international air services, granted by one State to another State or States to land in its territory for non-traffic purposes. This means that a commercial aircraft can land to refuel in another country.

 

Third Freedom of The Air

The right or privilege, in respect of scheduled international air services, granted by one State to another State to put down, in the territory of the first State, traffic coming from the home State of the carrier. This means that an airline can deliver passengers from the airline’s home country to another country.

 

Fourth Freedom of The Air

The right or privilege, in respect of scheduled international air services, granted by one State to another State to take on, in the territory of the first State, traffic destined for the home State of the carrier. This means that an airline can carry passengers from another country to the airline’s home country.

 

Fifth Freedom of The Air

The right or privilege, in respect of scheduled international air services, granted by one State to another State to put down and to take on, in the territory of the first State, traffic coming from or destined to a third State. This means that an airline can take passengers from its home country, deposit them at the destination, and then pick up and carry passengers on to other international destinations.

 

Sixth Freedom of The Air

The right or privilege, in respect of scheduled international air services, of transporting, via the home State of the carrier, traffic moving between two other States. This means that an airline can carry passengers or cargo between two foreign countries, provided that the aircraft touches down in the airline’s home country. The sixth freedom is not like the first five, as it is not incorporated as such into any widely recognized agreements amongst air services.

 

Seventh Freedom of The Air

The right or privilege, in respect of scheduled international air services, granted by one State to another State, of transporting traffic between the territory of the granting State and any third State with no requirement to include on such operation any point in the territory of the recipient State, i.e. the service need not connect to or be an extension of any service to/from the home State of the carrier. This means that an airline can carry on flights that originate in a foreign country, bypass its home country, and deposit the passengers at another international destination.

 

Eighth Freedom of The Air

The right or privilege, in respect of scheduled international air services, of transporting cabotage traffic between two points in the territory of the granting State on a service which originates or terminates in the home country of the foreign carrier or outside the territory of the granting State. This means that an airline can carry passengers from one point in a country to another point within the same country on a flight that originates in the airline’s home country. This is known as cabotage and isn’t widely used outside of Europe.

 

Ninth Freedom of The Air

The right or privilege of transporting cabotage traffic of the granting State on a service performed entirely within the territory of the granting State. This means that an airline from a particular country can originate a flight in a foreign country and carry passengers from one point to another within the foreign country. This is also known as the stand alone cabotage and does not directly relate to one’s own country.

As you’ll learn in dispatching schools, the eighth and ninth freedoms have been exchanged in few instances. As of today, U.S. law prohibits these cabotage operations. The International Civil Aviation Organization, established the same year Sheffield School of Aeronautics was born, works to reach general agreements on international aviation standards.

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    “As a graduate of the aircraft dispatcher program at the Sheffield School of Aeronautics…My training was intense and thorough and furnished me with the requisite skills for performing my current job as a Flight Dispatch Supervisor.” N.S. Sidebar NS
    “After receiving my certificate, I joined a class of 4 experienced dispatchers for Part 121 initial training. Without experience, my preparation at Sheffield enabled me to become active at the same time after the initial training.” PR PR
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    “Their reputation of excellence amongst the industry is second to none. Sheffield School of Aeronautics should be seen as the standard of how it can be done and how it should be done. I was hired at a major airline with no dispatch experience.” A.Z. Sidebar AZ
    “Going to Sheffield prepared me for the real world challenges of Aircraft Dispatching. I certainly believe that the method Sheffield used is one not only for success in a real world career, but also one that prepares students to correctly dispatch aircraft.” T.Z. Sidebar TZ
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    “My experience at Sheffield and my exposure to other aircraft dispatchers that did not go to Sheffield has resulted in an awareness of the superior depth and quality of the training provided by the Sheffield instructors.” CD Sidebar CD
    “Sheffield School of Aeronautics is a highly recognized and respected organization throughout the airline industry. They only produce the highest quality of graduate…” P.W. Sidebar PW
    “Eric Morris is one of the most if not the most knowledgeable and experienced authorities on Aircraft Dispatching in the United States. He strives constantly to make the industry better.” DH sidebar DH
    “I am a graduate of the Sheffield’s Dispatcher Program. I have been a Captain-Part 121 Airline, Certified Flight/Grnd Instructor, and FAA Designated Check Airman and Sim Instructor (Part 121). From my experience I would rate Sheffield School as outstanding in their field.” PT PT
    “As a graduate of Sheffield School of Aeronautics I am a firm believer that I received the most thorough and well thought out aircraft dispatcher training available. I owe my position in the industry to Sheffield School of Aeronautics.” BF Sidebar BF
    “I wanted to tell you I got the job offer from Expressjet, and start next month! I think a couple others from class were hired as well. It just shows the Sheffield reputation when I see graduates from other schools complaining that they can’t get an interview – I wasn’t even back home to Minneapolis […] Dan Gustafson
    “I entered my profession, with more knowledge and information than dispatchers who have been practicing their craft for more than ten years. Not only has Sheffield provided a top notch education, but they have also instilled in me the confidence to succeed.” A.Z. Sidebar AZ
    “Sheffield School of Aeronautics is known worldwide for its quality training and has been recommended to me by our national airline Swiss International Airlines. Whenever I mention the name ‘Sheffield’ it rings a bell in people’s ears.” IW IW
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