Does the Warsaw Convention apply to Parachuting Activities?
In a recent judgement handed down by the Haifa District Court in Israel, the Court ruled that the Warsaw Convention does not apply in circumstances where an aircraft took off for one purpose – ‘free dive’ parachuting by members of a parachute club. The aircraft (type ‘Pilatus Porter’) was leased to a parachute club (‘Sky Club’). The aircraft, flown by a pilot employed by Sky Club, took off with nine members of the club on board for the purpose of parachuting activities in which the club’s members participated. Several seconds after take off (and before the club members had begun parachuting), the aircraft crashed. Three of the parachutists and the pilot died and six others were injured. Pursuant to the fatal crash, various claims were filed in the Haifa District Court, inter alia, against the club, its insurers, the operator of the aircraft, the company which provided maintenance services for the aircraft, the Civil Aviation Authority and the manufacturer of the aircraft. The club’s in
