Benjamyn I. Scott
Assistant Professor
- Name
- Dr. B.I. Scott
- b.i.scott@law.leidenuniv.nl
- ORCID iD
- 0009-0000-8219-8716
Dr Benjamyn I. Scott is an Assistant Professor at the Institute of Air and Space Law, and at eLaw – Center for Law and Digital Technologies.
Dr Benjamyn I. Scott is an Assistant Professor at the Institute of Air and Space Law (IIASL), and eLaw – Center for Law and Digital Technologies.
Dr Scott has a strong background in developing and emerging technologies, where he has concentrated on unmanned aircraft systems (remotely piloted and autonomously flown), urban air mobility and innovative air mobility (eVTOL, societal acceptance and multimodality), cybersecurity, artificial intelligence and unmanned traffic management. Here, Dr Scott supports different stakeholder groups, presents at conferences, publishes journal articles and books, lectures at different universities around the world, and applies for different funding grants. He is also an Editor on the following journal: Air & Space Law, Aviation & Space Law Journal, ICUAS e-Magazine, Drones (Guest Editor), and Journal of Intelligent & Robotic Systems (Guest Editor).
At the IIASL and eLaw, Dr Scott is the course coordinator for Private Air Law, Internship Air & Space Law and Electronic Communications Law. In addition, he also teaches and supports other courses (Public Air Law, Moot Court Air & Space Law, Aerospace Law, and Law and Human Machine Interaction). Finally, Dr Scott also supervises LLM and PhD theses for both the IIASL and eLaw.
Dr Scott holds an LLB (Hons) in Law with European Legal Studies from the University of Kent and the University of Amsterdam, an LLM in International Commercial Law with a focus on space law from the University of Kent (distinction), an LLM (Adv.) in Air and Space Law from Leiden University (cum laude), and a PhD in Law from the University of Cologne (magna cum laude). Dr Scott’s PhD thesis explored the regulatory approach taken at a European and international level to aviation cybersecurity. The thesis was later published under the title Aviation Cybersecurity: Regulatory Approach in the European Union (Eleven, 2019).
Dr Scott has held numerous positions in the aviation sector. Immediately before joining Leiden University, Dr Scott was the Air Traffic Management (ATM) and New Technologies Manager at AeroSpace and Defence Industries Association of Europe (ASD), which represents around 3,000 European aerospace manufacturers. Before working at ASD, Dr Scott was a Research Associate at the Institute for Air Law, Space Law and Cyber Law at the University of Cologne and a Junior Legal Advisor at the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). He holds the current memberships:
- Advanced LLM Exam Commission
- Dutch Association for Transport Law (NVV)
- European Air Law Association (EALA)
- European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) – RMT.0230 Working Group Academic Member
- NATO/EUROCONTROL ATM Security Coordinating Group: Member
- Royal Aeronautical Society
- Women in Aviation International (WAI)
- Worldwide Airport Lawyers Association (WALA)
Dr Scott held the former professional memberships/roles:
- Alternate Member on the SESAR Administrative Board
- Member of the Single European Sky Industry Consultation Body
- Member of the EASA/EUROCONTROL Joint CNS Stakeholder Platform
- Member of the European Aviation/ATM AI High Level Group
- Member of the EUROCONTROL Agency Advisory Board (reformed)
- Member of the International Coordinating Council of Aerospace Industries Associations (ICCAIA) Communication, Navigation and Surveillance/Air Traffic Management (CNS/ATM) Committee, and Security Committee (Physical and Cybersecurity Subgroups)
- Member of the EU European Strategic Coordination Platform for Cybersecurity in Aviation (ESCP)
- Member of the European Network of U-space Demonstrators
- Member of the joint stakeholder group We are ALL ONE in the Sky
- Member of the European Commission’s Informal Expert Group for Drones
- Member of the Stakeholder Consultation Body at the Joint Authorities for Rulemaking on Unmanned Systems
- Member of the ICAO and United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs Space Law Working Group
Assistant Professor
- Faculteit der Rechtsgeleerdheid
- Public Law
- Air & Spacelaw
- Scott B.I. & Kurtpınar E.Ö. (2026), Safety first, safety’s choice: regulating unmanned aircraft and an illusion of choice, Safety Science 193: 107029.
- Scott B.I. & Trimarchi A. (2025), Fundamentals of international aviation law and policy. Aviation Fundamentals. London: Routledge.
- Custers B.H.M., Lahmann H.C. & Scott B.I. (2025), From liability gaps to liability overlaps: shared responsibilities and fiduciary duties in AI and other complex technologies, AI and Society 40(5): 4035-4050.
- Truxal S.J., Aras T., Kurtpinar E.O. & Scott B.I. (2025), Third Transformation Support Strategy (TSS) workshop: 'flagship for air traffic management transformation: continuing the journey'. Research in Aerospace Law & Policy no. 2025/01. Leiden: International Institute of Air and Space Law.
- Scott B.I. & Sousa Uva R. (2025), The role of aviation safety 'soft law' in the European Union regulatory landscape: revisited, Zeitschrift für Luft- und Weltraumrecht 74(1): 20-58.
- Scott B.I. (2025), Review of: Hamilton J.S. & Nilsson S. (2024), Practical aviation & aerospace law (8th edn). Newcastle, Washington, United States: Aviation Supplies & Academics, Inc.. Air and Space Law 50(2): 245-249.
- Scott B.I. & Kurtpinar E.O. (2025), Hoffnungen und Hürden: Regulatorische Herausforderungen für Advanced Air Mobility (5.1), airliners.de : .
- Kurtpinar E.O. & Scott B.I. (2025), Integration von AAM: Offene Fragen und noch viele Schwierigkeiten (5.2), airliners.de : .
- Scott B.I. (2025), The 10th freedom of the air: advanced air mobility and the growth of cabotage operations. In: Hobe S. & Reichhold J. (Eds.), Liber amicorum Instituti Iuris Aeris, Spatialis et Cybernetici in centenarium: Liber Amicorum on the occassion of the centenary of the Cologne Institute of Air Law, Space Law and Cyber Law: Carl Heymanns Verlag. 39-54.
- Scott B.I. & Kurtpınar O. (2025), High Hopes and Higher Hurdles: Unpacking Six Regulatory Challenges Facing Advanced Air Mobility. Research in Aerospace Law & Policy no. 2025/03. Leiden: International Institute of Air and Space Law.
- Scott B.I. (2025), How Many Legs on a Passenger: An Analysis of the Term ‘Passenger’ under Regulation 261/2004, Air and Space Law 50(Special Issue): 489-502.
- Lahmann H.C., Custers B.H.M. & Scott B.I. (2025), The fundamental rights risks of countering cognitive warfare with artificial intelligence, Ethics and Information Technology 27: 1-14 (49).
- Scott B.I. (2024), Passenger air taxi services: an assessment of the current European Union Rules on consumer protection for passengers, Journal of Intelligent & Robotic Systems 110: 1-17 (37).
- Nugraha R.A. & Scott B.I. (3 February 2024), Flying taxis, air mobility and challenges for Indonesia. Jakarta Post, Opinion: 6.
- Kurtpınar O. & Scott B.I. (2024), The legality of countering potential threats posed by drones under international air law, 2024 International Conference on Unmanned Aircraft Systems (ICUAS). International Conference on Unmanned Aircraft System (ICUAS '24) 4 June 2024 - 7 June 2024: IEEE. 347-354.
- Hartmann J., Scott B.I., Truxal S.J., Bertolini A. & Masutti A. (Eds.) (2024), Civil regulation of autonomous unmanned aircraft systems in Europe. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar.
- Scott B.I., Custers B.H.M. & Lahmann H.C. (2024), Drone regulation and AI Law: assessing the intersection of the EU Legal Frameworks for unmanned aircraft and artificial intelligence, Air and Space Law 49(6): 565-584.
- Lahmann H.C., Custers B.H.M., Scott B.I., Santoni de Sio F., Heijnen M. & Akrum I. (2024), Design methodologies for addressing Ethical, Legal and Societal Aspects (ELSA) of military AI applications: [Deliverable 2.1, Version 2.0]. The Hague: ELSA Lab Defence.
- Truxal S. & Scott B.I. (2024), The regulation of unmanned aircraft systems in the European Union. In: Hartmann J., Scott B.I., Truxal S., Bertolini A. & Masutti A. (Eds.), Civil regulation of autonomous unmanned aircraft systems in Europe. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar. 31-63.
- Hartmann J., Scott B.I., Truxal S.J., Bertolini A. & Masutti A. (2024), Conclusion to the legal evolution and regulatory challenges of unmanned aircraft systems in Europe. In: Hartmann J., Scott B.I., Truxal S.J., Bertolini A. & Masutti A. (Eds.), Civil regulation of autonomous unmanned aircraft systems in Europe. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar. 312-316.
- Scott B.I. & Hartmann J. (2024), International aviation law on liability. In: Hartmann J., Scott B.I., Truxal S., Bertolini A. & Masutti A. (Eds.), Civil regulation of autonomous unmanned aircraft systems in Europe. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar. 12-30.
- Scott B.I. (2023), Review of: Mendes de Leon P. (2022), Introduction to air law. Alphen aan den Rijn: Kluwer Law International. Air & Space Law 48(2): 259-262.
- Mendes de Leon P. & Scott B.I. (2023), Scanning the air transport market in Europe and Beyond: the position of airlines and the evolution of technical innovations. In: Meneghetti A.D. & Perrotta P. (Eds.), Aviation Law 2023 [11th edition]: practical cross-border insights into aviation law. International Comparative Legal Guides. London: Global Legal Group. 15-19.
- Scott B.I., Lahmann H.C. & Custers B.H.M. (2023), Adopting AI in defence organisations requires further focus on ethical, legal and societal aspects, ICUAS magazine 1(2): 3-5.
- Scott B.I. & Andritsos K.I. (2023), A drone strategy 2.0 for a smart and sustainable unmanned aircraft eco-system in Europe, Air and Space Law 48(3): 273-296.
- Scott B.I. (2023), Review of: Osiecki M. (2022), International legal aspects of aerial terrorism: methods of law enforcement in aviation. Ius, Lex et Res Publica Series no. 22. Berlin: Peter Lang. Air and Space Law 48(3): 375-377.
- Scott B.I. (7 August 2023), A case of ‘AI hallucination’ in the air. Leiden Law Blog. Leiden (Leiden University). [blog entry].
- Bruijne B. de & Scott B.I. (2023), Airports and aerodromes. In: Masutti A. & Mendes de Leon P. (Eds.), Elgar Concise Encyclopedia of Aviation Law. Elgar Concise Encyclopedias in Law. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar. 114-117.
- Scott B.I. & Huttunen M.T. (2023), Unmanned aircraft systems. In: Masutti A. & Mendes de Leon P. (Eds.), Elgar Concise Encyclopedia of Aviation Law. Elgar Concise Encyclopedias in Law. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar. 506-509.
- Huttunen M.T. & Scott B.I. (2023), Unmanned aircraft system traffic management. In: Masutti A. & Mendes de Leon P. (Eds.), Elgar Concise Encyclopedia of Aviation Law. Elgar Concise Encyclopedias in Law. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar. 510-513.
- Lahmann H.C., Custers B.H.M. & Scott B.I. (2023), Design methodologies for addressing Ethical, Legal and Societal Aspects (ELSA) of military AI applications. Research memo series / ELSA Lab Defence no. 2. The Hague: ELSA Lab Defence.
- Scott B.I. (2023), Horizon Europe: the next multiannual framework programme, AISDUE / Associazione Italiana degli Studiosi di Diritto dell’Unione Europea 2023(1): 375-383.
- Scott B.I. (2023), Review of: Grigorieff C.-I. (2022), Uniformity and fragmentation of the 1999 Montreal Convention on International Air Carrier Liability. Alphen aan den Rijn: Wolters Kluwer. Aerospace 2023(2): 50.
- Scott B.I. & Trimarchi A. (2022), Aviation law. In: Buhalis D. (Ed.), Encyclopedia of Tourism Management and Marketing. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar. 227-230.
- Scott B.I. (2022) Book review. Review of: Schnitker R.M. & Kaar D. van het (eds) (2021), Drone Law and Policy: Integration Into the Legal Order of Civil Aviation. Essential Air and Space Law. The Hague: Eleven International Publishing. Air and Space Law 47(1): 141-144.
- Andritsos K., Scott B.I. & Trimarchi A. (2022), What is in a name: defining key terms in Urban Air Mobility, Journal of Intelligent & Robotic Systems 105: 1-9 (81).
- Scott B.I. (Ed.) (2022), The law of unmanned aircraft systems: [Second edition]. Aerospace law and policy series no. 11. Alphen aan den Rijn: Wolters Kluwer.
- Scott B.I. (2022) Book review. Review of: Tarr A.A., Tarr J.A., Thompson M. & Ellis J. (eds) (2022), Drone Law and Policy: Global Development, Risks, Regulation and Insurance. London: Routledge. Air and Space Law 47(4&5): 525-528.
- Scott B.I. (2022), Vertiports: Ready for Take-off … And Landing, Journal of Air Law and Commerce 87(3): 503-530.
- Scott B.I. (2022), Review of: Zhang L. (2022), The resolution of inter-state disputes in civil aviation. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Air and Space Law 47(3): 397-399.
- Scott B.I. (2022), Introduction. In: Scott B.I. (Ed.), The law of unmanned aircraft systems. Aerospace law and policy series no. 11. Alphen aan den Rijn: Kluwer Law International. 3-6.
- Scott B.I. & Nunes de Pinho Veloso G. (2022), Terminology, definitions and classifications. In: Scott B.I. (Ed.), The law of unmanned aircraft systems. Aerospace law and policy series no. 11. Alphen aan den Rijn: Kluwer Law International. 7-22.
- Scott B.I. (2022), Aviation stakeholder organisations. In: Scott B.I. (Ed.), The law of unmanned aircraft systems. Aerospace law and policy series no. 11. Alphen aan den Rijn: Kluwer Law International. 269-280.
- Scott B.I. (2022), Antarctica. In: Scott B.I. (Ed.), The law of unmanned aircraft systems. Aerospace law and policy series no. 11. Alphen aan den Rijn: Kluwer Law International. 337-342.
- Scott B.I. (2022), Concluding remarks. In: Scott B.I. (Ed.), The law of unmanned aircraft systems. Aerospace law and policy series no. 11. Alphen aan den Rijn: Kluwer Law International. 521-.
- Scott B.I. (2021), Open Skies for Unmanned Aircraft in Europe: An Outlier or a New Approach?, Air and Space Law 46(1): 57-80 .
- Scott B.I. (2021) Book review. Review of: Huttunen M.T. (2020), Safety and Security of Unmanned Aircraft Systems: Legislating Sociotechnical Change in Civil Aviation: University of Lapland. Air and Space Law 46(2): 319-321.
- Scott B.I. (2021) Book review. Review of: Pazmiño L.F.F. (2020), The International Civil Operations of Unmanned Aircraft Systems Under Air Law. Alphen aan den Rijn: Kluwer Law International. Air and Space Law 46(4/5): 639-641.
- Scott B.I. (2020), [contribution to] The FLY AI Report: demystifying and accelerating AI in aviation/ATM. Brussels: EUROCONTROL. [other].
- Bergamasco F., Cassar R., Popova R. & Scott B.I. (2020), Cybersecurity: Key Legal Considerations for the Aviation and Space Sectors. Aerospace law and policy series no. 18. Alphen aan den Rijn: Kluwer Law International.
- Scott B.I., Junior R.F., Herdy L., Havel B.F., Zheng P., Arboleda J.I.G., Mortelliti S., Correia V., Brecke K.H., Sarin N., Sierra C., Estrada J.M., Batalov A.A., Aksamentov O.I., de Oliveira R., Buissing N., Cockrell C., Fiorilli F., Chele L., Wijngaart T. van der, Harman J., Mousinho I.A. & Weissman P. (2020), National aviation law responses to COVID-19, Air and Space Law 45(Special Issue): 195-272.
- Scott B.I. & Trimarchi A. (2020), The Montreal Convention in an Age of Automation, Issues in Aviation Law and Policy 20(1): 71-89.
- Scott B.I. & Sousa Uva R. (2020), The Role of Aviation Safety ‘Soft Law’ in the European Union Regulatory Landscape, Zeitschrift für Luft- und Weltraumrecht 69(4): 604-627.
- Scott B.I. & Trimarchi A. (2019), Fundamentals of International Aviation Law and Policy. Aviation Fundamentals. London: Routledge.
- Scott B.I. (2019), Aviation Cybersecurity: Regulatory Approach in the European Union Essential Air and Space Law no. 21. The Hague: Eleven International Publishing.
- Scott B.I. (2019) Book review. Review of: Masutti A. & Tomasello F. (2018), International Regulation of Non-Military Drones. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar Publishing. Air & Space Law 44(4/5): 461-463.
- Scott B.I. (2019) Book review. Review of: Hodgkinson D. & Johnston R. (2018), Aviation Law and Drones: Unmanned Aircraft and the Future of Aviation. London: Routledge. Zeitschrift für Luft- und Weltraumrecht 68(2): 342-343.
- Scott B.I. (2019), Book review Review of: de Mestral A.L.C., Fitzgerald P.P. & Ahmad M.T. (eds) (2018) Sustainable Development, International Aviation, and Treaty Implementation, Zeitschrift für Luft- und Weltraumrecht 68(2): 345-348.
- Hobe S. & Scott B.I. (2018) Book review. Review of: Fitzgerald P.P. (2016), A Level Playing Field for ‘Open Skies’: The Need for Consistent Aviation Regulation. Essential Air and Space Law no. 15. The Hague: Eleven International Publishing. Zeitschrift für Luft- und Weltraumrecht 67(1): 192-195.
- Scott B.I. (2018) Book review. Review of: Giemulla E., van Schyndel H. & Friedl A. (2017), Gewerblicher und privater Einsatz von Drohnen: Regelung des Betriebs von unbemannten Fluggeräten: Hermann Luchterhand Verlag. Zeitschrift für Luft- und Weltraumrecht 67(1): 196-198.
- Scott B.I. (2017), Chapter 7. Regional Safety Organisations. In: Mendes de Leon P. (Ed.) Introduction to Air Law. Aerospace law and policy series Alphen aan den Rijn: Kluwer Law International.
- Scott B.I. & Trimarchi A. (2017), The Digital Aviation Industry: A Balancing Act Between Cybersecurity and European Consumer Protection, Air & Space Law 42(4/5): 443-462 .
- Hobe S. & Scott B.I. (2017), International Civil Aviation and the Dehumanisation of Activities, German Yearbook of International Law = Jahrbuch für internationales Recht 60: 143-171.
- Mendes de Leon P.M.J. & Scott B.I. (2016), An Analysis of Unmanned Aircraft Systems Under Air Law. In: Završnik A. (Ed.), Drones and Unmanned Aerial Systems: Legal and Social Implications for Security and Surveillance. Cham: Springer International Publishing AG Switzerland. 185-213.
- Scott B.I. (Ed.) (2016), The Law of Unmanned Aircraft Systems: An Introduction to the Current and Future Regulation under National, Regional and International Law. Aerospace law and policy series no. 11. Alphen aan den Rijn: Kluwer Law International.
- Scott B.I. (2016), Key Provisions in Current Aviation Law. In: Custers B. (Ed.), The Future of Drone Use: Opportunities and Threats from Ethical and Legal Perspectives. Information technology & law series no. 27. The Hague: T.M.C. Asser Press. 241-259.
- Scott B.I. (2015), Roadable Aircraft: An Analysis of the Current Legal Environment, Air & Space Law 40(3): 255-269 .
- Scott B.I. (2015), The First UK Conviction for the Illegal Use of an Unmanned Aircraft and how it Can Help Improve Regulations within the EU, The Aviation & Space Journal 14(1): 11-22.
- Scott B.I. (2015), International Suborbital Passenger Transportation: An Analysis of the Current Legal Situation of Transit and Traffic Rights and its Appropriate Regulation, Issues in Aviation Law and Policy 14(2): 277-311.
- Scott B.I. (2014), The Regulation of Personal Injuries in International Carriage by Suborbital Vehicles Under Air Law, The Aviation & Space Journal 13(2): 20-32 .
- Member of the Board of Editors
- Member of the Board of Editors
- Editorial Board Member
- e-Associate Member