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BackgrounderInternational Civil Aviation OrganizationThe International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), a specialized agency of the United Nations, was created with the signing in Chicago, on December 7, 1944, of the Convention on International Civil Aviation . ICAO is the permanent body charged with the administration of the principles laid out in the Convention. THE CHICAGO CONVENTIONThe Second World War was a powerful catalyst for the technical development of the aeroplane. At that time, a vast network of passenger and freight carriage was set up but there were many obstacles, both political and technical, to overcome for air transport to support and benefit a world at peace. In the early days of 1944, the Government of the United States conducted exploratory discussions with other allied nations to develop an effective strategy. On the basis of these talks 52 States met in Chicago in November 1944. For five weeks, the delegates considered the myriad issues of international civil aviation. The outcome was the Convention on International Civil Aviation , also referred to as the Chicago Convention. At the Chicago talks, it was agreed that the Convention would only come into force thirty days after ratification by a 26th State, which occurred on 4 April 1947. In the interim, a provisional ICAO (PICAO) was formed and given advisory powers, with instructions to lay the foundation for an international organization devoted to the needs of civil aviation. The 96 articles of the Chicago Convention establish the privileges and restrictions of all Contracting States, provide for the adoption of International Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs) regulating international air transport. The Convention accepts the principle that every State has complete and exclusive sovereignty over the airspace above its territory and provides that no scheduled international air service may operate over or into the territory of a Contracting State without its previous consent. AIMS AND OBJECTIVESThe aims and objectives of ICAO, as contained in Article 44 of the Chicago Convention, are to develop the principles and techniques of international air navigation and to foster the planning and development of international air transport so as to:
THE ORGANIZATIONICAO has a sovereign body, the Assembly, and a governing body, the Council. The Assembly meets at least once in three years and is convened by the Council. Each Contracting State is entitled to one vote and decisions of the Assembly are taken by a majority of the votes cast except when otherwise provided in the Convention. At these sessions, the complete work of the Organization in the technical, economic, legal and technical co-operation fields is reviewed in detail and guidance given to the other bodies of ICAO for their future work. The Council is a permanent body responsible to the Assembly and is composed of 36 Contracting States elected by the Assembly for a three-year term. In the election, adequate representation is given to States of chief importance in air transport, States not otherwise included which make the largest contribution to the provision of facilities for civil air navigation and States not otherwise included whose designation will ensure that all the major geographic areas of the world are represented on the Council. The Council and its subsidiary bodies provide the continuing direction of the work of the Organization. One of the major duties of the Council is to adopt International Standards and Recommended Practices and to incorporate these as Annexes to the Convention on International Civil Aviation . The Council may act as an arbiter between Contracting States on matters concerning aviation and implementation of the Convention; it may investigate any situation, which presents avoidable obstacles to the development of international air navigation and, in general, it may take whatever steps are necessary to maintain the safety and regularity of operation of international air transport. Although the Council has the responsibility for adoption of Standard and Recommended Practices, and approval of Procedures for Air Navigation Services, the principal body concerned with their development is the ICAO Air Navigation Commission. The Commission is composed of fifteen persons who have "suitable qualifications and experience in the science and practice of aeronautics". Its members are nominated by Contracting States and are appointed by the Council. They act in their personal expert capacity and not as representatives of their nominators. The Commission is assisted by small groups of experts, nominated by Contracting States and international organizations and approved by the Commission. The Secretariat, headed by a Secretary General, is divided into five main divisions: the Air Navigation Bureau, the Air Transport Bureau, the Technical Co-operation Bureau, the Legal Bureau, and the Bureau of Administration and Services. In order that the work of the Secretariat shall reflect a truly international approach, professional personnel are recruited on a broad geographical basis. ICAO works in close collaboration with other specialized agencies of the United Nations such as the International Maritime Organization, the International Telecommunication Union, the World Meteorological Organization, the World Health Organization, the Universal Postal Union and the International Labour Organisation. The International Air Transport Association, the Airports Council International, the International Federation of Air Line Pilots' Associations and other international organizations participate at many ICAO meetings. STANDARDS AND RECOMMENDED PRACTICESA Standard is any specification for which uniform application is recognized as necessary for the safety or regularity of international air navigation and to which Contracting States will conform in accordance with the Convention. A Recommended Practice is any specification for which the uniform application is recognized as desirable for the safety, regularity or efficiency of international air navigation. ICAO Standards and Recommended Practices are detailed in the 18 Annexes to the Chicago Convention that cover all aspects of international civil aviation. Annexes to the Convention:Annex 1 - Personnel Licensing Annex 2 - Rules of the Air Annex 3 - Meteorological Service for International Air Navigation Annex 4 - Aeronautical Charts Annex 5 - Units of Measurement to be used in Air and Ground Operations Annex 6 - Operation of Aircraft Annex 7 - Aircraft Nationality and Registration Marks Annex 8 - Airworthiness of Aircraft Annex 9 - Facilitation Annex 10 - Aeronautical Telecommunications Annex 11 - Air Traffic Services Annex 12 - Search and Rescue Annex 13 - Aircraft Accident Investigation Annex 14 - Aerodromes Annex 15 - Aeronautical Information Services Annex 16 - Environmental Protection Annex 17 - Security - Safeguarding International Civil Aviation against Acts of Unlawful Interference. Annex 18 - The Safe Transport of Dangerous Goods by Air STRATEGIC ACTION PLANThe Strategic Action Plan, adopted by ICAO's Council on 7 February 1997, was designed to adapt the vision of ICAO's founders in Chicago and to ensure that the Organization responds to the major challenges facing international civil aviation in the coming years and meets the related needs of all its Contracting States. The goal of this Strategic Action Plan is to further the safety, security and efficiency of international civil aviation and promote the principles enshrined in the Convention. The Plan comprised the following eight strategic objectives:
The Strategic Action Plan drives the work programme and associated prioritization and budgetary processes of the Organization. The Plan is kept under review to ensure that it remains alive to the changing needs of States in an ever-changing environment. - 30 - For more information on ICAO, please contact:
Tel: (514) 954-8219 |
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