Module 1: Regulations

ENGINEERING TRAINING DEPARTMENT

1 - THE INTERNATIONAL CIVIL AVIATION ORGANIZATION

Introduction

The collaboration among the Allied nations in aviation matters during the Second World
War provided the main impetus for international cooperation in air navigation and air
transport for civil aircrafts all over the world. It is possible to use air transport as one of
the principle elements in the economic development of the world and first available
means to start “healing the wounds of the war” as President Roosevelt put it.

In 1943 the United States of America carried out studies on the future of civil aviation.
There were many obstacles both political and technical needed to be overcome in order to
make air transport to benefit the world. So, common international standards are essential.
This led to the convening of International Civil Aviation Conference in Chicago
(November 1944).

Chicago Convention

In November 1944, the United States of America invited 54 countries to attend the
International Civil Aviation Conference in Chicago. The purpose of the Conference was
to start to standardize civil aviation all over the world. At the end of the Conference on 7
December 1944, a convention was signed by 52 countries and known as Chicago
Convention.

Figure 1. International Civil Aviation Conference, Chicago

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Chicago Convention established certain principles and arrangements so international civil
aviation can be developed in a safe and orderly manner, and that international air
transport services can be established on the basis of equality of opportunity and operated
soundly and economically. The Convention consists of 96 articles that are divided into 4
parts:

Part I Air Navigation (Articles 1-42)

Part II The International Civil Aviation Organisation
(Articles 43-66)
Part III International Air Transport (Articles 67-79)
Part IV Final Provisions (Articles 80-96)

Due to the inevitable delayed in ratification of the Convention, a Provisional International

Civil Organization (PICAO) was set-up until 1947. Chicago Convention came into force
on 4 April 1947 i.e. thirtieth day after the twenty-six States ratified the Convention.

ICAO – International Civil Aviation Organization

Article 43 of the Chicago Convention established International Civil Aviation

Organization (ICAO) as a means to secure international cooperation related with civil
aviation matters in regulations and standards, procedures and organizations. ICAO is
made up of an Assembly, a Council, and other such bodies as may be necessary.

On October 1947, ICAO became a United Nations (UN) specialized agency linked to
Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). Other UN bodies working with it includes
World Meteorological Organization, International Telecommunication Union (ITU),
Universal Postal Union, the World Health Organization (WHO) and International
Maritime Union. Other organizations working closely with ICAO includes International
Air Transport Association (IATA), International Association of Airline Pilots and others.

Figure 2. ICAO

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Contracting States

The countries that have been ratified or adhered to the Chicago Convention are called
contracting states. Until 2007 there are 190 contracting states.

ICAO Annexes

Article 37 of the Chicago Convention provides for the Council of ICAO to adopt
international standards and recommended practices (SARPs); for convenience, ICAO
designates them as Annexes to the Chicago Convention.

The contracting states are required to comply in all respects with any such Annex in order
to ensure highest practicable degree of uniformity in regulations, standards, procedures
and organizations in relation to aircraft, personnel, airways and auxiliary services.

Article 38 of the Chicago Convention requires that any contracting state that is unable to
comply in all respects with any such Annex must notify ICAO of the differences between
its own practice and that established by the Annex. ICAO will, then, notify all other states
of the difference that exists between one or more features of an international standard and
the corresponding national practice of that state.

There are 18 Annexes to the Chicago 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 – Operations 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
Annex 18 – The Safe Transport and Dangerous Goods by Air

The Annexes that are significant to aircraft maintenance personnel are Annex 1, Annex 6,
Annex 8 and Annex 16.

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Annex 1 (Personnel Licensing) is applicable to all applicants for and, on renewal, to all
holders of licences and ratings:

- Licences and rating for pilots.

- Licences for flight crew members other than pilots.
- Licences and ratings for personnel other than flight crew members.

Annex 6 (Operations of Aircraft) enumerates specifications that ensure the level of safety
above a prescribed minimum in similar operations of aircraft globally:

- Flight operations.
- Aircraft performance operating limitations.
- Aircraft instruments, equipment & flight documents.
- Aircraft communication & navigation equipment.
- Aircraft maintenance.
- Flight crew, cabin crew, flight operations officers & flight dispatcher.
- Manuals, logs & records.
- Security.

Annex 8 (Airworthiness of Aircraft) specifies uniform standards for:

- Type Certificate;
- production;
- Certificate of Airworthiness;
- continuing airworthiness for aircraft; and
- aircraft design.

Annex 16 (Environmental Protection) sets out specifications regarding:

- aircraft noise; and

- aircraft engine emissions.

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Figure 3. ICAO Headquarter in Montreal, Canada

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