The document presents an overview of the Convention on International Civil Aviation, known as the Chicago Convention, which was signed on December 7, 1944, by 52 states. It outlines the key principles, rights, and obligations of contracting states regarding air navigation and international air transport, along with the establishment of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). Currently, 191 states are signatories, making it a widely accepted international treaty that aims to ensure the safe and orderly development of global aviation.

1. Air Law
Presented By
Sasanka Wijeratne
Aeronautical Communications
Service Supervisor Course -
ICAO176

2. Overview
 Historical background
 Convention on International Civil Aviation
 International Civil Aviation Organization
(ICAO)
 Annexes to the Convention

3. CONVENTION ON INTERNATIONAL CIVIL
AVIATION
• NEED TO USE AIRCRAFT DEVELOPED FOR WAR, FOR
PEACEFUL PURPOSES
• 52 STATES MET AT STEVENS HOTEL, LAKE MICHIGAN,
CHICAGO
• SPENT 37 DAYS - President Franklin D.Roosevelt declared
opened the meeting
• ON O7 DECEMBER 1944 SIGNED CONVENTION ON
INTERNATIONAL CIVIL AVIATION

4. CONVENTION ON INTERNATIONAL CIVIL
AVIATION (CHICARGO CONVENTION)
• The following Major Agreements were reached at the
convention:
The Convention on International Civil Aviation
The International Air Services Transit Agreement,
whereby the first two freedoms of the air are
spontaneously awarded by states

5. CONVENTION ON INTERNATIONAL CIVIL
AVIATION (CHICARGO CONVENTION)
The International Air Transport Agreement, which
exchanges five freedoms of the air.
The Interim Agreement on International Civil
Aviation

6. CONVENTION ON INTERNATIONAL CIVIL
AVIATION (CHICAGO CONVENTION)
• Convention consists of
• (04) Parts
• (22) Chapters
• (96) Articles
• (19) Annexes
• Authentic in English, French, Russian, Spanish
and Arabic Languages

7. CONVENTION ON INTERNATIONAL CIVIL
AVIATION (CHICAGO CONVENTION)
• PART I - Air Navigation
Chapters
42 Articles( 1-42)
• PART II - ICAO-Organization 43-66
• PART III - Int’l Air Transport 67-79
• PART IV – Final Provisions 80-96

8. Convention
• Part 1 : Air Navigation
• Chapter 1 : General principles and application of the
convention
• Chapter 2 : flights over territory of contracting state
• Chapter 3 : Nationality
• Chapter 4 : Measures to facilitate Air Navigation
• Chapter 5 :Conditions to be fulfilled with respect to aircraft
• Chapter 6 : international standards and recommended practices

9. Convention
• Part 2 : International Civil Aviation Organization
• Chapter 7 : The organization
• Chapter 8 : Assembly
• Chapter 9 : Council
• Chapter 10 : Air navigation commission
• Chapter 11 : Personnel
• Chapter 12 : Finance
• Chapter 13 : Other International Agreements

10. Convention
• Part 3 : International Air Transport
• Chapter 14 : Information and reports
• Chapter 15 : Airports and other Air navigation
facilities
• Chapter 16 :Joint Operating organizations and
pooled services

11. Convention
• Part 4 : Final Provision
• Chapter 17 :Other Aeronautical Agreements and
arrangements
• Chapter 18: Dispute and Default
• Chapter 19 : War
• Chapter 20: Annexes
• Chapter 21 :Ratification of convention
• Chapter 22 : Definitions

12. CONVENTION ON INTERNATIONAL CIVIL
AVIATION (CHICAGO CONVENTION)
• “Where as the future development of International Civil
Aviation can greatly help to create and preserve friendship
and understanding among the nations and peoples of the
world, yet its abuse can become a threat to the general
security: and
• Where as it is desirable to avoid friction and to promote
the cooperation between nations and people upon which
the peace of the world depends;
Preamble to the Chicago Convention

13. CONVENTION ON INTERNATIONAL CIVIL
AVIATION (CHICAGO CONVENTION)
• Therefore, the undersigned governments having agreed
on certain principles and arrangements in order that
international civil aviation may be developed in a safe and
orderly manner, and that international Air transport
services may be established on the basis of equality of
opportunity and operated soundly and economically;
• Have accordingly concluded this convention to that end.”
Preamble to the Convention (Cont’d)

14. CHICAGO CONVENTION
• Currently 191 States are signatories to this Convention - one of
world’s most widely accepted international treaties.
• These states are called Contracting states.
• Provides a set of principles/rules governing International Civil
Aviation
• Gives Contracting States certain “RIGHTS” in exchange for
meeting certain “OBLIGATIONS”

15. General Principles
• Article 1 : Sovereignty
The Contracting States recognize that every State has
complete and exclusive sovereignty over the airspace
above its territory.
• Article 2 : Territory
For the purposes of this Convention the territory of a
state shall be deemed to be the land areas and
territorial waters adjacent there to under the
sovereignty, suzerainty protection or mandate of
such States.

16. Applicability
Article 3 :Civil and State aircraft
•This convention shall be applicable only to civil
aircraft, and shall not to be applicable to state aircraft
•Aircraft used in Military, Customs and Police services
shall be deemed to be state aircraft
• No State aircraft shall flyover the airspace of another
Contracting State without specific authority

17. Obligations
• Article 4 : Misuse of civil aviation
• Each contracting State agrees not to use civil aviation
for any purpose inconsistent with the aims of this
Convention.

18. Rights
• Article 5: Right of Non schedule flight
• Aircraft not engaged in scheduled international air
services shall have the right,
to make flights into or in transit non-stop across its
territory
to make stops for non-traffic purposes without the
necessity of obtaining prior permission,

19. Rights
subject to the right of the State flown over to require
landing. Each contracting State nevertheless reserves
the right, for reasons of safety of flight, to require
aircraft desiring to proceed over regions which are
inaccessible or without adequate air navigation
facilities to follow prescribed routes, or to obtain
special permission for such flights.

20. Rights
Such aircraft, if engaged in the carriage of
passengers, cargo, or mail for remuneration or hire
on other than scheduled international air services,
shall also, subject to the provisions of Article 7, have
the privilege of taking on or discharging passengers,
cargo, or mail

21. Rights
• Article 6 : Scheduled air services
• No scheduled international air service may be
operated over or into the territory of a contracting
State, except with the or into the territory of a
contracting State, except with the accordance with
the terms of such permission or authorization

22. Rights
• Article 7 : Cabotage
• Each contracting State shall have the right to refuse permission
to the aircraft of other contracting States to take on in its
territory passengers, mail and cargo carried for remuner- ation
or hire and destined for another point within its territory. Each
contracting State undertakes not to enter into any arrange-
ments which specifically grant any such privilege on an
exclusive basis to any other State or an airline of any other
State, and not to obtain any such exclusive privilege from any
other State.

23. • Article 11: Applicability of air regulations
• Subject to the provisions of this Convention, the laws and
regulations of a contracting State relating to the admission
to or departure from its territory of aircraft engaged in
inter-national air navigation, or to the operation and
navigation of such aircraft while within its territory, shall
be applied to the aircraft of all contracting States without
distinction as to nationality, and shall be complied with by
such aircraft upon entering or departing from or while
within the territory of that State.

24. • Article 12 : Rules of the air
• Each contracting State undertakes to adopt measures to insure that
every aircraft flying over or maneuvering within its territory and
that every aircraft carrying its nationality mark, wherever such
aircraft may be, shall comply with the rules and regulations relating
to the flight and maneuver of aircraft there in force. Each
contracting State undertakes to keep its own regulations in these
respects uniform, to the greatest possible extent, with those
established from time to time under this Convention. Over the high
seas, the rules in force shall be those established under this
Convention. Each contracting State undertakes to insure the
prosecution of all persons violating the regulations applicable.

25. Obligations
• Article 25 :Air craft in distress
• Each contracting State undertakes to provide such measures of
assistance to aircraft in distress in its territory as it may find
practicable, and to permit, subject to control by its own
authorities, the owners of the aircraft or authorities of the State
in which the aircraft is registered to provide such measures of
assistance as may be necessitated by the circumstances. Each
contracting State, when undertaking search for missing aircraft,
will collaborate in coordinated measures which may be
recommended from time to time pursuant to this Convention

26. Obligation
• Article 28 : Air navigation facilities and standard systems
• Each contracting State undertakes, so far as it may find
practicable, to:
• a) Provide, in its territory, airports, radio services,
meteorological services and other air navigation facilities
• b) Adopt and put into operation the appropriate standard
systems of communications procedure, codes, markings,
signals, lighting and other operational practices and rules
• c) publication of aeronautical maps and charts

27. Obligations
• Article 37 :Adoption of international standards and procedures
• Few of international standards and recommended practices and
procedures dealing with
 Communications systems and air navigation aids,
 Characteristics of airports and landing areas;
 Rules of the air and air traffic control practices
 Licensing of operating and mechanical personnel;
 Airworthiness of aircraft
 Aircraft in distress and investigation of accidents;

28. Non Compliance
• Suspension of voting power
• The Assembly may suspend the voting power in the
Assembly and in the Council of any contracting State
that fails to discharge within reasonable period its
financial obligations to the Organization

29. • SOME “TECHNICAL” RIGHTS/OBLIGATIONS
• Each State agrees to give uniform treatment to
aircraft from other States when in their airspace or
using their airports (Articles 11 & 15)
• Provides for mutual recognition of Certificates of
Airworthiness, Personnel Licences etc. (Article 33)

30. • SOME OBLIGATIONS
• Each State agrees to provide airports and air traffic
services in conformance with standards and practices
established under the Convention (Article 28)
• Each State agrees to implement in their national
regulations the International Standards and
Recommended Practices (SARPs) and Procedures
adopted by ICAO in order to ensure the highest
practicable degree of uniformity (Art 37)

31. • Provides mandate for the establishment of
International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) –
Article 43
• As per the mandate given by the Chicago Convention
ICAO was formed on 4th April 1947 as a specialized
agency for United Nations

32. Important Articles
• Article 1- Sovereignty over the airspace
• Article 2- Territory
• Article 3- Civil and State aircraft
• Article 4- Misuse of Civil Aviation
• Article 5- Right of non scheduled flight
• Article 6- Scheduled air services
• Article 9- Prohibited Areas
• Article 11- Applicability of Air Regulations
• Article 12- Rules of the air
• Article 14: Prevention of Disease
• Article 16- Search of Aircraft

33. Important Articles
• Article 17 : Nationality of Aircraft
• Article 22- Measures to facilitate Air Navigation
• Article 25- Aircraft in Distress
• Article 26- Investigating of accidents
• Article 28- Air Navigation facilities and standard systems
• Article 30- Aircraft Radio Equipment
• Article 31- Certificate of Airworthiness

34. Important Articles
• Article 32- Licenses of Personnel
• Article 33- Recognition of certificates and licenses
• Article 37- Adoption of international standards and procedures
• Article 38 - Departure from intl. standards and procedures
• Article 40 - Validity of endorsed certificates and licenses
• Article 44 - Objectives of ICAO
• Article 47 : Legal Personality of ICAO
• Article 54 - Mandatory functions of Council
• Article 56 - Nomination and appointment of Commission
• Article 57 - Duties of Commission

35. • Article 38- Departure from International
Standard and Practices
• Articles 43,44,45,46- The ICAO
• Articles 48,49- The Assembly
• Articles 50,51,52,53,54,55- The Council
• Articles 56,57- The Air Navigation
• Commission

36. Important Articles
• Article 68 : Designation of routes and airports
• Article 69 : Improvement of air navigatioin facilities
• Article 70 – 76: Delegating Air Navigation Services
• Article 84-86 : Dispute resolution
• Article 88 - Penalty for non-conformity by State
• Article 90- Annexes
• Article 92- Adherence to the Convention

37. Annexes
• 19 Annexes (17 are within air navigation filed)
• Contains Standards and Recommended Practices
(SARPs)
• Adopted by the Council
• Amendment or Addition of a SARPs requires the
approval of Air Navigation Commission

38. 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
• Annex 6 Operation of Aircraft.
• Part I International Commercial Air Transport - Aeroplanes
• Part II International General Aviation - Aeroplanes.
• Part III International Operations - Helicopters.
• Annex 7 Aircraft Nationality and Registration Marks.
• Annex 8 Airworthiness of Aircraft.
• Annex 9 Facilitation.

39. Annexes to the Convention …..
• Annex 10 : Aeronautical Telecommunications.
• Volume I (Radio Navigation Aids).
• Volume II (Communication Procedures including those with PANS status).
• Volume III
• Part I Digital Data Communication Systems.
• Part II Voice Communication Systems.
• Volume IV (Surveillance Radar and Collision Avoidance Systems).
• Volume V (Aeronautical Radio Frequency Spectrum Utilization).
• Annex 11 Air Traffic Control Service Flight Information Service Alerting Service.
• Annex 12 Search and Rescue.
• Annex 13 Aircraft Accident and Incident Investigation.

40. • Annex 14 Aerodromes.
• Volume I Aerodrome Design and Operations.
• Volume II Heliports.
• Annex 15 Aeronautical Information Services.
• Annex 16 Environmental Protection.
• Volume I Aircraft Noise.
• Volume II Aircraft Engine Emissions.

41. • Annex 17 : Security Safeguarding International
Civil Aviation against Acts of Unlawful Interference.
• Annex 18 :The Safe Transport of Dangerous
Goods by Air.
• Annex 19 :Integrated Safety management.

42. Thank you