Globally, civil aviation (CA) activities are regulated by international intergovernmental (and non-governmental), universal or regional aviation organizations. Our article describes the most influential of them. The bulk of international aviation organizations were created during the period of rapid development of civil aviation (1944-1962), which was due to the need to standardize and unify rules, documents, procedures, requirements and recommendations in the field of implementation and flight support, as well as the development of unified approaches to flight safety.
Of course, the main such organization is ICAO— International Civil Aviation Organization (International Civil Aviation Organization), whose goal is the development of global civil aviation, the development and implementation of unified rules for the operation and maintenance of flights in order to increase the level of safety and regularity of air transportation. ICAO was created as a special agency of the United Nations on December 7, 1947 on the basis of the provisions of the Chicago Convention with headquarters -an apartment in Montreal (Canada). Members of ICAO are states. Structurally, the Organization consists of an Assembly, a Council, an Air Navigation Commission, seven committees and a secretariat. The Assembly is the highest body of ICAO. A regular session of the Assembly meets at least once every three years, and an emergency session can be held if necessary. The permanent body of the ICAO, the Council, headed by the President, consists of representatives of 36 Contracting States, elected by the Assembly every three years.
ICAO's activities are focused on the following main areas: technical (development, implementation and improvement of standards and recommended practices - SARP), economic (study of trends in the development of air transport, on the basis of which recommendations are made on the values of charges for the use of airports and air navigation services, as well as procedures setting tariffs and simplifying formalities for transportation; providing ongoing technical assistance to developing countries at the expense of developed ones), in legal matters (development of draft new conventions on international air law).
Another example of a universal organization is the International Air Transport Association (IATA, International Air Transport Association), which was created in 1945 and is headquartered in Montreal. Unlike ICAO, IATA members are legal entities - airlines, and the main goals of the organization are the development of safe, regular and economical air transport, as well as ensuring the development of cooperation between airlines. The supreme body is the General Meeting, and the permanent working body is the Executive Committee.
IATA generalizes and disseminates experience in the economic and technical operation of air transport, organizes the coordination of flight schedules between carriers and their work with sales agents, as well as mutual settlements between airlines. Another important function of IATA is conducting an airline safety audit (IOSA, IATA Operational Safety Audit) - a strict check of the carrier’s activities according to 872 parameters, without which the company cannot join either IATA or any of the alliances such as Star Alliance, Skyteam or One World. Obtaining an IOSA certificate increases the status of the airline and expands opportunities for international cooperation.
There are also international organizations that represent and protect the interests of individuals, as well as enhancing their role in the development of a safe and regular air services system, cooperation and unity of action: pilots - International Federation of Airline Pilots' Associations (IFALPA - International Federation of Airline Pilots' Associations) and dispatchers - International Federation of Air Traffic Controllers Associations (IFATCA - International Federation of Air Traffic Controllers Associations). Both organizations function to improve and maintain the professional level of their members, social partnership, expansion of cultural and industry international relations, and exchange of experience.
Regional international aviation organizations are represented by: the European Civil Aviation Conference (ECAC), the African Civil Aviation Commission, the Latin American Civil Aviation Commission and the Arab Civil Aviation Council. states (ACAC - Arab Civil Aviation Commission). The goals of each of these organizations are similar: promoting cooperation between member states in the field of air transport for its more efficient and orderly development, ensuring systematization and standardization of general technical requirements for new aviation equipment, including communication systems, navigation and surveillance, flight safety issues, collection of statistical data. data on aviation accidents and incidents.
There is also a special organization operating in the CIS - Interstate Aviation Committee (IAC)- an executive body in the field of civil aviation and the use of airspace, common to 11 countries of the former USSR (except Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia and Georgia).
IAC is involved in the certification of aircraft, airfields and airlines, as well as the investigation of aviation accidents. However, as independent experts note, the combination of these functions in a number of cases raises suspicions of a conflict of interest, bias in investigations and conclusions of commissions.
In the field of air navigation, the largest organization is the European Organization for the Safety of Air Navigation - EUROCONTROL. It was created in 1960 with the aim of ensuring air navigation and flight safety, managing and coordinating air traffic in the upper airspace over the territory of 40 member countries, developing uniform rules for flight operations and the activities of air navigation services. EUROCONTROL's highest decision-making body is the Standing Commission, which works with heads of state, air traffic services providers, airspace users, airports and other organizations. Among the main functions of the organization is planning and managing aircraft flows. As you know, European ATS centers handle on average 5-6 times more flights per year than Russian ones (in the busiest Center - Maastricht - the air traffic intensity exceeds 5000 aircraft per day!), so EUROCONTROL introduced a system of hard slots (time windows ) for each of the flights received by management.
CIVIL AVIATION ORGANIZATION ICAO
ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization - ICAO) - founded in 1944.
At the initiative of the United States, a conference was convened in Chicago in December 1944 ( Chicago Conference), in which 52 states took part, to discuss the problems of international civil aviation. It was agreed to create a new organization that would deal with air navigation issues that would improve flight safety and regularity, as well as economic issues that should improve the efficiency and economy of air travel.
The Chicago conference ended with the signing of the Convention on International Civil Aviation - Chicago Convention, and ICAO was officially created. The city of Montreal (Canada) was chosen as the location of the ICAO headquarters.
In May 1948, an agreement between the UN and ICAO came into force, recognizing ICAO as a specialized agency of the UN.
The USSR did not take part in the Chicago Conference, since it was attended by states with which the USSR was at war.
After the USSR joined ICAO on November 14, 1970, Russian was recognized as the official (fourth) language of this organization.
At a diplomatic conference in Montreal in September 1977, a protocol was adopted on the authentic four-lingual text of the Convention and its official text in Russian.
Thus, the official languages of ICAO are:
1. Russian.
2. English.
3. French.
4. Spanish.
Arabic and Chinese are considered working languages of ICAO. They are used to a limited extent in the work of the ICAO Council and its permanent bodies, at sessions of the Assembly and major specialized conferences and meetings.
As of 1994, ICAO unites 183 states of the world.
GOALS AND OBJECTIVES OF ICAO
The purposes and objectives of ICAO are to develop principles and methods of international air navigation and to promote the planning and development of international air transport in order to:
1. Ensuring the safe and orderly development of international civil aviation throughout the world.
2. Encouraging the art of aircraft design and operation.
3. Encouraging the development of air routes, airports and air navigation facilities for international civil aviation.
4. Meeting the needs of the world's people for safe, regular, efficient and economical air transport.
5. Preventing economic losses caused by unreasonable competition.
6. Ensuring full respect for the rights of Contracting States and a fair opportunity for each Contracting State to use airlines engaged in international air services.
7. Elimination of cases of discrimination in relations between Contracting States.
8. Ensuring flight safety in international air navigation.
9. Promoting the development of international civil aeronautics in all its aspects.
MEMBERSHIP OF ICAO
Any UN member state that was part of the Anti-Hitler Coalition during World War II, and neutral countries, become members of ICAO on the 30th day after joining the Chicago Convention.
States that participated in World War II on the side of Hitler's Germany may accede to the convention subject to the following conditions:
1. With the consent of the UN.
2. By special permission of the ICAO Assembly, the adoption of which requires 4/5 votes.
3. In the absence of objection from any State that was annulled or attacked during the Second World War by the troops of a State wishing to become a member of ICAO.
A state ceases to be a member of ICAO if it declares its denunciation of the Chicago Convention. The denunciation takes effect one year after ICAO receives the notification.
If a state is expelled from the UN, it automatically ceases to be a member of ICAO, unless the UN General Assembly in its decision directly speaks of the advisability of maintaining the membership of this state in ICAO.
ICAO ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE
The highest body of ICAO, in which all ICAO member states can be represented on equal terms, is Assembly of Member States of ICAO. Convened once every three years. If the need arises, on the recommendation of the ICAO Council, or at the request of at least 1/5 of the organization’s members, emergency sessions of the ICAO Assembly may be convened.
The functions of the Assembly are to determine the direction of ICAO's activities in the field of international air navigation and international air transport:
1. Elect the ICAO Council, consider reports, take appropriate actions.
2. Determine the scale of contributions of ICAO member countries to the organization’s budget.
3. Approve the ICAO budget.
4. Consider and approve proposals to amend the Chicago Convention.
The contribution of ICAO Member States is calculated as follows:
Contribution 100% = K1(75%) + K2(25%),
Where:
K1 = (National income of the state) / (National income of all ICAO countries),
K2 = (International flight hours of the state) / (International flight hours of all ICAO countries).
Min...Max contribution = 0.06%...25% of national income.
ICAO Council- the executive body of the organization, ensuring the continuity of the organization’s activities in the intervals between sessions of the Assembly. Bears responsibility to the supreme body of ICAO for its activities. Performs the following functions:
1. Implementation of Assembly decisions and reporting on their work.
2. Election of the Secretary General and senior staff.
3. Managing the organization's money.
4. Approval of international standards and recommendations, their inclusion in the annexes to the Convention.
5. Registration of international aviation agreements.
6. Carrying out arbitration functions in regulating disagreements between ICAO member states.
There are seven permanent working bodies under the control of the Council (see ICAO structure diagram).
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ICAO Secretariat - a permanent body of the Council, ensuring the work of the assemblies, the Council and other bodies, as well as regional centers of the organization.
Secretary General - the chief executive officer of the organization. Appointed by the Council and heads it.
The Secretariat is in charge of collecting and summarizing information on international civil aviation issues and maintaining relations with ICAO member states. It carries out these functions through five specialized departments:
1. Air Navigation Directorate - deals with flight safety issues, considers issues related to the development of recommendations and standards for companies.
2. Air Transport Department - deals with issues of ensuring the efficiency of transportation on international air routes.
3. Legal Department - deals with issues related to the development of standards and recommendations in the field of air law, provides consultations on legal interpretation and understanding of the main provisions of the Chicago Convention, and prepares drafts of new decisions.
4. Office of Technical Assistance - develops proposals to provide financial and technical assistance, to create air terminal complexes and equip air routes in hard-to-reach areas and ocean spaces.
5. Administration - deals with personnel issues, translations, registration and distribution of documents.
ICAO Regional Centers established in addition to the headquarters in Montreal for the operational work of ICAO:
1. European region - Paris.
2. North American and Caribbean countries - Mexico City.
3. South American countries - Lima.
4. Pacific Ocean and Asia - Bangkok (Thailand).
5. Middle East and East Africa - Cairo (Egypt).
6. Rest of Africa - Dakkar.
ICAO is a specialized agency of the UN, the protocol of recognition of which was signed on October 1, 1947 and entered into force on May 13, 1948. ICAO is an international governmental organization. Initially, after the signing of the Chicago Convention, there was a Provisional International Civil Aviation Organization (PICAO). After the entry into force of the Chicago Convention on April 4, 1947 at the 1st session Assembly held in Montreal in May 1947, PICAO was renamed ICAO. At the proposal of the Government of Canada, Montreal was chosen as the location of the ICAO Headquarters.
1947
The main objectives of the ICAO, in accordance with the provisions of the Chicago Convention, are issues of global importance for international civil aviation:
- development of principles and methods of international air navigation;
- promoting the planning and development of international air transport in order to ensure the safe and orderly development of international civil aviation;
- encouraging the art of designing and operating aircraft for peaceful purposes;
- encouraging the development of airways, aerodromes and air navigation facilities for international civil aviation;
- meeting the needs of the peoples of the world for safe, regular, efficient and economical air transport;
- preventing economic losses caused by unreasonable competition;
- ensuring full respect for the rights of states and fair opportunities for each of them to use airlines engaged in international air traffic;
- avoiding discrimination in relations between states;
- ensuring flight safety in international air navigation;
- promoting the development of international civil aeronautics in all its aspects.
The composition and status of ICAO bodies are determined by the provisions of the Chicago Convention, which, in essence, is the ICAO charter. In accordance with the Chicago Convention, the ICAO consists of an Assembly, a Council (with its subordinate bodies) and a Secretariat. The Council and the Secretariat are headed respectively by the President of the Council and the Secretary General, who are the chief officers of the ICAO.
The ICAO Assembly is composed of representatives of all Contracting States and is the sovereign supreme body of ICAO. The Assembly is convened every three years (unless there is a need for an extraordinary convocation). At the sessions of the Assembly, the work of the ICAO is reviewed in detail, policies are developed for the coming years and the budget for the three-year period of activity is approved by vote. Each Contracting State is entitled to one vote. Decisions of the Assembly are taken by a majority vote (except for cases provided for by the Chicago Convention).
The ICAO Assembly elects the Council, which consists of representatives of 33 Contracting States and is the governing executive body of ICAO, constantly guiding its work between Assemblies. Elections to the ICAO Council are carried out taking into account the rotation requirements provided for by the Chicago Convention and on the basis of adequate representation of three groups of states, namely: those playing a leading role in air transport; not otherwise included in the Council but making the greatest contribution to the provision of services for international civil air navigation; not otherwise included in the Council, but whose election ensures that all major geographical regions of the world are represented on the ICAO Council.
The Chicago Convention provides for the cooperation of Contracting States in ensuring the greatest possible degree of uniformity in the adoption of national Aviation Regulations. To achieve this, the ICAO Council is vested with regulatory powers that similar governing bodies in other international organizations do not have.
The ICAO Council elects its President, who has no voting rights and can be re-elected, for a term of three years. The responsibilities of the President are as follows:
- convene meetings of the ICAO Council, Air Transport Committee and Air Navigation Commission;
- act as a representative of the Council; perform on behalf of the Council the functions assigned to him by the Council.
The functions of the ICAO Council include (Article 54 of the Chicago Convention):
- appointment and determination of responsibilities of the Air Transport Committee, which is formed from among representatives of the members of the Council and is responsible to it;
- establishment of the Air Navigation Commission; appointment of the chief executive officer - the Secretary General;
- adoption of SARPs, which are formalized as Annexes to the Chicago Convention;
- consideration of recommendations of the Air Navigation Commission on changing SARPs and taking appropriate measures in this regard, provided for by the Chicago Convention, etc.
The ICAO Council has the power to convene ICAO Assemblies.
Each ICAO Committee or specialized body has a corresponding unit of the ICAO Secretariat, staffed by personnel selected for technical competence in the relevant field. The personnel of the units are called upon to provide technical and administrative assistance to government representatives constituting the ICAO Council, Committees and specialized bodies.
The ICAO Secretariat, headed by the Secretary General, consists of five main divisions: the Air Navigation Bureau, the Air Transport Bureau, the Technical Cooperation Bureau, the Legal Bureau and the Bureau of Administration. Administration and Services). The staff of the Secretariat is recruited on a broad geographical basis, ensuring international representation in its activities.
ICAO works closely with other members of the UN community - governmental organizations, which are: World Meteorological Organization, International Telecommunication Union, International Telecommunication Union, Universal Postal Union Union), World Health Organization, International Labor Organization and International Maritime Organization. Non-governmental organizations also take part in events held by ICAO: International Air Transport Association (IATA), Airports Council International (ICA), International Federation of Air Line Pilots Associations , World Tourism Organization and other international organizations.
International Standards (SARPs) are called Chicago Annexes for ease of reference. For the safety and regularity of international air navigation, it is recognized that it is necessary to apply uniformly the requirements included by Contracting States in International Standards. Under Article 38 of the Chicago Convention, in the event of non-compliance with any International Standard, Contracting States are required to notify the ICAO Council of the differences between their national aviation regulations, the practices of that State and the provisions of the International Standard.
Uniform application of the requirements included in Recommended Practices is considered desirable in the interests of the safety, regularity and efficiency of international air navigation. Although the Chicago Convention does not contain any obligations regarding Recommended Practices, the ICAO Council has requested Contracting States to notify differences not only from International Standards, but also from Recommended Practices.
ICAO produces series of technical publications, as well as special publications that are not included in any of the series of technical publications (for example, the ICAO Aeronautical Chart Catalog or Meteorological Tables).
The Procedures of Air Navigation Service (PANS) are approved by the ICAO Council. Intended for worldwide application, they contain operating procedures that have not yet been designated as SARPs, as well as material of a more permanent nature that is considered too detailed to be included in an Annex, or is subject to frequent changes and additions, and for which the process provided for by the Chicago Convention would be too difficult. There are currently four main PANS documents: Doc 4444, Rules of the Air and Air Traffic Services; Doc 8168 Aircraft Operations (Volume 1 Flight Procedures and Volume 2 Construction of Visual and Instrument Flight Procedures); Doc 8400 ICAO Abbreviations and Codes; Doc 7030 Regional Supplementary Rules.
The ICAO Council divided the entire territory of the globe into nine air navigation regions:
- 1. Africa and Indian Ocean (AIF);
- 2. Southeast Asia (SEA);
- 3. European (EUR);
- 4. North Atlantic (NAT);
- 5. North American (NAM);
- 6. South African (SAM);
- 7. Caribbean (CAR);
- 8. Near and Middle East (MID);
- 9. Pacific (PAC).
Supplementary Procedures (SUPPS) have the same status as PANS, but apply only in their respective regions. They are developed in in a consolidated form, since some of them extend to adjacent regions or are the same in two or more regions.
Technical Manuals, which are prepared under the authority of the ICAO Secretary General, provide guidance and information material that develops and complements the International Standards, Recommended Practices and PANS, and serve to assist in their application.
Air navigation plans are also prepared with the approval of the ICAO Secretary General based on the recommendations of regional air navigation meetings and the decisions of the ICAO Council adopted on them. They specify the requirements for international air navigation facilities and services in the relevant ICAO air navigation regions. Air Navigation Plans are amended periodically to reflect changes in requirements and provisions associated with the implementation of recommended facilities and services.
ICAO Circulars, which are also prepared under the authority of the ICAO Secretary General, contain specific information of interest to Contracting States, including studies on technical issues.
On December 7, 1944, a significant event occurred in the American city of Chicago. During long and intense negotiations, representatives of fifty-two countries adopted the Convention on International Civil Aviation. It states that the development of strong international ties in civil aviation contributes to the future progressive development of friendly relations, the preservation of peace and tranquility between the peoples of different states. Peace on earth depends on how strong and stable these ties are. It follows that the main priority of the participants of this Organization should be compliance with the principles of aviation security and the rules on the basis of which civil aircraft are operated.
The importance of this Organization is undeniable. But what does the general public know about her? As a rule, not so much. In the article we will tell you in more detail about what the international civil aviation organization ICAO is, what is the history of its creation, the list of participants and principles of activity.
What is ICAO?
Let's consider the abbreviation - ICAO. It is derived from the English version of ICAO, which stands for International Civil Aviation Organization, and is translated into Russian as “civil aviation”. At the moment, it is one of the largest UN agencies, which is responsible for creating a global regulatory framework to ensure the safety of international civil aviation.
ICAO headquarters is located in Montreal, Canada. You can see its exact location on the map below.
The following are: English, Russian, French, Arabic, Spanish and Chinese. Let us note that it is the representative of China who currently holds the post of Secretary General of ICAO.
History of creation
The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) was created after the adoption of the Civil Aviation Convention. Since the meeting of representatives of future states was held in Chicago, its second (and perhaps more famous) name is the Chicago Convention. Date - December 7, 1944. ICAO received the status of a specialized agency in 1947 and, to this day, retains a certain freedom in terms of management and methods of carrying out its main tasks.
The main stimulus for the development of aviation and the subsequent creation of an organization that controls its civil sector was the Second World War. In the period from 1939 to 1945, there was a particularly active development of transport routes, since it was necessary to meet the needs of the army and the people. At the same time, militaristic tasks came to the fore, which hindered the development of peaceful relations on earth.
The United States was the first to propose creating an effective model for the development of civil aviation. After preliminary negotiations with the allied states, it was decided to organize a convening of representatives of 52 states to adopt a single Convention on International Civil Aviation. The meeting took place on December 7, 1944 in Chicago. For five weeks, delegates discussed many issues, a huge amount of work was done, the result of which was the Convention. By general agreement of the delegates, it did not come into force until April 1947, when it was ratified by the 26th ICAO Member State.
Members of the Organization
ICAO members include 191 states, among which is the Russian Federation as the successor to the USSR, which joined ICAO in 1977. This includes almost all UN members: 190 countries (except Dominica and Liechtenstein), as well as the Cook Islands.
In addition to direct participants, there are special industry groups whose goal is to create a global regulatory framework necessary for the effective operation of international civil aviation. It is important to note that a separate body, the Council, exists to achieve consensus regarding the provision of International Standards and Recommended Practices. He is also responsible for the preparation of adopted standards in the form of Annexes to the Convention on International Civil Aviation. (We’ll talk more about the other functions of the Council a little later).
ICAO Charter
The Convention on International Civil Aviation contains 96 articles and includes all amendments made between 1948 and 2006. It establishes the duties and privileges of ICAO members and indicates the sovereignty of states in their own air territory. It is emphasized that all international flights must be coordinated with the state over whose territory they will be carried out. The last article defines the basic concepts used in civil aviation. For example, “International airspace” is defined as the space above the high seas and other territories with a special regime (Antarctica, international straits and canals, archipelagic waters). You can familiarize yourself with all the terms on the official ICAO website. They are described in accessible language, so they will be understandable even to those who are not at all familiar with aviation terminology.
In addition, there are 19 Annexes to the Convention, which set out the International Standards and Recommended Practices mentioned above.
ICAO goals and objectives
Article 44 of the Chicago Convention states that the main goals and objectives of the Organization stem from its desire to promote international cooperation by strengthening air services between Member States. This lies in the following areas of its activity:
- Ensuring aviation security and the safety of international air navigation.
- Encouraging and developing improved ways of operating aircraft.
- Satisfying society's need for regular, safe and economical air travel.
- Promoting the overall development of international civil aviation in all areas.
All identified goals and objectives are succinctly presented in the strategic action plan of the International Civil Aviation Organization ICAO:
- Improving aviation efficiency.
- Flight safety and aviation security in general.
- Minimizing the harmful impact of civil aviation on nature.
- Continuity of aviation development.
- Strengthening the norms of legal regulation of ICAO activities.
ICAO Institutional Bodies (Structure)
In accordance with the Chicago Convention, the International Civil Aviation Organization ICAO has a clear structure. Article 43 states that it consists of an Assembly, a Council and other bodies necessary for its activities.
Assembly
The Assembly consists of 191 states that are members of ICAO. a body whose sessions occur at least once every three years at the request of the Council. During the discussion of a particular issue, each member has the right to one vote. Direct decisions are made on the basis of a majority vote.
At the sessions of the Assembly, the current activities of the Organization are considered, the annual budget is adopted, and general guidelines are formed for a certain period.
The Council includes 36 states, which are elected once every three years. The determining criteria for selection are the following requirements:
- The state should play an important role (ideally a leading one) in the field of aviation and air transportation;
- The state should contribute significantly to the development of international aviation and participate in the maintenance of air transport.
- The State must ensure that all geographical regions of the world are represented on the Council.
The main purpose of the Council is to adopt International Standards and Recommended Practices. A standard is a special technical requirement, the implementation of which is necessary in order to ensure the safety and regularity of international civil traffic. A recommended practice is also a technical requirement, but unlike a standard, its implementation is not mandatory. Both standards and practices are contained in the Annexes to the Convention on International Civil Aviation.
The Council is led by a President elected by the Council for three years. His duties include convening meetings of the Council and performing the functions assigned to him by the Council during these meetings.
Air Navigation Commission
The Air Navigation Commission consists of 19 members who are independent experts appointed by the Council to review and make necessary amendments to the Annexes.
Secretariat
The Secretariat helps ICAO organize its work. A particularly important role in this regard is given to the Air Transport Committee, the Joint Air Navigation Support Committee and the Technical Cooperation Committee.
Regional bodies
ICAO also includes seven regional committees that are approved by Member States and authorized to implement ICAO International Standards and Recommended Practices:
- Asia Pacific Office (Bangkok).
- Committee for Eastern and Southern Africa (Nairobi).
- European and North Atlantic Committee (Paris).
- Middle East Office (Cairo).
- North American, Central American and Caribbean Committee (Mexico).
- South American Committee (Lima).
- Committee for West and Central Africa (Dakar).
ICAO codes
A specially developed code system is used to identify each international airport and airline. For consist of four letters, for airlines - of three. So, for example, for Sheremetyevo airport the ICAO code is UUEE, for Aeroflot airline it is AFL. The latter has a telephone call sign for aircraft operating international flights - AEROFLOT. On the official website you can independently familiarize yourself with other equally interesting codes and find out their decoding.
ICAO, organized in the first years after the end of the Second World War, still does not lose its important status in the systems of modern international organizations. Its activities are aimed at developing and strengthening existing interethnic ties, and maintaining peace and order on earth. All this is fundamentally important today, when the health and lives of millions of people are in constant danger.
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