Convention On International Civil Aviation

The Convention on International Civil Aviation, also known as the Chicago Convention, is a treaty that establishes the principles and arrangements for international air transport. Established in 1944, it created the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), a specialized agency of the United Nations charged with coordinating and regulating international air travel. The Convention sets rules of airspace, aircraft registration and safety, and details the rights of the signatories in relation to air travel. It also exempts air fuels from tax. The Convention applies to aircraft, not to pilots or other personnel; the responsibility for personnel licensing, medical certification, and training falls on the individual states. The Convention also has provisions for making international flight information regions (FIRs), air traffic services, and international standards and recommended practices (SARPs). The SARPs cover all technical and operational aspects of international civil aviation, such as safety, personnel licensing, operation of aircraft, aerodromes, air traffic services, accident investigation, and the environment.