International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)
The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations created by the States to manage the administration and governance of the Chicago Convention and is responsible for promoting the safe and orderly development of civil aviation worldwide by establishing Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs) and supporting policies on aviation safety, efficiency, air regularity, economic sustainability and environmental responsibility. Headquartered in Montreal, Canada, ICAO is the premier governmental organization for civil aviation and is composed of 193 Member States (see list of Member States) and aviation industry representatives and professionals.
The SARPs guide the civil aviation authorities actions around the world and address technical and operational aspects of international civil aviation, such as safety, personnel licensing, aircraft operation, aerodromes, air traffic services, accident investigation and environment.
As an ICAO’s founding member, Brazil has actively participated in technical regulations and recommendations discussions issued by the Organization. Successively elected as a Group I Member of the Council, Brazil has a Permanent Delegation at ICAO Council, subordinated to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and technically advised by ANAC, Aeronautics Command, and Federal Police Department.
ICAO related information
Chicago Convention: http://www.icao.int/publications/pages/doc7300.aspx
ICAO Documents: http://www.icao.int/publications/Pages/doc-series.aspx
ICAO electronic address: http://www.icao.int/Pages/default.aspx
Brazilian Permanent Representative at ICAO: http://delbrasmont.itamaraty.gov.br/pt-br/
The history of ICAO
At the end of the Second World War, the international community identified the need for the development of common principles and standards to regulate the rapid growth of civil aviation. Standards needed to be established to ensure safe and compatible operations between States.
Representatives from 52 nations met in December 1944 at the International Civil Aviation Conference in Chicago to draft the so-called “Chicago Convention”. On the same date the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) was established.
ICAO structure
Today, the ICAO’s organizational structure consists of a Secretariat and three main bodies: the Assembly, the Council and the Air Navigation Commission (ANC).
Comprised of all Member States, the Assembly is the sovereign organ of ICAO. Ordinarily convened every three years, the Assembly is responsible for setting the guidelines to be followed for the next three years, approving the budget and reviewing the technical, legal, economic, and administrative work of the Organization, as well as approving amendments to the Annexes of the Chicago Convention.
In addition, it is the Assembly that elects the 36 States that will compose the Council for the following triennium. States are elected taking into consideration their importance to international air transport, their contribution to the air navigation structure and criteria for geographic representation.
As ICAO’s executive body, the Council has the power to adopt SARPs and incorporate them into the Annexes of the Chicago Convention, convene the Assembly, appoint the General Secretary and manage the Organization’s budget. In practice, the Council operates through Committees, most notably the Air Transport Committee – responsible for the international civil aviation viable economically development – the Finance Committee, the Committee on Unlawful Interference, and the Technical Cooperation Committee.