What is the Chicago Convention?

Chicago Convention, also known as The Convention on International Civil Aviation, is a multi-national agreement giving rise to a special agency called Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). This agency is concerned with monitoring and managing international air movements. It sets the regulations and safety standards that govern traveling on air. Besides these, it ensures that air fuel is not subjected to double taxation.

What is the History of the Chicago Convention?

The Convention was signed into existence by 52 countries as the signatories on December 7 in 1944 in Chicago then ratified on March 5, 1947. It was implemented on April 4, 1947, the same year that the ICAO was effected. Later in October the same year, ICAO became a special branch of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). 

Interestingly, this convention has undergone changes and revision eight times. By November 2017 the Chicago Convention had 192 countries which are members of the UN except Liechtenstein and Dominica. The Cook Islands is also a member of the Convention despite not being a UN member. This convention covers Liechtenstein on the basis of the ratification of Switzerland. Some important articles are:

• Every country has full control of the airspace within its territory.
• Every state must avoid the use of weapons against flying aircraft.
• Apart from the planned international flights, state flights have the rights to fly across other territories and make stops without prior notice. However in some cases; the country may require the flight to land.
• No planned international flight can operate within the borders of a contracting country without the special authority of that nation.
• The state may specify particular points where flights can be landing and taking off.
• Every country should try to match its air a regulation with those found in the convention. The contracting country has an obligation to ensure these rules are complied to.
• All the state rules governing the arrival and departure of travelers must be adhered to while on arrival, departure and when within the state boundary.
• The agencies of every state have the rights to inspect the flights of other countries while landing and flying out without much delay.
• Flights passing other territories shall temporarily enjoy free custom duty on things like oil, fuel, spare parts, regular equipment and aircraft stores on board.
• Before a global flight flies the pilot should ensure that the flight is airworthy with relevant documents on board. The documents include;
• The flights taking the boundaries of another nation shall carry radios licensed and used as per the rules of the nation where the aircraft is registered. Only licensed crews may use the radios while following the rules in the country where the flight is registered.
• All those operating international flights whether pilots or crews must possess certificates of competency and licenses approved by the country where the plane is registered.
• Certificates of airworthiness, of competency and licenses granted by the state that registered the flight shall be accepted by other countries as authentic. The specifications for giving these documents must match the standards specified in the Convention
• No flight or staffs with certificates or approved licenses can engage in global navigation without being granted authority with the state(s) whose boundary is entered. Anyone holding the license and does not meet international measures pertaining to that certificate/license shall attach additional information on that license explaining why he does not meet those requirements.