High Level Overview of

ICAO Responsibilities
Mitchell Fox
Chief, Flight Operations Section
Air Navigation Bureau
International Civil Aviation Organization

Regulation of Emerging Modes of Aerospace Transportation

24-25 May 2013
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Presentation Outline

• What is ICAO?
• Strategic Objectives
• ICAO structure
• Articles of Chicago Convention and their role in
aviation development
• Hierarchy of ICAO documentation
• Annexes & SARPs
• Filing of differences
• Strategic direction of SARPs

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“As we begin to write a new chapter in the fundamental law
of the air, let us all remember that we are engaged in a great
attempt to build enduring institutions of peace.

These peace settlements cannot be endangered by petty

considerations or weakened by groundless fears. Rather, with
full recognition of the sovereignty and judicial equality of all
nations, let us work together so that the air may be used by
humanity, to serve humanity”

President Roosevelt to the opening plenary session

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What is ICAO?
• Specialized agency of UN
• Created in 1944
• Promotes safe and orderly development of
international civil aviation throughout the world
• Sets standards and regulations necessary for
– aviation safety
– security
– efficiency and regularity
– aviation environmental protection
• Serves as forum for cooperation in all fields of
civil aviation among 191 Member States
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ICAO’s Strategic Objectives

• Safety
– Enhance global civil aviation safety
• Security
– Enhance global civil aviation security
• Environmental Protection& Sustainable
Development of Air Transport
– Foster harmonized and economically viable
development of international civil aviation that
does not unduly harm the environment
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A Shared Vision for the Future

• Global Strategic Plans with Priorities and Targets

– Completely overhauled Global Aviation Safety Plan & Global Air Navigation Plan

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ICAO Structure

ASSEMBLY COUNCIL = 36 States

Elected by the Assembly
= 191
Contracting
States
COMMISSIONS
& COMMITTEES

Results-based budget

SECRETARIAT
Secretary General
Business Plan elected by the Council

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Chicago Convention

• Two pillars of aviation development

– Article 28-Air Navigation Facilities and Services
• States to provide facilities and services to facilitate
international aviation in accordance with the
Convention
– Article 37-Adoption of International Standards
and Procedures
• Requirements to collaborate in securing the highest
practicable degree of uniformity in regulations,
standards, procedures and organization

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Hierarchy of ICAO Documentation

CC
Annexes Clarified/
(SARPS) supported
by Policy
PANS and Statements,
SUPPs State letters,
Assembly
Guidance Materials Resolutions

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Standards and Recommended Practices

Standard Uniform application is recognized as

necessary for the safety or regularity of
international air navigation. Requires
notification of differences

Recommended Uniform application is recognized as

Practice desirable in the interests of safety,
regularity or efficiency of international air
navigation. Contracting States should
endeavor to conform

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Annexes
• 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 in Air and Ground
Operations
• Annex 6 — Operation of Aircraft
• Annex 7 — Aircraft Nationality and
Registration Marks
• Annex 8 — Airworthiness of Aircraft
• Annex 9 — Facilitation
• Annex 10 — Aeronautical
Telecommunications
• Annex 11 — Air Traffic Services
• Annex 12 — Search and Rescue
• Annex 13 — Aircraft Accident and
Incident Investigation
• Annex 14 — Aerodromes
• Annex 15 — Aeronautical
Information Services
• Annex 16 — Environmental
Protection
• Annex 17 — Security —
Safeguarding International Civil
Aviation against Acts of Unlawful
Interference
• Annex 18 — The Safe Transport of
Dangerous Goods by Air
• Annex 19 — Safety Management
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Procedures for
Air Navigation Services (PANS)
• Complementary to SARPs
• Comprise material too
detailed for SARPs
• Do not have same status
as SARPs
• Amendment procedure is
similar to SARPs
• Approved by Council
• Recommended to
Contracting States for
worldwide application

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Guidance Material

• ICAO manuals and

circulars provide
guidance and
information to facilitate
the uniform application
of SARPs and PANS
• Approved by Secretary
General and published
under his authority

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Filing of Differences

• Article 38: Departures

from int’l standards
– Requirements to notify
ICAO of differences to
standards

• Assembly Resolution A35-

14, Appendix D,
Associated Practice No. 3
– Council to urge States to
notify ICAO of differences
from SARPs

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Strategic direction of SARPs

• Towards performance-based SARPs

• Less technical specifications
• Use of outside standards-making
organizations
• Use of electronic means to facilitate process

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Conclusion

• ICAO’s structure supports its mission and objectives

• Articles 28 & 37 of Convention are backbone of ICAO
work
• Mechanisms to ensure uniformity and harmonization
– SARPs, PANS, ANPs, SUPPs, guidance material
• ICAO documents are extensive and include Annexes,
PANS, manuals and circulars
• ICAO revised overarching policy documents and
moving towards performance-based SARPs

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Thank You

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