News Highlight
Cabinet clears ratifying protocols related to Chicago Convention on international civil aviation.
Key Takeaway
- The Union Cabinet on February 21 cleared ratification of three protocols related to the Chicago Convention on international civil aviation.
- The articles of the Chicago Convention establish the privileges and obligations of all contracting States.
- And to promote international ICAO Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs) adoption that regulates international air transport.
Chicago Convention
- About
- The Chicago Convention established the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
- It is a specialised United Nations organisation organising international air transport.
- The Convention sets airspace laws, aircraft registration and safety, security, and sustainability.
- As well as the signatory’s rights concerning air transport.
- The Treaty also includes measures on taxation.
- The document was signed in Chicago on December 7, 1944, by 52 signatory states.
- It went into force on April 4, 1947, the same day ICAO was established.
- The Chicago Convention had 193 state parties as of March 2019, including all United Nations member states except Liechtenstein.
- The Cook Islands is a signatory to the Convention despite not being a member of the UN.
- The ratification of Switzerland extended the convention to include Liechtenstein.
International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)
- About
- In October of that year, ICAO was designated as a specialised United Nations Economic and Social Council agency (ECOSOC).
- It modifies the concepts and procedures of international air navigation.
- Additionally, it promotes international air transport planning and development to ensure safe and orderly expansion.
- The company’s headquarters are in Canada.
- It establishes standards and suggested practices for;
- Air navigation
- Infrastructure and Flight inspection
- Illegal interference prevention
- Border-crossing procedures for international civil aviation.
- ICAO establishes the rules for air accident investigations followed by transport safety agencies in nations that have signed the Chicago Convention on International Civil Aviation.
- The Air Navigation Commission (ANC) is ICAO’s technical body.
- India is an ICAO founding member.
First five Freedom of Air
- It is granted by one State to another State or States to fly across its territory without landing.
- One State can grant another State or state land for non-traffic purposes.
- To put down, in the territory of the first State, traffic coming from the home State of the carrier.
- To take on, in the territory of the first State, traffic destined for the home State of the carrier.
- To put down and to take on, in the territory of the first State, traffic coming from or destined for a third State.
The amendments of the Chicago Convention ratified by the Cabinet
- Article 3
- It prohibits member states from using weapons against civil aircraft in flight.
- Article 50(a)
- It increases the ICAO Council’s membership from 36 to 40.
- Article 56
- It increases the size of the Air Navigation Commission from 18 to 21 members.
Pic Courtesy: IBA
Content Source: Times of India