Chicago Convention

Section 01: Organizations & Authorities

Definition

The Convention on International Civil Aviation, signed in Chicago on 7 December 1944, is the foundational international treaty that established ICAO and set forth the principles governing international air navigation. It affirms that every State has complete and exclusive sovereignty over the airspace above its territory and provides the framework for uniform regulations, standards, and procedures for civil aviation.

Where This Shows Up

The Chicago Convention has 96 Articles organized into four parts. Its 19 Annexes contain the SARPs that form the technical basis for aviation safety regulation worldwide. States that ratify the Convention agree to endeavor to adopt regulations consistent with ICAO SARPs and to file differences where their national rules deviate.

Primary Sources

Convention on International Civil Aviation, signed at Chicago, 7 December 1944ICAO

The original treaty text establishing international civil aviation governance principles.

Related Terms

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