Standards and Recommended Practices
SARPsSection 01: Organizations & Authorities
Definition
Technical specifications adopted by the ICAO Council under Article 37 of the Chicago Convention. A Standard is a specification whose uniform application is recognized as necessary for the safety or regularity of international air navigation and to which States must conform; if a State cannot comply, it must file a difference with ICAO under Article 38. A Recommended Practice is a specification whose uniform application is recognized as desirable but not mandatory.
Where This Shows Up
SARPs are contained within the 19 Annexes to the Chicago Convention. The distinction between Standards (uppercase 'S') and Recommended Practices matters for compliance obligations. States must notify ICAO of differences from Standards; notification of differences from Recommended Practices is encouraged but not required.
Primary Sources
Article 37 requires ICAO to adopt SARPs; Article 38 requires States to notify differences from Standards.
Related Terms
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