International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)

Established in the year 1944

Member states: 191
SARP: Standard and Recommendation Practices

Significance of ICAO:

1. ICAO works with 191 member states and industry groups to reach consensus on SARPs and
policies in support of a safe, efficient, secure, economically sustainable and environmentally
responsible (sesee) civil aviation sector.
2. SARPs and policies are used to ensure that local civil aviation operations and regulations
conform to global norms to permit flights in aviations global network to operate safely and
reliably in every region of the world.
3. Coordinates assistance and capacity building for States in support of numerous aviation
development objectives
4. Produces global plans to coordinate multilateral strategic progress for safety and air
navigation
5. Monitors and reports on numerous air transport sector performance metrics
6. Audits States civil aviation oversight capabilities in areas of safety and security.

How it works:

According to the terms of the Convention, the Organization is made up of

1. Assembly, composed of representatives from all Contracting States, is the sovereign body of
ICAO. It meets every three years, reviewing in detail the work of the Organization and
setting policy for the coming years. It also votes a triennial budget.
2. The Council, the governing body which is elected by the Assembly for a three-year term, is
composed of 36 States. The Assembly chooses the Council Member States under three
headings:
a. States of chief importance in air transport,
b. States which make the largest contribution to the provision of facilities for air
navigation, and
c. States whose designation will ensure that all major areas of the world are
represented.
As the governing body, the Council gives continuing direction to the work of ICAO. It is in the
Council that SARPs are adopted and incorporated as Annexes to the Convention on
International Civil Aviation. The Council is assisted by the
Air Navigation Commission (technical matters),
the Air Transport Committee (economic matters),
the Committee on Joint Support of Air Navigation Services and

1
 the Finance Committee.
3. The Secretariat, headed by a Secretary General, is divided into five main divisions:
a. the Air Navigation Bureau,
b. the Air Transport Bureau,
c. the Technical Co-operation Bureau,
d. the Legal Bureau and
e. the Bureau of Administration and Services.

ICAO works with other members of the United Nations family such as the World Meteorological
Organization (WMO), the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the Universal Postal Union
(UPU), the World Health Organization (WHO), the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and the
International Maritime Organization (IMO).

Non-governmental organizations which also participate in ICAO's work include the Airports Council
International (ACI), the Civil Air Navigation Services Organization (CANSO), the International Air
Transport Association (IATA), the International Business Aviation Council (IBAC), International
Coordinating Council of Aerospace Industries Associations (ICCAIA), the International Council of
Aircraft Owner and Pilot Associations (IAOPA), the International Federation of Air Line Pilots'
Associations (IFALPA) and the International Federation of Air Traffic Controllers' Associations
(IFATCA).

Vision and Mission:

1. Vision: Achieve the sustainable growth of the global civil aviation system.
2. Mission: To serve as the global forum of States for international civil aviation. ICAO
develops policies and Standards, undertakes compliance audits, performs studies and
analyses, provides assistance and builds aviation capacity through many other activities
and the cooperation of its Member States and stakeholders.

Four "C's" of aviation:

1. Cooperation,
2. Consensus,
3. Compliance and
4. Commitment.

Strategic Objectives 2014-2016:

ICAO has established five comprehensive Strategic Objectives for the 2014-2016 triennium:

1. Safety
2. Air navigation capacity and efficiency
3. Security and facilitation
4. Economic development of Air transport
5. Environmental protection

2
Hoe ICAO develops standards?

The establishment and maintenance of international Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs), as
well as Procedures for Air Navigation (PANS), are fundamental tenets of the Convention on
International Civil Aviation (Chicago Convention) and a core aspect of ICAOs mission and role.

Today, ICAO manages over 12,000 SARPs across the 19 Annexes and 5 PANS to the Convention, many of
which are constantly evolving in concert with latest developments and innovations.

The development of SARPs and PANS follows a structured, transparent and multi-staged process often
known as the ICAO amendment process or standards-making process involving a number of
technical and non-technical bodies which are either within the Organization or closely associated with
ICAO.

Typically, it takes approximately two years for an initial proposal for a new or improved Standard,
Recommended Practice or procedure to be formally adopted or approved for inclusion in an Annex or a
PANS. Occasionally, this timescale can be expanded or compressed depending on the nature and priority
of the proposal under consideration.