ICAO and Its Functions

ICAO Introduction A specialized agency of the United Nations, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) was created in 1944 to promote the safe and orderly development of international civil aviation throughout the world. It sets standards and regulations necessary for aviation safety, security, efficiency and regularity, as well as for aviation environmental protection. The Organization serves as the forum for cooperation in all fields of civil aviation among its 191 Member States.

Vision and Mission ICAO is the global forum for civil aviation, works to achieve its vision of safe, secure and sustainable development of civil aviation through the cooperation of its Member States .

Strategic Objectives ICAO Strategic Objectives 2011-2013 As the global forum for cooperation among its Member States and with the world aviation community, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) sets standards and recommended practices for the safe and orderly development of international civil aviation. In its ongoing mission to foster a global civil aviation system that consistently and uniformly operates at peak efficiency and provides optimum safety, security and sustainability, ICAO has established three Strategic Objectives:  Safety: Enhance global civil aviation safety  Security : Enhance global civil aviation security

 Environmental Protection and Sustainable Development of Air Transport: Foster harmonized and economically viable development of international civil aviation that does not unduly harm the environment.

Assembly: The Assembly, comprised of all Member States of ICAO, meets not less than once in three years and is convened by the Council at a suitable time and place. An extraordinary meeting of the Assembly may be held at any time upon the call of the Council or at the request of not less than one-fifth of the total number of Member States. The Assembly has numerous powers and duties, among them to: elect the Member States to be represented on the Council; examine and take appropriate action on the reports of the Council and decide any matter reported to it by the Council; and approve the budgets of the Organization. The Assembly may refer, at its discretion, to the Council, to subsidiary commissions or to any other body any matter within its sphere of action. It can delegate to Council the powers and authority

necessary or desirable for the discharge of the duties of ICAO and revoke and modify the delegations of authority at any time; and deal with any matter within the sphere of action of ICAO not specifically assigned to the Council. In general, it reviews in detail the work of the Organization in the technical, administrative, economic, legal and technical cooperation fields. It has the power to approve amendments to the Convention on International Civil Aviation (Chicago, 1944), which are subject to ratification by Member States.

Council The Council is a permanent body of the Organization responsible to the Assembly. It is composed of 36 Member States elected by the Assembly for a three-year term. In the election, adequate representation is given to States of chief importance in air transport, States not otherwise included but which make the largest contribution to the provision of facilities for international civil air navigation and States not otherwise included whose designation will ensure that all major geographic areas of the world are represented on the Council. The Council convenes the Assembly. The Council has numerous functions, notable among which are to submit annual reports to the Assembly; carry out the directions of the Assembly; and discharge the duties and obligations which are laid on it by the Convention on International Civil Aviation (Chicago, 1944). It also administers the finances of ICAO; appoints and defines the duties of the Air Transport Committee, as well as the Committee on Joint Support of Air Navigation Services, the Finance Committee, and the Committee on Unlawful Interference, the Technical Co-operation Committee and the Human Resources Committee. It appoints the Members of the Air Navigation Commission and it elects the members of the Edward Warner Award Committee. Another

key

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Secretary

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As one of the two governing bodies of ICAO; the Council gives continuing direction to the work of ICAO. In this regard, one of its major duties is to adopt international Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs) and to incorporate these as Annexes to the Chicago Convention. The Council may also amend existing Annexes as necessary. On occasion, the Council may act as an arbiter between Member States on matters concerning aviation and the implementation of the provisions of the Convention; it may investigate any situation which presents avoidable obstacles to the development of international air navigation and, in general, it may take necessary steps to maintain the safety and regularity of international air transport. The Council elects its President for a term of three years, and he may be re-elected. The Council of ICAO elected Roberto Kobeh González (Mexico) as its President, effective 1 August 2006. He was re-

elected on 19 November 2007 and again on 15 November 2010 for a second three-year term. Mr. Kobeh served eight years as the Representative of Mexico on the Council, from 1998 until his election as Council President.

Secretary General The Secretary General of ICAO is head of the Secretariat and chief executive officer of the Organization responsible for general direction of the work of the Secretariat. The Secretary General provides leadership to a specialized international staff working in the field of international civil aviation. The Secretary General serves as the Secretary of the Council of ICAO and is responsible to the Council as a whole and, following established policies, carries out the duties assigned to him by the Council, and makes periodic reports to the Council covering the progress of the Secretariat activities. The Secretariat consists of five main divisions: the Air Navigation Bureau, the Air Transport Bureau, the Technical Co-operation Bureau, the Legal Affairs and External Relations Bureau, and the Bureau of Administration and Services. The Secretary General is also directly responsible for the management and effective work performance of the activities assigned to the Office of the Secretary General relating to Finance, Evaluation and Internal Audit, Communications, and seven Regional Offices. The Council of ICAO appointed Raymond Benjamin (France) as Secretary General of the Organization for a second three-year term, from 1 August 2012 to 31 July 2015.

Air Navigation Commission The Air Navigation Commission considers and recommends, for approval by the ICAO Council, Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs) and Procedures for Air Navigation Services (PANS) for the safety and efficiency of international civil aviation. The Commission is composed of nineteen persons who, as outlined in the Convention on International Civil Aviation, have “suitable qualifications and experience in the science and practice of aeronautics”. Commission Members, who act in their personal expert capacity, are nominated by Contracting States and are appointed by the Council of ICAO.