Convention on International Civil Aviation: A Commentary

Book Preface

The 70th Anniversary of the signature ceremony of the Convention on International Civil Aviation (Chicago Convention) will fall on 7 December 2014. This day each year also happens to be designated “International Civil Aviation Day” marked by a modest ceremony by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). In reality, the 7th of December is not the day the Chicago Convention’s anniversary should be associated with. It should be the date on which the Chicago Convention entered into force, which was 4 April 1947. However, the ICAO Assembly chose otherwise and, at its 29th Session (Montreal, 22 September–8 October 1992), adopted Resolution A29-1, which declared that each year, starting in 1994, the 7th of December shall be designated “international civil aviation day”. This practice is at variance with “The United Nations Day”, which is celebrated each year on 24 October—the day on which the United Nations came into existence.

At the time of writing, there were 191 States that had signed or otherwise adhered to the Chicago Convention, which ipso facto make them member States of ICAO. However, in 1944, only 52 signatory States (approximately 27 % of the current number) were party to the Convention. Over the years, the Convention has retained its pristine purity with no fundamental amendments or revisions, although a few “cosmetic” revisions have been added. In particular, three amendments entered into force, relating to articles: Article 3 bis, Article 83 bis, Article 50(a), and Article 56, in 1995–1998.