General

International Civil Aviation organization

The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) currently has 193 member States and is a Specialized Organization within the United Nations system.

ICAO is based in Montreal, Canada, since 1947, following the signing of the International Civil Aviation Convention, more commonly known as the Chicago Convention, which was signed on December 7, 1944, in Chicago, by 52 States and entered into force on April 4, 1947. The Chicago Convention is the statute of the Organization. Greece was one of the original 52 signatory parties. At present ICAO numbers 193 member States. As stipulated by the Convention, ICAO is composed of three bodies: a) the Assembly, b) the Council, and c) the Secretariat.

The Assembly is the leading ICAO body, consisting of 193 Member States and meeting at least once every 3 years, having as main tasks to elect the Council Member States, as well as to adopt the budget and the central guidelines of the Organization.

The Council consists of 36 States, elected for 3 years, based on their origin from three different groups: a. Category I: States of chief importance in air transport, b. Category II: States with the largest contribution to the provision of facilities for international civil air navigation, and c. Category III: States whose designation will ensure that all major geographic areas of the world have a balanced representation on the Council. One of the Council’s main duties is to adopt international Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs), and to incorporate these as Annexes to the Chicago Convention. The current President of the Council, Mr. Salvatore Sciacchitano, was elected in November 2019, following a proposal by Italy, for the period from 01.01.2020 to 31.12.2022.

The Secretariat supports the work and activities of the Organization. The Secretary General is elected by the Council for a 3-year term. In February 2021, following a proposal from Colombia, Mr. Juan Carlos Salazar was elected Secretary General, for the period from 01.08.2021 to 30.07.2024.

The Air Navigation Commission (ANC), foreseen by the Chicago Convention, is composed by 19 experts, and nominated by Member States and appointed by the Council. The ANC develops and submits Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs) as well as Procedures for Air Navigation Services/PANS for the safety and efficiency of international civil aviation.

ICAO aims to promote sustainable growth and safety of the international civil aviation system, in the context of the Chicago Convention.

ICAO develops policies and Standards, undertakes compliance audits, provides assistance and builds aviation capacity with the cooperation of its Member States and stakeholders.

More information on ICAO is available on the Organization's website at: https://www.icao.int/Pages/default.aspx