ICAO is funded and directed by 193 national governments to support their diplomacy and cooperation in air transport as signatory states to the Convention on International Civil Aviation (Chicago Convention - 1944).
The Council is a permanent body of the Organization composed of 36 Member States elected by the Assembly for a three-year term. In the election, adequate representation is given to:
- PART I: States of chief importance in air transport (4 ECAC MS)
- PART II: States which make the largest contribution to the provision of facilities for international civil air navigation (3 ECAC MS)
- PART III: States ensuring geographic representation (1 ECAC MS)
As one of the two governing bodies of ICAO, the Council gives continuing direction to the work of ICAO and 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.
The establishment and maintenance of SARPs, as well as Procedures for Air Navigation (PANS), are a core aspect of ICAO’s mission and role.
SARPs and PANS are critical to ICAO Member States and other stakeholders, given that they provide the fundamental basis for harmonized global aviation safety and efficiency in the air and on the ground, the worldwide standardization of functional and performance requirements of air navigation facilities and services, and the orderly development of air transport.
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.
With the objective of having a more effective representation on the ICAO Council,
a significant number of States have established, over the years, rotation groups.
These groups are often formed based on the common interests of their members, either because they come from the same region or because they share similar characteristics in terms of air transport.
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