We always hear about ICAO annexes but many of us did not know the names of ICAO annexes, and the purpose of each one. The fact is that I am not having any idea about the most of ICAO annexes, and That's why I am writing about them in this article because it is important regulations regarding aviation safety.
Before we go in deepen the explanation of ICAO annexes I will give you a short introduction to ICAO. The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) is a United Nations (UN) specialized agency, established in 1944 to manage the administration and governance of the Convention on International Civil Aviation (Chicago Convention).
ICAO works with approximately 193 Member States and industry organizations to "reach consensus on international civil aviation Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs) and policies in support safe, efficient, secure, economically sustainable and environmentally responsible civil aviation sector" (ICAO, n.d., para. 1).
These SARPs, annexes, and policies ensure Member States' local aviation operations conform to global norms, which in turn supports safe and efficient global air transportation.
Let us go back to December 7, 1944, the Convention on International Civil Aviation was established in Chicago by 52 signatory states [known as Chicago Convention]. Chicago Convention document was including 96 articles, and article 37 highlights the adaption of standards and recommended practices (SARPs) for convenience and designate them as Annexes to Chicago Convention and notifying all contracting states.
In article 12, it is mentioned that "each state shall keep its own rules of the air as uniform as possible with those established under the convention, the duty to ensure compliance with these rules rests with the contracting state".
What is ICAO Annex?
ICAO Annex means an extra or subordinate part to the Chicago Convention document [ The Convention on the International Civil Aviation].
What is the purpose of the ICAO Annex?
It contains the globally agreed standards and recommended practices (SARPs) of international civil aviation. As required by Chicago Convention document chapter vi, article 37, ICAO will adopt technical specifications on International Civil Aviation to achieve the highest practicable degree of uniformity in regulations, standards, procedures, and organization.
This means the standards and recommended practices (SARPs) of ICAO are technical specifications [regulations, standards, procedures, and organization].
Perfect, you got the short introduction about ICAO annexes.
Let us move to the summary of each ICAO annex. Before you read this summary, may I ask you " what is the name of the ICAO Annex 15?".
Sure!!
Short Summary About ICAO Annexes
ICAO Annex 1: Personnel Licensing
It contains standards and recommended practices (SARPS) for the licensing of the following:
Flight crew members [pilots, flight engineers, and flight navigators]
Maintenance technicians
Flight dispatchers
Air traffic controllers
Aeronautical station operators.
ICAO Annex 2: Rules Of The Air
It contains standards and recommended practices (SARPS) related to general air rules, visual flight rules, and instrument flight rules, the pilot-in-command of an aircraft is responsible for compliance with the rules of the air.
ICAO Annex 3: Meteorological Service For International Air Navigation
It contains standards and recommended practices (SARPS) related to providing necessary meteorological information to operators, flight crew members, air traffic services units, search and rescue units, airport management, and others concerned with aviation.
ICAO Annex 4: Aeronautical Charts
It contains standards and recommended practices (SARPS) related to producing aeronautical charts, which are used by most segments of aviation as a reference to them for planning, air traffic control, and navigation purposes.
ICAO Annex 5: Units Of Measurement To Be Used In Air And Ground Operations
It contains standards and recommended practices (SARPS) related to standard units of measurement to cover all aspects of air and ground operations.
ICAO Annex 6: Operation of Aircraft [PARTS I, II, and III]
PART I — International Commercial Air Transport — Aeroplanes
PART II — International General Aviation — Aeroplanes
PART III — International Operations — Helicopters
It contains standards and recommended practices (SARPS) which provide one international set of operational rules and regulations for a wide variety of aircraft. In Addition, operating minima are based on the environmental factors found at each aerodrome.
ICAO Annex 7: Aircraft Nationality and Registration Marks
It contains standards and recommended practices (SARPS) for registration of the aircraft and the use of letters, numbers and other graphic symbols to be used in the nationality and registration marks of aircraft. e.g. 7O Yemen.
ICAO Annex 8: Airworthiness of Aircraft
It contains standards and recommended practices (SARPS) related to aircraft design, construction, and operation, which must comply with the appropriate airworthiness requirements of the state of registry of the aircraft. In full compliance, the aircraft will be issued with a certificate of airworthiness declaring that the aircraft is fit to fly.
ICAO Annex 9 : Facilitation
It contains standards and recommended practices (SARPS) related to providing a frame of reference for planners and managers of international airport operations to simplify the procedures required to clear aircraft, passengers, and cargo.
ICAO Annex 10: Aeronautical Telecommunications [ volumes I, II, III, IV, and V]
Annex 10 is divided into five volumes:
Volume I— Radio navigation aids
Volume II — Communications procedures including those with pans status
Volume III— Communication systems
Part 1 — Digital data communication systems
Part 2 — Voice communication systems
Volume IV — Surveillance radar and collision avoidance systems
Volume V — Aeronautical radio frequency spectrum utilization
It contains standards and recommended practices (SARPS) related to the most complex and essential elements of international civil aviation [Aeronautical Communications, Navigation, and Surveillance].
ICAO Annex 11: Air Traffic Services
It contains standards and recommended practices (SARPS) related to how to prevent collisions between aircraft, whether taxiing in the maneuvering area, taking off, landing, en route, or in the holding pattern at the destination aerodrome.
ICAO Annex 12: Search And Rescue
It contains standards and recommended practices (SARPS) related to locating and rescuing survivors of aircraft accidents.
ICAO Annex 13: Aircraft Accident And Incident Investigation
It contains standards and recommended practices (SARPS) related to the investigation of an aircraft accident or serious incident.
ICAO Annex 14 : Aerodromes [ VOLUMES I AND II ]
VOL I – Aerodrome Design and Operations
This Annex contains Standards and Recommended Practices (specifications) that prescribe the physical characteristics and obstacle limitation surfaces to be provided for at aerodromes, and certain facilities and technical services normally provided at an aerodrome.
It also contains specifications dealing with obstacles outside those limitation surfaces. It is not intended that these specifications limit or regulate the operation of an aircraft.
VOL II – Heliports
Annex 14, Volume II, contains Standards and Recommended Practices (specifications) that prescribe the physical characteristics and obstacle limitation surfaces to be provided for at heliports, and certain facilities and technical services normally provided at a heliport. It is not intended that these specifications limit or regulate the operation of an aircraft.
ICAO Annex 15: Aeronautical Information Services
It contains standards and recommended practices (SARPS) on how an aeronautical information service shall receive and/or originate, collate or assemble, edit, format, publish/store and distribute specified aeronautical information/data.
ICAO Annex 16 : Environmental Protection[VOLUMES I,II,III, AND IV]
Vol I – Aircraft Noise
Vol II – Aircraft Engine Emissions
Vol III - Aeroplane CO2 Emissions
Vol IV – Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA).
It contains standards and recommended practices (SARPS) on the protection of the environment from the effect of aircraft noise, aircraft engine emissions, etc.
ICAO Annex 17: Security
Safeguarding International Civil Aviation Against Acts of Unlawful Interference.
It contains standards and recommended practices (SARPS) and technical measures for the protection of the security of international air transport.
ICAO Annex 18: The Safe Transport of Dangerous Goods by Air
It contains standards and recommended practices (SARPS) related to the safe transporting and handling of dangerous goods.
ICAO Annex 19: Safety Management
It contains standards and recommended practices (SARPS) on safety management functions related to, or in direct support of, the safe operation of aircraft and airports. Also, State Safety Programme (SSP).
I hope that I have clarified the ICAO annexes in a professional, concise way. Please share this article for the benefit of your colleagues.
