Before we go in deepen explanation of ICAO annexes I will give you short introduction about 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, the article 37 highlight 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 mention 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 mean an extra or subordinate part to
Chicago Convention document [ The Convention on the International Civil
Aviation].
What is the purpose of ICAO Annex?
It contains the globally agreed standards and recommended practices (SARPs) of the international civil aviation. As required by Chicago Convention document chapter vi, article 37, ICAO will adopt technical specifications on International Civil Aviation in order to achieve the highest practicable degree of uniformity in regulations, standards, procedures and organization.
This mean 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 short summary about 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 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 measurements 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 the wide variety of aircraft. In Addition, operating minima
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 aircrafts. 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 be in compliance with the appropriate airworthiness requirements of the
state of registry of the aircraft. 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 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 aircrafts,
whether taxiing on 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 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
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 contain standards and
recommended practices (SARPS) on 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 .