ICAO

ICAO, or the International Civil Aviation Organization, is a specialized agency of the United Nations that establishes global standards and regulations for civil aviation. It coordinates international air transport and works to ensure safe, secure, efficient, and environmentally sustainable air travel.

Established in 1944 through the Chicago Convention, ICAO operates from its headquarters in Montreal, Canada. Its member states formulate and adopt Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs) and related procedures, which are published as Annexes to the Chicago Convention. These SARPs cover airworthiness, aircraft operations, air traffic management, licensing, meteorology, and aeronautical charts, among others.

Governance is provided by the ICAO Council, elected by contracting states, and the Assembly, which meets periodically to set policies and approve the budget. The Secretariat, led by the Secretary General, implements programs and coordinates technical assistance and audits through regional offices around the world.

ICAO runs oversight and assurance programs such as the Universal Safety Oversight Audit Programme (USOAP) and the Universal Security Audit Programme (USAP) to monitor compliance with SARPs. It also coordinates global initiatives for air navigation, air routes, and interconnectivity, and leads environmental efforts such as the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA) to address aviation emissions.

Nearly all countries participate through member states, and the organization has 193 contracting states. ICAO's work supports aviation safety, security, efficiency, and environmental performance, fostering international cooperation and interoperability in civil aviation worldwide.