# Chicago Convention (ICAO Doc 7300): Sovereignty, ICAO Structure, and SARPs > Study the Chicago Convention core principles, including State sovereignty, ICAO governance, SARPs, and rules of the air over the high seas. - **Subject:** 010 — Air Law - **Section:** 010-01 — International Law: Conventions, Agreements and Organisations - **Topic code:** 010-01-01 - **Last reviewed:** 2026-03-27 - **Author:** Pablo Asensio Martínez - **HTML version:** https://pilotsyllabus.com/en/air-law/international-law-conventions-agreements-and-organisations/the-convention-on-international-civil-aviation-chicago-icao-doc-7300-9/ --- The Convention on International Civil Aviation, also known as the **Chicago Convention**, establishes the foundations for global aviation regulation. Its main objective, defined in **Article 44**, is to develop the principles and techniques of international air navigation and to foster the planning and development of international air transport. ## Sovereignty and Territory One of the fundamental pillars is the recognition that every State has **complete and exclusive sovereignty** over the airspace above its territory (**Article 1**). This means that no State may fly over another without permission. ### Landing at Customs Airports According to **Article 10**, every aircraft entering the territory of another State must, if required by regulations, land at a designated **customs airport** for inspection. Similarly, departure must be made from such an airport, unless overflight without landing is permitted under special conditions. ### Cabotage **Article 7** deals with **cabotage**, which is the transport of passengers, mail, or cargo between two points within the same territory by a foreign aircraft. States have the right to **refuse permission** for such operations and undertake not to grant this privilege on an exclusive basis to any other State or airline. ## The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) The Convention established ICAO to manage the administration and governance of the convention. ### The Council The Council is the permanent governing body responsible to the Assembly. It is composed of **36 members** elected every 3 years, ensuring representation of States of chief importance in air transport and major geographic regions of the world. The **President of the Council** (**Article 51**) is elected for a term of **three years** and may be re-elected. Although they have no vote, their functions include convening meetings of the Council, the Air Transport Committee, and the Air Navigation Commission. ### Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs) To achieve the highest practicable uniformity in regulations (**Article 37**), ICAO adopts **Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs)** contained in the **Annexes** to the Convention. * **Standards:** Their uniform application is necessary for the safety or regularity of international air navigation. They are mandatory unless a State notifies a difference. * **Recommended Practices:** They are desirable but not essential. The Annexes **are not directly binding international laws** in themselves; States must incorporate them into their national legislation. However, standards are considered binding for member States that **have not notified a difference** to ICAO. ## Rules of the Air Over the High Seas For flights over the **high seas**, the rules specified in **Annex 2** to the Chicago Convention apply **without exception** (**SERA.1001**). Additionally, Annex 11 may be applied in these areas to ensure continuity of air traffic services, but always consistent with regional air navigation agreements. --- Free study notes from pilotsyllabus.com. Not a substitute for training at an approved ATO.