(Ebook) Annex 9 to the Convention on International Civil Aviation - Facilitation by ICAO ISBN 9789292583019, 9292583018

(Ebook) Annex 9 to the Convention on International Civil Aviation - Facilitation by ICAO ISBN 9789292583019, 9292583018

Standards and Recommended Practices on Facilitation were first adopted by the Council on 25 March 1949, pursuant to the provisions of Article 37 of the Convention on International Civil Aviation (Chicago, 1944), and designated as Annex 9 to the Convention with the title “Standards and Recommended Practices — Facilitation”. They became effective on 1 September 1949.

The Standards and Recommended Practices on Facilitation are the outcome of Article 37 of the Convention, which provides, inter alia, that the “International Civil Aviation Organization shall adopt and amend from time to time, as may be necessary, international standards and recommended practices and procedures dealing with . . . customs and immigration procedures . . . and such other matters concerned with the safety, regularity and efficiency of air navigation as may from time to time appear appropriate”. 

As indicated in Chapter 1, Section B, the Standards and Recommended Practices in this document apply to all categories of aircraft operation except where a particular provision specifically refers to one type of operation without mentioning other types of operations.

The Standards and Recommended Practices on Facilitation inevitably take two forms: first a “negative” form, e.g. that States shall not impose more than certain maximum requirements in the way of paperwork, restrictions of freedom of movement, etc., and second a “positive” form, e.g. that States shall provide certain minimum facilities for passenger convenience, for traffic which is merely passing through, etc. Whenever a question arises under a “negative” provision, it is assumed that States will, wherever possible, relax their requirements below the maximum set forth in the Standards and Recommended Practices. Wherever there is a “positive” provision, it is assumed that States will, wherever possible, furnish more than the minimum set forth in the Standards and Recommended Practices.