CPL Air Law key terms

The 1944 international treaty that established the legal framework for civil aviation, covering sovereignty, aircraft nationality, and the standards later administered by ICAO.

One of the numbered technical standards and recommended practices attached to the Chicago Convention, each covering a specific subject such as personnel licensing or rules of the air.

Technical specifications adopted by ICAO; standards are binding on contracting states unless differences are filed, while recommended practices are desirable but not mandatory.

The formal process by which a contracting state informs ICAO of any national regulation that departs from an adopted international standard.

The set of commercial rights describing what an airline of one state may do in another state's territory, such as overfly, land for technical stops, or carry traffic.

A treaty between two states that grants designated airlines permission to operate specified routes and traffic rights between their territories.

An early international treaty that set limits on an air carrier's liability for passenger injury, baggage loss, and cargo damage on international flights.

A modern treaty governing international carrier liability, providing two-tier compensation for death or injury and allowing unlimited liability in certain circumstances.

An international treaty giving the aircraft commander authority to restrain persons committing offences or endangering safety on board, and addressing jurisdiction over such acts.

A formal authorisation issued by a state to a person, certifying that the holder meets the required knowledge, experience, and medical standards for a duty.

An authorisation entered on a licence permitting the holder to act as pilot on a specific aircraft type that requires more than a class-level qualification.

A licence endorsement covering a group of aircraft with similar handling characteristics, such as single-engine land aeroplanes, rather than one specific type.

The requirement that a licence holder must have performed specified recent take-offs, landings, or instrument approaches within a defined period to exercise privileges.

A licence endorsement allowing the holder to fly under instrument flight rules and in instrument meteorological conditions, subject to currency requirements.

A document issued after an authorised medical examination confirming that a licence holder meets the fitness standards required for the privileges exercised.

A set of operating and navigation rules under which the pilot maintains separation from terrain and other aircraft by visual reference, subject to specified weather minima.

A set of rules requiring the pilot to navigate and maintain separation primarily by reference to instruments, with separation provided by air traffic control.

Weather conditions expressed as visibility and distance from cloud that meet specified minima allowing flight under visual flight rules.

Weather conditions below the specified visual minima, expressed in visibility and cloud distance, requiring flight to be conducted under instrument flight rules.

The rules determining which aircraft has priority in converging or overtaking situations, such as the lower aircraft giving way and the overtaken aircraft having priority.

An authorisation for an aircraft to proceed under specified traffic conditions, which the pilot must read back and comply with unless an emergency requires deviation.

Airspace of defined dimensions within which air traffic control service is provided to flights in accordance with airspace classification.

A lettered system from A to G defining the services provided, the separation applied, and the clearance and equipment requirements within each class of airspace.

The rule assigning cruising levels by magnetic track direction, so that eastbound flights use odd levels and westbound flights use even levels to reduce head-on conflict.

A specified altitude or flight level maintained for a significant portion of a flight, normally assigned by air traffic control or selected under the semicircular rule.

The altitude at or below which an aircraft's vertical position is expressed as an altitude, and above which it is expressed as a flight level.

The lowest flight level available for use above the transition altitude, ensuring at least the required separation between the two reference systems.

An approved document specifying which items of installed equipment may be inoperative while still permitting dispatch, subject to stated conditions and limitations.

A mandatory instruction issued by the state of design or registry requiring inspection, modification, or other action to correct an unsafe condition on affected aircraft.

A document confirming that an individual aircraft conforms to its approved type design and is considered safe to operate within stated limitations.

The document recording the nationality and registration marks of an aircraft and identifying the state in which it is registered.

A certification, signed by authorised maintenance personnel, confirming that completed work has been properly carried out and the aircraft is fit for return to service.

The total period beginning when a crew member reports for duty and ending when the aircraft finally comes to rest after the last flight.

The period during which a crew member is on duty in an aircraft as part of its crew, typically measured from first movement for take-off to final stop.

A defined continuous period free of all duty during which a crew member may rest, required before commencing a flight duty period.

A systematic process for identifying and mitigating crew fatigue through limits, reporting, and scheduling controls, supplementing fixed flight and duty time limits.

The limits of visibility and cloud conditions, usually expressed as runway visual range and decision height, under which a pilot may take off or land.

The distance over which a pilot on the runway centreline can see markings or lights, measured by instruments and used to set operating minima.

The part of an aerodrome used for surface movement of aircraft, comprising the manoeuvring area and apron, and subject to air traffic control clearance.

An occurrence, other than an accident, involving circumstances indicating a high probability of an accident, which must be reported for investigation.

An occurrence in which a person is fatally or seriously injured, or an aircraft sustains substantial damage, between boarding and disembarkation.

A written notification required from crew, operators, or maintenance staff when a specified safety-related event occurs, feeding into the state's safety data system.

A safety philosophy in which honest error and inadvertent reporting are protected from punishment, while gross negligence and deliberate violations remain subject to sanction.

A measure taken by the licensing or regulatory authority against a licence holder for a breach, ranging from counselling to suspension or revocation.