CAA-B Air Law key terms

The 1944 international treaty that established the basic framework for civil aviation, covering sovereignty of airspace, aircraft nationality, and the duties of contracting states toward each other's aircraft.

The International Civil Aviation Organization, a United Nations agency that develops and adopts international standards and recommended practices for civil aviation through its annexes.

A chapter of the Chicago Convention containing Standards and Recommended Practices on a specific subject, such as personnel licensing, rules of the air, or aircraft operations.

A uniform practice adopted by ICAO that contracting states are expected to implement; a state that cannot comply must notify ICAO of the difference.

An ICAO provision that states are encouraged to follow but that is not mandatory; unlike a Standard, non-implementation does not require formal notification.

The set of provisions governing flight conduct, including right-of-way, cruising levels, lights to be displayed, and minimum safe heights, applicable to all aircraft in a state's territory.

The rule determining which aircraft has priority when paths converge; generally the less maneuverable or lower aircraft has priority, and an aircraft on the right has priority in head-on or converging cases.

The lowest altitude at which an aircraft may fly over populated or congested areas, typically set to allow a safe forced landing without undue hazard to persons or property on the ground.

Visual Meteorological Conditions: weather conditions in which flight by visual reference is permitted, defined by specified visibility and distance-from-cloud minima for the relevant airspace.

Instrument Meteorological Conditions: weather conditions less than the specified visual minima, in which flight must be conducted under instrument flight rules and by reference to instruments.

Visual Flight Rules: the set of rules under which a pilot may operate when weather permits navigation and collision avoidance by visual reference to the ground and surrounding traffic.

Instrument Flight Rules: the set of rules governing flight by reference to instruments, requiring an ATC clearance, a filed flight plan, and adherence to prescribed separation and reporting procedures.

A clearance allowing a pilot to operate visually within a control zone when weather is below normal VFR minima, subject to conditions set by the controlling authority.

The obligation of pilots to maintain vigilance and take action, including right-of-way compliance and display of navigation lights, so as not to collide with other aircraft.

Lights displayed by an aircraft at night to indicate its position and direction of travel: red on the left, green on the right, and white at the rear.

A flashing beacon, typically red or white, fitted to make an aircraft conspicuous to other traffic; it is normally operated whenever the engine is running.

The document recording an aircraft's nationality and registration marks and the owner's details, establishing the state in which the aircraft is registered for international purposes.

The letters or symbols identifying the state of registry, displayed together with the registration marks on an aircraft as required by the Chicago Convention.

A document issued for an aircraft confirming it meets the applicable airworthiness requirements and is safe to operate within the limits and conditions specified on it.

A periodic assessment confirming an aircraft remains in a condition for safe flight and that its continuing airworthiness records are complete, supporting continued validity of the airworthiness certificate.

A document issued by a state authorising the holder to act as a flight crew member in specified categories, subject to the ratings, privileges and limitations it contains.

An authorisation entered on or attached to a licence that specifies the conditions, privileges or aircraft types the holder may exercise, such as class, type or instrument ratings.

A rating permitting the holder to act as pilot on a specific aircraft type that requires type-specific training, typically larger or more complex aircraft.

A document issued after examination confirming the holder meets the medical fitness standards required for the privileges of the licence held, with a defined validity period.

Airspace of defined dimensions within which air traffic control service is provided and within which IFR flights, and participating VFR flights, are subject to clearances.

Controlled airspace extending upward from the surface around an aerodrome, established to protect traffic in the vicinity of the aerodrome and its approach paths.

Airspace of defined dimensions around an aerodrome established to protect aerodrome traffic, within which special rules on entry and reporting may apply.

An authorisation from air traffic control for an aircraft to proceed under specified conditions, which the pilot must comply with unless a safety issue requires deviation.

A service provided to prevent collisions between aircraft and between aircraft and obstructions, and to expedite and maintain an orderly flow of traffic.

A service providing advice and information useful for the safe conduct of flight, such as weather, aerodrome conditions and traffic information, without issuing clearances.

A service notifying appropriate organisations when an aircraft is in need of search and rescue assistance, and assisting those organisations as required.

A defined area on land or water, including buildings and facilities, intended to be used wholly or in part for the arrival, departure and surface movement of aircraft.

The part of an aerodrome used for the surface movement of aircraft, comprising the maneuvering area and the apron, where aircraft are subject to aerodrome control.

The part of an aerodrome used for take-off and landing and for taxiing associated with those movements, excluding aprons.

Specified information provided to air traffic services about an intended flight or portion of it, used for traffic planning, search and rescue, and separation purposes.

An aircraft document recording defects, maintenance actions and flight details, used to track airworthiness status and confirm the aircraft is fit for the intended flight.

A certification, usually entered in the aircraft technical log, confirming that maintenance work has been completed satisfactorily and the aircraft is fit to return to service.

A written report submitted after an accident or serious incident describing the circumstances, submitted to the investigating authority within a prescribed time.

An occurrence associated with aircraft operation in which a person is fatally or seriously injured, or the aircraft sustains damage or structural failure requiring repair or replacement.

An occurrence, not an accident, involving circumstances indicating a high probability of an accident, such as a near miss, engine failure in flight, or serious crew incapacitation.