BDCA Air Law Validation Exam cheat sheet

Chicago Convention 1944: 96 Articles, 19 Annexes; Article 1: states have complete and exclusive sovereignty over the airspace above their territory.

Article 5 (non-scheduled flights): transit and landing for non-traffic purposes permitted without prior permission, subject to right of state to require notification.

Article 6: scheduled international air services require special permission or authorization; no scheduled service may operate over or into a state's territory without it.

Article 9: states may restrict or prohibit flight over certain areas for military necessity or public safety, on a non-discriminatory basis; such restrictions must be published.

Article 12: rules of the air over the high seas are those established under the Convention (Annex 2); states must ensure their own rules conform to the greatest possible extent.

Article 20: every aircraft engaged in international navigation must bear its appropriate nationality and registration marks.

Article 30: aircraft must carry certificates of registration, airworthiness, crew licenses, journey log book, and, if radio-equipped, radio station license.

Article 40: no aircraft or personnel holding certificates or licenses may participate in international navigation except with the permission of the state entered; such permission must be endorsed on the certificate.

Article 41: states may restrict the privileges of a certificate or license issued to their own nationals when the holder fails to meet minimum ICAO standards.

ICAO Standards are mandatory for contracting states; Recommended Practices are desirable but not mandatory; both are adopted by the ICAO Council under Article 37/54.

Annex 2 (Rules of the Air), Annex 6 (Operation of Aircraft), Annex 8 (Airworthiness), Annex 1 (Personnel Licensing) are core operational annexes.

Annex 14 (Aerodromes) defines runway strips, obstacle limitation surfaces, and aerodrome reference code; Annex 17 covers security; Annex 13 covers accident investigation.

Annex 9 (Facilitation) covers entry/exit formalities, passenger and cargo documentation, and measures to expedite clearance; Annex 10 covers aeronautical telecommunications.

Article 38: any state unable to comply with a Standard must notify ICAO of the differences; failure to notify is a breach of the Convention.

Annex 2 differences must be published in the state's AIP; Annex 1 and Annex 8 differences are notified to ICAO and published in the state's aeronautical information.

SARPs are adopted by the Council by a two-thirds majority of its members; they become effective after a specified period unless a majority of states disapprove.

PANS (Procedures for Air Navigation Services) are approved by the Council but are not SARPs; they contain operating practices and are often incorporated by reference.

Article 1: complete and exclusive sovereignty over the airspace above the territory, including territorial waters.

Territory includes land areas and territorial waters under the sovereignty of the state; the airspace above the high seas is not subject to state sovereignty.

Article 2: territory of a state includes the land areas and territorial waters adjacent thereto under the sovereignty, suzerainty, protection or mandate of such state.

A state may require any aircraft entering its territory to land at a designated customs airport (Article 10); departure from a customs airport is also subject to regulation.

Article 11: laws and regulations relating to admission, departure, and movement of aircraft apply to all aircraft without distinction of nationality.

The right of innocent passage does not apply to aircraft over territorial airspace; overflight requires permission or a treaty right (e.g., transit agreement).

Article 3: the Convention applies only to civil aircraft; state aircraft (military, customs, police) require special agreements and are not covered.

A state may prohibit or restrict the carriage of munitions of war and implements of war (Article 35) and may regulate the carriage of other articles.

Article 17: aircraft have the nationality of the state in which they are registered; Article 18: an aircraft cannot be validly registered in more than one state.

Registration may be transferred from one state to another only if the registration in the former state is cancelled (Article 18).

Article 19: registration or transfer of registration in a contracting state shall be made in accordance with its laws and regulations.

Article 20: every aircraft engaged in international navigation must bear its appropriate nationality and registration marks.

Article 21: each contracting state undertakes to supply to any other contracting state or to ICAO, on demand, information concerning the registration and ownership of any particular aircraft registered in that state.

Nationality marks: the state of registry's mark (e.g., N for USA, G for UK, D for Germany) followed by the registration mark; the marks must be displayed on the aircraft.

An aircraft registered in a state is subject to the jurisdiction of that state, including for airworthiness and crew licensing, unless otherwise agreed.

Joint registration or international registration is not permitted under Article 18; a state may allow registration only if the aircraft is not registered elsewhere.

Annex 1 defines licensing categories: PPL, CPL, ATPL, MPL, and ratings; each license specifies privileges and conditions.

PPL: minimum age 17; medical certificate Class 2; private privileges only, no remuneration for flight.

CPL: minimum age 18; Class 1 medical; requires 200 hours total time (or 150 hours in an approved course) and knowledge/skill tests.

ATPL: minimum age 21; Class 1 medical; requires 1,500 hours total time (or 1,000 hours in an approved course) and type-specific training.

Class 1 medical: required for CPL/ATPL; Class 2 for PPL; Class 3 for ATC (where used); validity periods vary with age and privilege.

Medical certificate validity: Class 1 typically 12 months for single-pilot commercial operations, 6 months for pilots over 40 in some states; Class 2 typically 24 months (12 months for older pilots).

Article 32: certificates of competency and licenses issued by one state may be recognized by another only if the issuing state met or exceeded minimum ICAO standards.

Article 33: certificates of airworthiness and licenses issued by one state must be recognized as valid by other states if issued in accordance with ICAO standards.

Annex 2: rules of the air apply over the high seas and, to the extent adopted, over national territory; states must ensure their rules conform.

VMC minima: at and above 10,000 ft, 8 km visibility and 1,500 m horizontal/1,000 ft vertical cloud separation; below 10,000 ft, 5 km visibility and 1,500 m/1,000 ft (varies by airspace class).

Right-of-way: converging aircraft at same level give way to the one on the right; head-on both turn right; overtaking aircraft keeps clear to the right.

Cruising levels: semi-circular rule-magnetic track 000–179 use odd thousands (e.g., 5,000 ft), 180–359 use even thousands (e.g., 6,000 ft), with RVSM exceptions.

ATC clearance: an aircraft must not enter controlled airspace without a clearance; clearance does not relieve the pilot of responsibility for terrain and obstacle clearance.

Position reporting: compulsory reporting points must be reported; ADS-B and CPDLC may substitute where authorized.

Emergency: MAYDAY for distress, PAN-PAN for urgency; squawk 7700 (emergency), 7600 (radio failure), 7500 (unlawful interference).

Annex 11: ATS comprises area control, approach control, and aerodrome control; separation minima are prescribed by the state and published.

Annex 8: airworthiness standards cover design, construction, and maintenance; states issue certificates of airworthiness (C of A) based on type design approval.

Article 31: every aircraft engaged in international navigation must be provided with a certificate of airworthiness issued or rendered valid by the state of registry.

Annex 6 Part I (international commercial air transport-aeroplanes) covers operator responsibilities, crew training, and operational control.

Annex 6 Part II covers international general aviation; Part III covers international operations by helicopters.

Maintenance: Annex 8 requires a maintenance program and release to service; Annex 6 requires an operator's maintenance control manual.

MEL (Minimum Equipment List): allows operation with certain equipment inoperative, subject to conditions; must be approved by the state of the operator.

Article 29: documents to be carried-C of R, C of A, crew licenses, journey log book, radio license, passenger list with departure/arrival points, and cargo manifest.

Airworthiness directives (ADs) are mandatory; compliance is required for continued validity of the C of A.

Annex 17: security standards for states, operators, and airports; states must establish a national civil aviation security program.

Tokyo Convention 1963: jurisdiction over offenses on board; aircraft commander may restrain persons and disembark them in a state party.

Hague Convention 1970: unlawful seizure of aircraft (hijacking) is an offense; states must extradite or prosecute (aut dedere aut judicare).

Montreal Convention 1971: unlawful acts against the safety of civil aviation, including sabotage and attacks on airports, are offenses.

Montreal Protocol 1988: unlawful acts of violence at airports serving international civil aviation.

Beijing Convention 2010 and Protocol 2010: update the Montreal framework for new and emerging threats, including cyber and certain acts of violence.

Annex 17 requires screening of passengers and carry-on baggage; states must ensure security controls are applied to cargo, mail, and catering.

Squawk 7500 indicates unlawful interference; the pilot-in-command should attempt to land at the nearest suitable aerodrome unless directed otherwise.

Annex 13: the sole objective of investigation is prevention of accidents and incidents, not apportioning blame or liability.

Accident: an occurrence associated with the operation of an aircraft in which a person is fatally or seriously injured, the aircraft sustains damage or structural failure, or the aircraft is missing or inaccessible.

Incident: an occurrence, other than an accident, associated with the operation of an aircraft that affects or could affect the safety of operation.

State of Occurrence: responsible for instituting an investigation; must notify the State of Registry, State of Operator, State of Design, and State of Manufacture.

State of Registry and State of Operator have the right to appoint accredited representatives to participate in the investigation.

The State of Occurrence may delegate the investigation to another state by mutual agreement; the delegating state retains responsibility.

Preliminary report: within 30 days of the accident; final report: as soon as possible, preferably within 12 months.

Safety recommendations: addressed to states and operators; the recipient should respond with action taken or reasons for no action.

Annex 9: standards for entry and exit formalities, including passports, visas, and passenger manifests.

Passenger manifest: required for international flights; must include names, departure and arrival points, and may be required in advance for security.

Cargo manifest: must list contents, consignor, consignee, and destination; customs may require additional documentation.

Article 13: laws and regulations of a state relating to admission or departure of passengers and cargo must be complied with; passengers must be cleared through customs and immigration.

Article 29: the aircraft must carry a passenger list and cargo manifest; the passenger list must include the departure and arrival points.

Annex 9 recommends the use of the ICAO Public Key Directory (PKD) for electronic passport validation and encourages advance passenger information (API).

Customs: states should apply simplified procedures for aircraft and cargo; temporary admission of aircraft and spare parts is encouraged.

Dangerous goods: Annex 18 requires states to establish regulations; the Technical Instructions contain detailed requirements for documentation and handling.

National regulations implement ICAO SARPs; states must notify ICAO of differences (Article 38) and publish them in the AIP.

Enforcement: states may suspend, revoke, or vary certificates and licenses for non-compliance; the operator has a right to appeal under national law.

Article 12: states must ensure that their rules of the air conform to the greatest possible extent with those established under the Convention.

Article 11: laws and regulations relating to admission, departure, and movement of aircraft apply without distinction of nationality.

Penalties for violations may include fines, certificate action, and criminal prosecution; the state of registry has primary jurisdiction over the aircraft.

Operators must maintain records (journey log, maintenance records, crew training records) and make them available to the authority on request.

Ramp inspections: states may inspect foreign aircraft to verify compliance with ICAO standards; findings are reported to the state of registry and operator.

Safety management systems (SMS): Annex 19 requires states to establish a state safety program and operators to implement an SMS.