PURPOSE: The Observance of the 7 December as International Civil Aviation Day was established in 1994 as part of ICAO’s 50th anniversary activities. In 1996, pursuant to an International Civil Aviation Organization initiative and with the assistance of the Canadian Government, the United Nations General Assembly adopted resolution A/RES/51/33, which officially recognized in the UN system. The day aims to Raise awareness of the importance of international civil aviation, to Engage with industry and aviation stakeholders to discuss different topics related to the future of aviation and to Develop international standards for aviation safety. The aims and objectives of ICAO, as contained in Article 44 of the Chicago Convention, are to develop the principles and techniques of international air navigation and to foster the planning and development of international air transport so as to Ensure the safe and orderly growth of international civil aviation throughout the world; to Encourage the arts of aircraft design and operation for peaceful purposes; to Encourage the development of airways, airports and air navigation facilities for international civil aviation; to Meet the needs of the peoples of the world for safe, regular, efficient and economical air transport; to Prevent economic waste caused by unreasonable competition; to Ensure that the rights of Member States are fully respected and that every Member State has a fair opportunity to operate international airlines; to Avoid discrimination between Member States; to Promote safety of flight in international air navigation and to Promote generally the development of all aspects of international civil aeronautics.
FORUM: “Safe Skies. Sustainable Future: Together for the next 80 years.” International Civil Aviation Day 2024. December 7th will mark the 80th anniversary of the signing of the Convention on International Civil Aviation in Chicago, United States. For eight decades, this defining international agreement has served as the foundation for the development of the global civil aviation system to the benefit of all nations. While the celebration will offer the opportunity to reflect on important achievements over the last eighty years, more importantly it will serve as an opportunity to reflect collectively with all stakeholders on how aviation development will continue to be supported by ICAO over the coming decades. During the 40th Session of the Assembly, Member States adopted Resolution A40-27 related to Innovation in Aviation which recognizes that innovations carry significant potential in improving aviation safety, efficiency, security, facilitation, environmental sustainability, and economic development of air transport. Innovations can also lead to more efficient and streamlined aviation regulatory processes. As the United Nations and world nations have now adopted Agenda 2030, and embarked on a new era in global sustainable development, the focus on the importance of aviation as an engine of global connectivity has never been more relevant to the Chicago Convention’s objectives to look to international flight as a fundamental enabler of global peace and prosperity. The ICAO Assembly adopted a long-term global aspirational goal (LTAG) for international aviation of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, in support of the UNFCCC Paris Agreement‘s temperature goal. This is a historic agreement that reinforces the leadership of ICAO on issues relating to international aviation and climate change. Read the adopted Resolution A41-21. Follow the conservations with the hashtags: #Flyday, #CivilAviationDay, #7December, #AviationDevelopment, #AdvancingInnovation.
EVENTS: On December 7th to celebrate the International Civil Aviation Day 2024, the Council has decided that the theme will be “Safe Skies. Sustainable Future: Together for the next 80 years.”. in celebration of this important milestone, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has organized a unique event to take place on 4 and 5 December 2024 at the Hilton Chicago Hotel, formerly The Stevens Hotel, where the Convention was adopted and the birthplace of the Organization. ICAO has planned an Extraordinary Session of its governing body, the Council, to be convened on the morning of 5 December. That session will be followed by a series of interactive and engaging High-Level roundtable discussions with representatives of States, industry, regional organizations, academia, United Nations and non-governmental organizations on the evolution of the sector, the global challenges and opportunities it faces as well as on the fundamental role of ICAO as a bridge builder for the further safe, secure, social, economic and sustainable development of air transport. Register to participate and Watch the live ceremony!
Other major events: The International Civil Aviation Organization will held a series of workshops, seminars and events accessible online on ICAO TV. As part of the ICAO consultative process, the ICAO Global Aviation Dialogues (GLADs) on LTAG will be held in a series of regional events. To take part registrate to the Upcoming events!
- From 9 to 12 December 2024 in Muscat, Oman, The ICAO Security Week 2024 will be held by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). This event will be a unique opportunity to cover all aspects of aviation security, including aviation cybersecurity and other emerging issues. It will also be a distinctive edition as we are celebrating the 50-year anniversary of Annex 17 – Aviation Security as well as ICAO’s 80th anniversary. In the ever-evolving threat landscape of aviation, ensuring a sustainable future involves not only technological advancements but also robust security measures. Under the overarching theme "Sustainable Future of Aviation Through Security", this year's event delves into the intersection of sustainability and security within the aviation industry, exploring innovative approaches and practices that can drive progress towards a more secure conscious aviation sector. The event is open to all Member States. Attendance by senior officials is highly recommended especially for the High-level Ministerial Segment. Representatives from non-Member States and international organizations, as invited by the Council, may participate in the meeting with observer status. Member States and international organizations are encouraged to consider involving non-traditional innovators in aviation in the proceedings of the Conference. The event serves as an opportunity for decision-making authorities and aviation stakeholders to exchange information on emerging and stringent issues, to identify solutions and consolidate a culture of collaborative decision making. The event will be hosted by the Civil Aviation Authority of the Sultanate of Oman and will be held at the Oman Convention & Exhibition Center, Madinat Al Irfan, Airport Heights. The ICAO Security Week will be broadcast live on ICAO TV. Please ensure you sign up for ICAO TV ahead of time. Read the Draft Muscat Declaration on Aviation Security and Aviation Cybersecurity in Arabic | Chinese | English | French | Russian |Spanish
- From 9- 12 September 2024 at ICAO HQ, Montréal, Canada will be held the First Advanced Air Mobility Symposium (AAM 2024) entitled “Advanced air mobility (AAM) global harmonization and interoperability: Challenges and opportunities?“.Register to participate to the 1st ICAO Advanced Air mobility Symposium.
- From 12 to 14 March 2024 in Montréal, CANADA will be held the 2024 ICAO Innovation Fair entitled “Digital Aviation: the Future is Now.”. Register to participate to the ICAO Innovation fair 2024.
- From 30 April – 2 May 2024 at the Barceló Bávaro Convention Center, will held the ICAO Global Implementation Support Symposium 2024 entitled “Supporting the Implementation of the agreements.” You can view the draft ICAO/GISS 2024 Symposium Detailed programme, and Register to Participate to the ICAO Implementation support Symposium.
CEREMONY: Pearl Harbor Events I 83rd Commemoration of the National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day in Honolulu, HI. Find out how you can attend the National Pearl Harbor Commemoration Ceremony on December 7th, at 7:45 am HST (12:45 pm EST), the USS Oklahoma Memorial Ceremony on December 7th, at 1:00 pm HST (6:00 pm EST), the USS Utah Memorial Ceremony on December 6th, at 5:00 pm HST (10:00 pm EST), a Live Dive at the USS Arizona, and more in December 2023. Pacific Historic Parks.
TRAININGS & COURSES: Aviation professionals keeping our industry safe and secure are our greatest asset. ICAO Training equip and empower current and next of generation aviation professionals with the techniques and tools to thrive in today’s challenging aviation sector. Their courses engage learners from diverse backgrounds, facilitating relationship building and collaboration across borders. To connect with the global aviation training community, visit the ICAO Aviation Training and Education Directory (ATED), an essential component of the TRAINAIR PLUS Programme.
WEBCASTS: Stream the latest videos from ICAO and civil aviation partners. Watch events, expert webinars, training content and much more on thematic on ICAO TV. The IATA conferences, exhibitions and industry meetings provide organizations active in air transport with an essential arena for insight, discussion and cooperation on new technologies and industry-related issues. Find out all media resources and proceedings from #IATAGMD as the event unfolds.> Global Media Day Program.
PUBLICATION: The ICAO States Today publication is a collection of Member State Profiles, highlighting aviation-specifics and other interesting facts about each State. Explore the free publications!
STATEMENTS: Read the Statement of the United Nations Secretary-General on International Civil Aviation Day 2024; The Statement of the ICAO Secretary-General on International Civil Aviation Day 2024; December 7th; The ICAO Statement on International Day Commemorating Air Crash Victims and their Families and the Proclamation of the U.S. President on National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day.
PODCASTS: The ICAO Assembly, composed of representatives from all Member States, meets every three years, reviewing in detail the complete work of the Organization and setting policy for the coming years. It also decides on a triennial budget. The Council, composed of representatives from 36 States, is elected by the Assembly for a three-year term and provides continuing direction to the work of ICAO. A forum for stakeholders to exchange ambitious plans for decarbonizing international aviation, including discussions on policies and concrete roadmaps to zero emissions. Listen to the audio-podcasts!
CAMPAIGN MATERIALS: Advertising in ICAO Publications offers you a unique opportunity to promote products and services by reaching targeted decision makers. The 2024 Campaign “Safe Skies. Sustainable Future: Together for the next 80 years.” is organized in collaboration with the Asia and Pacific (APAC) Office in Bangkok, the Middle East (MID) Office in Cairo, the Western and Central African (WACAF) Office in Dakar, the South American (SAM) Office in Lima, the North American, Central American and Caribbean (NACC) Office in Mexico, the Eastern and Southern African (ESAF) Office in Nairobi and the European and North Atlantic (EUR/NAT) Office in Paris. Explore the Banner, poster and postcard; Get the communication materials!
WHY WE CELEBRATE THE DAY?
HOW TO GET INVOLVED!
PARTNERSHIPS
The International Civil Aviation Day was established in 1994 as part of it’s 50th anniversary activities. In 1996, pursuant to an ICAO initiative and with the assistance of the Canadian Government, the United Nations General Assembly officially recognized December 7th as International Civil Aviation Day in the UN system. One of the major duties of the ICAO Council is to adopt International Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs) and to incorporate these into the Annexes to the Convention on International Civil Aviation. The ICAO Council is assisted by its subsidiary bodies (the Air Transport Committee, the Committee on Joint Support of Air Navigation Services, the Finance Committee, the Committee on Unlawful Interference, the Human Resources Committee and the Technical Cooperation Committee) and by the Air Navigation Commission. Every five years, coinciding with ICAO anniversaries, the ICAO Council establishes a special anniversary theme for the Day. Between these anniversary years, Council representatives select a single theme for the full four-year intervening period. we celebrate the day to highlight the unique role of ICAO in helping States. It is vital that ICAO and its Member States take timely action to monitor and evaluate innovations in order for them to deliver on their potential benefits, in a way that no country is left behind, while supporting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
You can participate to events held for this occasion by the Civil Aviation Industry sectors, Stakeholders, Researchers, Engineers & Technicians in the Aerospace industry; Traffic Air controlers; Pilots and Aviation schools.
Speak about the importance of aviation as an engine of global connectivity around you. Help generate and reinforce worldwide awareness of the importance of international civil aviation to the social and economic development of States.
Cooperate and realize a truly global rapid transit network at the service of all mankind.
Assess the need, as well as the resources required, to evolve the processes of the Organization, including its working methods with the industry in order to keep pace with innovations that affect the sustainable development of civil aviation.
Establish an inclusive dialogue at strategic level that will encourage further collaboration and sharing of experience in relation to innovation
Develop, high-level policies to address the findings of the aforementioned assessment and subsequently provide a framework that will help ensure the timely development of global policies and standards that support the continuing improvement of safety, efficiency, security, facilitation, economic and environmental performance.
The Secretariat, headed by the Secretary General, has five main divisions: the Air Navigation Bureau, the Air Transport Bureau, the Technical Cooperation Bureau, the Legal Affairs and External Relations Bureau, and the Bureau of Administration and Services. The ICAO works in close collaboration with other specialized agencies of the United Nations such as the International Maritime Organization (IMO), the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). The International Air Transport Association, the Airports Council International (ACI), the International Federation of Air Line Pilots’ Associations, and other international organizations.
The International Civil Aviation Day is hosted by the United Nations General Assembly, United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the Airports Council International (ACI), the International Air Transport Association (IATA), the International Federation of Air Traffic Controllers' Associations (IFATCA) the Civil Air Navigation Services Organisation (CANSO), the Civil Aviation Safety Authority(CASA), the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB), the Federal Agency of AIr Transport and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). The ICAO maintains the following Regional Offices to provide closer support and coordination for Member States.