Implementation of Article 21
The Legal Commission of the 39th Session of the Assembly added one new item: “Implementation of Article 21 of the Chicago Convention” to the Work Programme of the Legal Committee with priority No. 8. Article 21 requires each State to provide on demand to other States and to ICAO information concerning the registration and ownership of any particular aircraft registered in that State, and to provide to ICAO reports giving such data as can be made available concerning the ownership and control of aircraft registered in that State and habitually engaged in international air navigation.
It was suggested in the Legal Commission that an improvement in the implementation of Article 21 would facilitate aircraft transfers between States, thereby promoting better aircraft traceability during their lifetime and, ultimately, greater safety. It was further suggested that States would also benefit from clarification and alignment of the definition of ownership of aircraft and related concepts.
