Treaty Developments
- Establishment of the ICAO Website of Aeronautical Agreements and Arrangements (WAGMAR)
On 30 September 2020, the ICAO Website of Aeronautical Agreements and Arrangements (WAGMAR), a new interactive web-based system for the registration and publication of aeronautical agreements and arrangements, became operational. The new system replaces the ICAO Database of Aeronautical Agreements and Arrangements (DAGMAR). In parallel with the amendment of the Rules for Registration with ICAO of Aeronautical Agreements and Arrangements (Doc 6685), to allow online registration, the Council adopted, during its 219th Session, a new Standard in Annex 6 – Operation of Aircraft, requiring a certified true copy, in paper or electronic format, of a summary of the Article 83 bis agreement (the agreement summary) to be carried on board aircraft concerned while the agreement is in force. The new Standard (applicable as of 5 November 2020) also requires that the agreement summary is transmitted to ICAO when an Article 83 bis agreement is submitted for registration. Through WAGMAR, the agreement summary can be automatically created using information inputted by States’ focal points during the registration process. The new system provides States with a timelier and more efficient means of registration than by hard copy, which nevertheless remains possible.
- International interests in mobile equipment (aircraft equipment)
The Council, at the eighth meeting of its 221st Session, acting in its capacity as Supervisory Authority of the International Registry, considered a draft formula for an expedited procedure to consider and decide on new business activity submissions by the Registrar of the International Registry for Mobile Assets (Aircraft Equipment), Aviareto Limited. This formula was recommended by the Commission of Experts of the Supervisory Authority of the International Registry (CESAIR) emanating from its ninth (virtual) meeting held on 29 and 30 June 2020. The Council deferred this item to its next Session, requesting the Secretariat to elaborate on the need to adopt an expedited procedure and the risks associated with doing so, and to propose alternatives to delegating authority to the Secretary General to decide on certain categories of new business activity submissions by Aviareto. The Council also approved a proposal by Aviareto to develop and operate the trusted communication facility for COVID-19 recovery (described in the above link under COVID-19 and Legal and External Relations Services).
The Council issued the fifth report of the Supervisory Authority of the International Registry by State letter LE 3/41.2-IND/20/7, dated 13 October 2020, covering the period 1 January 2017 to 31 December 2019. This is in accordance with Article 17(2) (j) of the Convention on International Interests in Mobile Equipment (Cape Town Convention), which requires the Supervisory Authority to report periodically to the Contracting States to the Cape Town Convention and the Protocol to the Convention on International Interests in Mobile Equipment on Matters specific to Aircraft Equipment (Aircraft Protocol) on the discharge of its obligations under the Cape Town instruments. As at 1 January 2021, there were 80 Parties to the Cape Town Convention and Aircraft Protocol.
- Notification of emergency
On 3 August 2020, the Organization received letters from the Governments of the Arab Republic of Egypt, the Kingdom of Bahrain, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates relating to Article 89 of the Chicago Convention. On 6 August 2020, the Council decided to forward copies of these letters to all Contracting States solely for their information, as it had not taken any position with respect to the substance of the said letters.
On 5 August 2020, the Organization received a letter from the Government of the State of Qatar relating to the above-mentioned letters concerning Article 89 of the Chicago Convention. On 7 August 2020, the Council decided to forward a copy of the letter from the Government of the State of Qatar to all Contracting States solely for their information, as it had not taken any position with respect to the substance of the letter.
