CIVIL AVIATION LEGAL ADVISORS FORUM (CALAF)
The Civil Aviation Legal Advisors Forum seeks to provide a platform for aviation legal advisors to exchange views, knowledge and experience on legal issues in the civil aviation field and to discuss various challenges faced by states and organizations today. The Forum also discusses cross-border collaboration and other possible solutions to resolve issues arriving from technological, social and economic development. This Forum is open to chief legal advisors and legal advisors of the civil aviation administrations or their equivalents.
Implementation of treaties and SARPs including rule making and enforcement are some of the tasks that civil aviation legal advisors grapple with. Legal advis0rs are also called upon to advise urgently on issues that arise from unanticipated developments and occurrences. They perform an important role in supporting their organizations to achieve the organizational mission and objectives.
The inaugural Civil Aviation Legal Advisers Forum held on 16–17 May 2019 in Singapore brought together over 80 legal advisors (including chief legal counsels) of the civil aviation administrations from some 40 States and one regional organization to discuss issues of interest that give rise to and impact the development of air law, and the ways in which civil aviation legal advisors can contribute to meeting the demands and challenges facing their organizations and the international aviation community at large. The Forum provided an excellent platform for an open dialogue on air law developments to support the aviation industry of the future.
2019 marked the 100th anniversary of the adoption of the Paris Convention (i.e., the Convention relating to the regulation of aerial navigation) and the beginning of progressive treaties in international civil aviation. This Convention was adopted just after World War I and it established the former International Commission for Air Navigation (ICAN), the predecessor of ICAO. In 2019, the Chicago Convention on International Civil Aviation turned 75 and the Montréal Convention 1999 on air carrier liability turned 20. The universal acceptance of the Chicago Convention certainly demonstrates the importance of this Convention and the commitment of States towards achieving a high degree of uniformity in international civil aviation.
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The second edition of the Civil Aviation Legal Advisers Forum (CALAF/2) was held in the Sultanate of Oman from 19 to 21 February 2023 and brought in 150 legal experts and other stakeholders from over 60 States. The conclusion of a new cooperation agreement was among the activities undertaken by ICAO Secretary General Juan Carlos Salazar during his mission, which coincided with the 50th anniversary of Oman joining the Chicago Convention.
The 41st ICAO Assembly (A41, held in Montreal from 27 September to 7 October 2022) addressed major issues faced by the aviation industry. Certain key decisions of this Assembly will have a significant impact on international civil aviation such as the adoption of a long-term global aspirational goal for net zero carbon emissions by 2050 (LTAG) and the call for adherence to the rule of law including compliance with the Chicago Convention. The Assembly also formally commemorated the contributions of the Legal Committee to air law over the past 75 years and confirmed its work programme.
To facilitate a continuing focus of attention on issues of interest to the international aviation community in the legal field, as the world pursues its recovery from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, the second CALAF event featured presentations on a variety of legal subjects. Recent developments and emerging issues in the air law field, including regulatory best practices, were covered. The Seminar addressed topics relating to ICAO’s work in the legal field, aviation safety and aviation security and current issues in aviation law and practice. This included outcomes of the 41st ICAO Assembly; crisis management in response to the pandemic and air travel recovery; issues of international concern, including data privacy, assistance to aircraft accident victims and dealing with unruly and disruptive passengers; use of Article 83bis tools for aviation safety; settlement of aviation disputes; and the competency framework for legal advisers.
During his mission to Oman, a new cooperation agreement was concluded by ICAO Secretary General Juan Carlos Salazar with the President of Oman Civil Aviation Authority focusing on implementation support and providing an array of capacity development services including: provision of international experts in flight operations, personnel licensing, ground operations, and economic operations. The project scope also foresaw the training of personnel and the potential procurement of goods and services to support aviation capacity development, including airport and air navigation service enhancements.
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Souvenir-gift offered to ICAO Secretary General Juan Carlos Salazar during the opening ceremony of CALAF/2.
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New cooperation agreement concluded between ICAO Secretary General Juan Carlos Salazar and the President of Oman Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). |
Picture of digits 50 also used on the Oman stamp issued on 7 December 2023.
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Further to the 50th anniversary of Oman’s adherence to the ICAO Convention on International Civil Aviation (Chicago Convention), Oman released on 7 December 2023 (on International Civil Aviation Day) a stamp, a souvenir sheet and a first day cover to mark this event. More information on this stamp issue can be found at the following link: Oman 50th anniversary of admission to ICAO. A sample of the minisheet of this issue is displayed hereafter; it includes the stamp and traces the history of civil aviation in the Sultanate of Oman, from 1929 to 2023,
The next Civil Aviation Legal Advisors Forum (CALAF/3) will take place in the United Kingdom in autumn 2024.