The concept of an international civil aviation organisation was first proposed at an International Aviation Conference in 1944. The Conference was called by the United States of America and held in Chicago, with representatives from 52 countries attending. A number of resolutions and recommendations were adopted, one of which provided for a permanent organisation to guide and to control international civil aviation. This organisation was to come into being thirty days after twenty-six nations had deposited their instruments of ratification with the American government. The last ratification required was deposited on 5 March 1947, and the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) consequently came into existence on 4 April 1947. The Provisional International Civil Aviation Organisation carried out the functions of the permanent organisation in the interim period. This provisional body continued to function after 4 April 1947 as the permanent body could not be immediately established.
The main aims and objectives of the organisation, as adopted at the Chicago conference 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 airway;, airports, and
air navigation facilities for international civil aviation; to meet the needs of the peoples of the world for safe, regular and efficient air transport; to prevent economic waste caused by unreasonable competition; to ensure that the rights of Contracting States are fully respected, and that every Contracting State has a fair opportunity to operate international airlines; to avoid discrimination between Contracting States; to promote safety of flight in international air transportation; to promote generally the development of all aspects of international civil aeronautics."
Australia was represented at the conference in Chicago and had been an elected member of the Organisation since it was established. Australia was also a member of the provisional body. At the last ICAO elections, held in 1980, Australia was re-elected in the category comprising the ten countries of "Chief importance to air transport.
The first Australian council member was Mr A.R. McComb, who also represented Australia on the Council of the provisional body. The earliest date on which he signed correspondence as a member of the "International Civil Aviation Organisation", as a distinct from the "Provisional International Civil Aviation Organisation", is 2 May 1947. This date has thus been taken as the commencement date of the agency.
The Australian Representative is responsible to the Commonwealth department responsible for air transport, and seeks to implement Australian Government Policy in relation to Civil Aviation, and to advise the Department of International Civil Organisation policy. The representative also maintains close contact with the Australian embassies in the USA and Canada.
The main records of the Representative are a series of correspondence files, registered as: CRS B2523, Correspondence files, alpha-numeric series, 1963- . Inactive records from this series are forwarded to Australian Archives, Victorian Branch, every two years.
Sources:
Official Year Book of the Commonwealth of Australia, No. 37,
1946-1947, pp.182-184.
Commonwealth Record, 29 September-5 October 1980, p. 1609.
Historical agency address
1947- 1950 : Room 1217, Sun Life Building Montreal, Canada
1959-by1960's: 909 International Aviation Building, Montreal,
Canada
by1960's-1974 : 1080 University Street, Montreal, Canada
1974- 1983 : Site 851, International Aviation Square, 1000
Sherbrooke Street West, Montreal, Canada
Previous agency unregistered
Council Member for Australia, Provisional International Civil Aviation Organization, ? 1946-1947