International Civil Aviation

The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), a United Nations (UN) organization headquartered in Canada, was created 50 years ago when 52 nations signed the Chicago Convention on International Civil Aviation. The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) began as the Provisional International Civil Aviation Organization (PICAO), with Montreal selected as its headquarters. At the first Council meeting held on August 15, 1945 at the Windsor Hotel, Canada's C.D. Howe noted that this was "the first post-war organization of the United Nations to get under way...". Briefly, the aims and objectives are to develop the principles and techniques of international air navigation and to foster the planning and development of international air transport. A significant step was taken in 1919, when Canadian Parliament passed the Air Board Act, with the power to regulate and control aerial navigation over Canada and its territorial waters. In 1937, Trans-Canada Air Lines (TCA) formed as a subsidiary of Canadian National Railways; by 1942, it had expended its Canadian route from Winnipeg to St. John's. In 1943, TCA operated the first regular Canadian trans-Atlantic service, flying converted Avro 683 Lancasters for the government. The control of civil aviation was given to the new Department of Transport under C.D. Howe in 1936. Howe saw how Canada could play a significant role in any international aeronautical organization. In addition to its strategic location for flights between North America and Europe, Canada provided an immense aviation industry with an internationally-recognized expertise in aviation during the subsequent war years. This led to Canada acting as a mediator at the Chicago Conference in 1944, which resulted in the creation of the ICAO, and Canada being given the honour of serving as host nation.