CIVIL AVIATION

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVIII, Issue 135, 5 December 1944, Page 5

CIVIL AVIATION

DRAFT OF CONVENTION

ALMOST COMPLETE

(By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright.)

NEW YORK, December 4. The joint drafting committee of the aviation conference has submitted a virtually completed international civil aviation convention, the final form of which will be acted upon at a plenary session, says the Chicago correspondent of the "New York Times." The convention says that the Governments signing it agree on the development of international civil aviation operated soundly and economically in a safe and orderly manner on a basis of equality of opportunity without discriminatory or exclusive arrangements against any signatory. Every nation's complete sovereignty over its air space is recognised.

Military planes are excluded from the agreement, and *all nations agree not to use civil aviation for any inconsistent purpose. Freedom of flight over the territory of the contracting nations is granted to private planes not engaged in scheduled international air services, subject to every country's right to require landings, prescribe routes, and specify prohibited areas for security reasons. Freedom of flight for planes on scheduled services is left open for coordination with separate documents on the freedom of the air which are being drafted. All countries reserve the right to carry traffic from one point to another within their territory. Pilotless aircraft are barred.

All agree to adhere to the rules of the air and agree to uniform standards ,of communications, weather reports, and quarantine regulations, and to conform with the laws of the countries, in which they operate. Uniform conditions and fees are also provided to prevent discrimination against foreign aircraft. AN ANNUAL ASSEMBLY. The international organisation will consist of an assembly in which eveny member has one vote, and_a council and such other bodies as may be necessary* The permanent headquarters is left undecided. The assembly will meet annually and can be summoned at any time by the council or at the request of ten members.

The council will be a permanent body responsible to the assembly, and will comprise 21 members elected at the assembly's first meeting and every three'years thereafter. In selecting the members of the council the assembly shall give adequate representation to the States of chief importance in air transport and to the States that make the largest contribution to navigation facilities, and to the' other States on the basis of representation of all major geographic areas. No council member can be interested in an international air line or vote on a dispute to which his country is a party. If a disagreement cannot be settled by negotiations between the countries concerned, either can r*efer it to the council. Any member can appeal from the council's decision to an arbitral tribunal agreed upon by the parties to the dispute or to the Permanent Court of International Justice and Arbitration. The decisions will be final.

The assembly shall suspend the voting power of any defaulting nation, and the other members agree to prohibit its planes from operating in their territory.

After the convention comes into force it is open for adherence to all the United Nations, associated nations, and neutrals during the present war. Any member can denounce the convention three years after it comes into force; withdrawal would take effect a year after the notification.