On 7 December 1944, in Chicago, the Convention on International Civil Aviation was signed. The Chicago text is in English; a text drawn up in English, French and Spanish, each of equal authenticity, was to be open for signature at Washington. Both texts are deposited in the archives of the Government of the United States of America, the depositary. Article 91: ratification by the signatory States; it comes into force on the thirtieth day after deposit of the twenty-sixth instrument. The twenty-sixth was deposited on 5 March 1947; entry into force: 4 April 1947. The United States filed the Convention with the United Nations on 19 April 1948 (UNTS II-102, vol. 15). Until then the Provisional International Civil Aviation Organization (PICAO) functioned from 6 June 1945 to 4 April 1947. Article 3 bis of 1984 is not in this instrument, nor is the 1977 Montreal Protocol on the authentic quadrilingual text.

The preamble: international civil aviation can help create and preserve friendship, yet its abuse can become a threat to the general security; development in a safe and orderly manner; international air transport services on the basis of equality of opportunity, operated soundly and economically. Article 1: every State has complete and exclusive sovereignty over the airspace above its territory. Article 2: territory includes the land areas and territorial waters adjacent thereto under the sovereignty, suzerainty, protection or mandate of such State. Article 3: the Convention applies only to civil aircraft, not to state aircraft (military, customs and police); no state aircraft shall fly over another State without authorization. Article 4: civil aviation shall not be used for any purpose inconsistent with the aims of the Convention.

Article 5: aircraft not engaged in scheduled international air services have the right to make flights into or in transit non-stop across territory and to make stops for non-traffic purposes without prior permission, subject to the right of the State flown over to require landing. Article 6: no scheduled international air service may be operated over or into the territory of a contracting State except with special permission or other authorization. Article 17: aircraft have the nationality of the State in which they are registered. Article 18: an aircraft cannot be validly registered in more than one State. Article 24: aircraft shall be admitted temporarily free of duty; fuel, lubricating oils, spare parts, regular equipment and aircraft stores retained on board on leaving shall be exempt from customs duty, inspection fees or similar charges; the exemption shall not apply to quantities or articles unloaded.

Article 43: an organization named the International Civil Aviation Organization is formed, made up of an Assembly, a Council, and such other bodies as may be necessary. Article 44: safe and orderly growth; aircraft design and operation for peaceful purposes; airways, airports and air navigation facilities; safe, regular, efficient and economical air transport; prevention of economic waste caused by unreasonable competition; full respect for the rights of contracting States and a fair opportunity to operate international airlines; avoidance of discrimination; safety of flight. Article 45: the permanent seat shall be determined at the final meeting of the Interim Assembly of PICAO. Article 92: adherence by notification to the United States, taking effect on the thirtieth day.

The Stevens Hotel, now the Hilton Chicago. The place of the Conference, not the signing hall. Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.

For context: Convention on International Civil Aviation. The text: UNTS, Convention on International Civil Aviation.