On 13 October 1919, in Paris, the Convention Relating to the Regulation of Aerial Navigation (Paris Convention 1919) is signed — the first multilateral treaty affirming sovereignty over airspace and creating the International Commission for Air Navigation (ICAN).

The Convention sets aircraft and crew certification, flight rules and a post-war institutional framework. It was drawn up within the Paris Peace Conference and preceded the Chicago Convention (1944) / ICAO.

It entered into force in 1922. It remains the founding act of public international air law.

The official text is on Avalon / ICAO archives.

For aviation, 13 October 1919 marks the Paris signature.

The document is available on avalon.law.yale.edu / ICAO.

The Paris Convention of 13 October 1919 remains the milestone of air sovereignty.

Image: Paris / aviation; Wikimedia Commons. Cropped to 16:9.

Source consulted: Paris Convention of 1919. Treaty text: Avalon — Paris Convention 1919.