Ticking the Box or Real Safety? An Analysis of South Africa’s Compliance with the Chicago Convention Annex 13 and ICAO
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.25159/2521-2583/17892Keywords:
The International Civil Aviation Organisation, ICAO Annex 13, public international aviation law, private air law, standards and recommended procedures, The Chicago ConventionAbstract
A vast set of globally recognised regulations, intended to ensure the efficiency, regularity, and safety of civil aviation, oversees the world’s air transportation sector. With special reference to the Chicago Convention of 1944, the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), and ICAO Annex 13 on aircraft accident and incident inquiry, this article critically examines how public international aviation law operates in South Africa. The article highlights ICAO’s role as a specialised agency of the United Nations responsible for creating standards and recommended practices (SARPs) and places South Africa’s aviation safety obligations within the larger international legal system and the idea of international legal personality, drawing on the distinction between public international air law and private air law. The central research question guiding this study is: To what extent does South Africa comply with its obligations under the Chicago Convention of 1944, specifically ICAO Annex 13, in the investigation of aircraft accidents and incidents? To address this question, the article assesses South Africa’s ratification, adoption and actual application of Annex 13 standards. It also examines the worldwide legal framework governing aircraft accident investigations. The authorised investigative agency in South Africa and internationally recognised aviation accident investigation agencies are compared with an emphasis on institutional independence, procedural adequacy and conformity to globally recognised standards.
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Accepted 2026-02-17
Published 2026-03-24
