| international civil aviation organization | |
noun | |
| the United Nations agency concerned with civil aviation |
International Civil Aviation Organization
intergovernmental specialized agency associated with the United Nations (UN). Established in 1947 by the Convention on International Civil Aviation (1944), which had been signed by 52 states three years earlier in Chicago, the ICAO is dedicated to developing safe and efficient international air transport for peaceful purposes and ensuring a reasonable opportunity for every state to operate international airlines. The organization's permanent headquarters are in Montreal.
Learn more about International Civil Aviation Organization with a free trial on Britannica.com.