Air Navigation Act 1973

Legislation au C1973A00130 Not in force Act

Legislation content

Air Navigation Act 1973

No. 130 of 1973

 

AN ACT

To amend the Air Navigation Act 1920-1971.

[Assented to 13 November 1973]

BE IT ENACTED by the Queen, the Senate and the House of Representatives of Australia, as follows:—

Short title and citation.

1. (1) This Act may be cited as the Air Navigation Act 1973.

(2) The Air Navigation Act 1920-1971 is in this Act referred to as the Principal Act.

(3) The Principal Act, as amended by this Act, may be cited as the Air Navigation Act 1920-1973.

Commencement.

2. This Act shall come into operation on the day on which it receives the Royal Assent.

Approval of ratification of Chicago Convention, &c.

3. Section 3a of the Principal Act is amended—

(a) by omitting from paragraph (e) of sub-section (2) the word “and (last occurring); and


(b) by adding at the end of sub-section (2) the following word and paragraph:—

; and (g) the Protocol amending Article 56 of the Chicago Convention, approved by the Assembly of the International Civil Aviation Organization on 7th July, 1971..

Texts of Chicago Convention, &c.

4. Section 4 of the Principal Act is amended by omitting the words "and Seventh" and substituting the words “, Seventh and Eighth.

Eighth Schedule.

5. The Principal Act is amended by adding at the end thereof the Schedule set out in Schedule 1.

Formal amendments.

6. The Principal Act is further amended as set out in Schedule 2.

 


SCHEDULE 1 Section 5

EIGHTH SCHEDULE Section 4

PROTOCOL RELATING TO AN AMENDMENT TO THE CONVENTION ON INTERNATIONAL CIVIL AVIATION

Signed at Vienna, on 7 July 1971

 

THE ASSEMBLY OF THE INTERNATIONAL CIVIL AVIATION ORGANIZATION

Having Met in its Eighteenth Session, at Vienna, on the fifth day of July 1971.

Having Noted that it is the general desire of Contracting States to enlarge the membership of the Air Navigation Commission,

Having Considered it proper to increase the membership of that body from twelve to fifteen, and

Having Considered it necessary to amend, for the purpose aforesaid, the Convention on International Civil Aviation done at Chicago on the seventh day of December 1944.

(1) Approved, in accordance with the provisions of Article 94(a) of the Convention aforesaid, the following proposed amendment to the said Convention:

In Article 56 of the Convention the expression ‘twelve members’ shall be replaced by ‘fifteen members’”,

(2) Specified, pursuant to the provisions of the said Article 94(a) of the said Convention, eighty as the number of Contracting States upon whose ratification the aforesaid amendment shall come into force, and

(3) Resolved that the Secretary General of the International Civil Aviation Organization shall draw up a Protocol, in the English, French and Spanish languages, each of which shall be of equal authenticity, embodying the amendment above-mentioned and the matters hereinafter appearing:

(a) The Protocol shall be signed by the President of the Assembly and its Secretary General.

(b) The Protocol shall be open to ratification by any State which has ratified or adhered to the said Convention on International Civil Aviation.

Consequently, pursuant to the aforesaid action of the Assembly,

This Protocol has been drawn up by the Secretary General of the Organization;

This Protocol shall be open to ratification by any State which has ratified or adhered to the said Convention on International Civil Aviation;

The instruments of ratification shall be deposited with the International Civil Aviation Organization;

This Protocol shall come into force, in respect of the States which have ratified it, on the date on which the eightieth instrument of ratification is so deposited;

The Secretary General shall immediately notify all Contracting States of the date of deposit of each ratification of this Protocol;

The Secretary General shall immediately notify all States parties to the said Convention of the date on which this Protocol comes into force;

With respect to any Contracting State ratifying this Protocol after the date aforesaid, the Protocol shall come into force upon deposit of its instrument of ratification with the International Civil Aviation Organization.

In Witness Whereof, the President and the Secretary General of the Eighteenth Session of the Assembly of the International Civil Aviation Organization, being authorized thereto by the Assembly, sign this Protocol.

Done at Vienna on the seventh day of July of the year one thousand nine hundred and seventy-one, in a single document in the English, French and Spanish languages, each of which shall be of equal authenticity. This Protocol shall remain deposited in the archives of the International Civil Aviation Organization, and certified copies thereof shall be transmitted by the Secretary General of the Organization to all States parties to the Convention on Inter­national Civil Aviation done at Chicago on the seventh day of December 1944.


SCHEDULE 2 Section 6

FORMAL AMENDMENTS

1. The following provisions of the Principal Act are amended by omitting any number expressed in words that is used, whether with or without the addition of a letter or letters, to identify a section of that Act or of another Act and substituting that number expressed in figures:—

Sections 5, 17, 20, 26(1) and (4) and 28(1) and (5).

2. The following provisions of the Principal Act are amended by omitting the words “of this Act” and “of this section” (wherever occurring):—

Sections 5, 14(4) and (5), 17, 21(5), 26(1) and 28(1).

3. The Principal Act is further amended as set out in the following table:—

Section

Amendment

Sub-section 3(1) (definitions of “the Air Transit Agreement” and “the Chicago Conven­tion”)

Omit the seventh day of December, One thousand nine hundred and forty-four, substitute 7th December, 1944.

Paragraphs 3a(2)(b) and (c)

Omit “the fourteenth day of June, One thousand nine hundred and fifty-four, substitute 14th June, 1954.

Paragraph 3a(2)(d).........

Omit “the twenty-first day of June, One thousand nine hundred and sixty-one”, substitute “21st June, 1961.

Paragraph 3a(2)(e).........

Omit “the fourteenth day of September, One thousand nine hundred and sixty-two, substitute 14th September, 1962.

Paragraph 3a(2)(f).........

Omit “the twelfth day of March, One thousand nine hundred and seventy-one”, substitute “12th March, 1971”.

Section 4...............

Omit “to this Act.

Sub-section 20(1).........

Omit “the fourth day of March, One thousand nine hundred and forty-eight”, substitute “4th March, 1948.

Section 29..............

(a.) Omit “the thirtieth day of June, One thousand nine hundred and sixty-one,, substitute “30th June, 1961,.

(b) Omit “thirtieth day of June (second occurring), substitute “30th June.

 

 

Overview

The Air Navigation Act 1973 (C1973A00130) was enacted to amend the Air Navigation Act 1920-1971, addressing the need to update and modernise the regulatory framework governing air navigation in Australia. Enacted by the Queen, the Senate, and the House of Representatives of Australia, this Act was designed to ensure that Australian air navigation practices align with international standards and agreements, particularly those established under the Chicago Convention on International Civil Aviation. The primary objective of this legislation was to formalise Australia's ratification of the Protocol amending Article 56 of the Chicago Convention, which increased the membership of the Air Navigation Commission from twelve to fifteen. This change was necessary to accommodate the growing number of member states and to enhance the global governance of air navigation. The Act also included formal amendments to various sections of the Principal Act to modernise and standardise the textual references throughout the legislation.

Scope and Application

The Air Navigation Act 1973 amends the Air Navigation Act 1920-1971, consolidating and updating the existing legislation to align with the latest international conventions and protocols, particularly those adopted by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). The Act applies to all individuals, entities, and aircraft operating within Australian airspace, including both domestic and international flights. This includes airlines, pilots, air traffic control services, and other aviation-related businesses and personnel. The jurisdictional reach of the Act is national, applying across all states and territories of Australia. However, the Act also ensures compliance with international standards set forth in the Chicago Convention, thus impacting all flights entering or leaving Australian airspace. There are no specific exclusions or exemptions mentioned within the text of this Act, although its application may be influenced by subordinate instruments or regulations that further define operational and compliance details. These instruments can extend or restrict the application of the Act, ensuring that it remains adaptable to evolving aviation practices and technologies.

Key Provisions

The Air Navigation Act 1973 (sections 1-6) amends the Air Navigation Act 1920-1971 to update and formalise certain provisions, including the ratification of an amendment to the Chicago Convention (section 3a) and the inclusion of an eighth schedule (section 5). The Act also makes formal amendments to various sections of the Principal Act, such as converting word numerals to figures (section 6(1)) and removing redundant phrases (section 6(2)). Specific changes include updating dates in definitions and references (section 6(3)). Entities governed by the Act, such as airlines, aircraft operators, and aviation authorities, must ensure compliance with the updated provisions. This includes adhering to the newly ratified amendment to the Chicago Convention, which increases the membership of the Air Navigation Commission from twelve to fifteen members. Formal compliance with the updated sections, including the conversion of word numerals to figures and the removal of certain phrases, is also required. Breach of any provisions of the Act can lead to civil or criminal penalties. While the specific penalties are not detailed in the provided text, breaches of similar acts typically result in fines, imprisonment, or both. The severity of the penalty often depends on the nature and extent of the breach, with more serious or repeated violations attracting higher penalties. The Act does not explicitly state the maximum penalties for breaches, but in general, violations of aviation regulations can result in substantial fines and potential imprisonment. For example, serious offences such as endangering aircraft safety might incur fines up to several thousand dollars and imprisonment for several years. The exact penalties would be determined by the relevant courts based on the circumstances of each case.

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Aviation Law
Instrument
Act
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Commencement Provisions
Repeal & Amendment
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Sourced from the Federal Register of Legislation at 26 August 2026. For the latest information on Australian Government law please go to https://www.legislation.gov.au.