FEM/26/037 – FAM2402 – Civil Aviation Law Expert

Under the ICAO Capacity Development and Implementation Directorate (CDI), the Operations Section (FOS) is responsible for the strategic planning, development, execution, and evaluation of projects. FOS supports the identification of priority development needs in the civil aviation sector and offers technical cooperation to recipient States. FOS executes projects in accordance with ICAO/CDI policies and contractual modalities. 

ICAO/CDI is supporting the Government of the Republic of Armenia in the institutional reform of the Civil Aviation Committee (CAC), as established in Project Document ARM24802. This project is implemented under the Management Service Agreement (MSA) signed between ICAO and the Government of Armenia on 8 March 2024. 

Within this framework, the project provides structured technical assistance to transform the current CAC from a government department operating within civil service constraints into an autonomous, technically competent, and financially sustainable authority fully capable of fulfilling its safety oversight mandate in accordance with ICAO Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs). 

In addition, this project aims to support the necessary institutional reforms to increase effectiveness, sustainability, and independence of the AASIID.

Armenia's civil aviation sector is currently regulated by the Civil Aviation Committee (CAC), a government body operating within the State civil service framework. The CAC faces structural challenges that constrain its effectiveness as a safety oversight body: it operates under civil service HR frameworks that limit its ability to attract and retain qualified technical specialists; it is dependent on the state budget with limited cost-recovery mechanisms; and its primary legislation and regulatory framework require updating to align with applicable ICAO SARPs.

ICAO's Universal Safety Oversight Audit Programme (USOAP) findings have identified gaps in Armenia's safety oversight capabilities that can only be sustainably resolved through fundamental institutional reform. The Government of Armenia, in cooperation with ICAO, has committed to transforming the CAC into an autonomous CAC capable of fulfilling its safety oversight mandate on a sustainable basis and to increase effectiveness, sustainability, and independence of the AASIID. 

Project ARM24802 supports this transformation through three integrated reform pillars: (i) Institutional and Legislative Reform — establishing the legal, regulatory, and governance framework for an autonomous CAC and independent AASIID; (ii) Organizational, Administrative and Functional Review — restructuring the institution's organization, processes, and manuals; and (iii) Sustainable Financing and Human Resources Framework — establishing cost-recovery mechanisms and a competitive HR framework to attract and retain qualified staff.

In general terms, the activities contemplated in Project ARM24802 in which all team members will contribute include the following: 

1. →Diagnostic Phase: Assessment of the current CAC's and AASIID’s legal, institutional, organizational, financial, and HR frameworks; review of USOAP findings and national legislative context. 
2. →

   Reform Design Phase: Development of reform recommendations, legislative drafts, organizational models, financial frameworks, and HR policies aligned with ICAO SARPs, related guidance and best practices. as applicable. 

   3.  Implementation Support Phase: Technical assistance to CAC and AASIID in implementing approved reforms, including staff capacity building and stakeholder engagement.

• →Conduct a comprehensive review and gap analysis of Armenia's existing aviation legislation — including the Law on Aviation and subordinate regulations — for alignment with ICAO Chicago Convention obligations, ICAO SARPs, related guidance (to include ICAO Doc 9734) and best practices, as applicable.
• →Develop recommendations and draft legislative amendments to establish the legal basis for an autonomous CAC, including governance model, regulatory mandate, enforcement powers, and accountability framework.
• →Develop recommendations and draft legislative amendments to establish the legal basis for an effective, sustainable and independent AASIID.
• →Draft or substantially revise the primary civil aviation law of Armenia to enable the transition from the current CAC to an autonomous CAC, including provisions on institutional and financial autonomy.
• →Develop a legislative and regulatory implementation roadmap, including transitional provisions, secondary legislation, and regulatory orders required to give effect to institutional reform.
• →Align Armenia's legislative framework with ICAO Annex requirements and Doc 9734 (Safety Oversight Audit Manual) provisions on CAC and AASIID governance, autonomy/independence, and regulatory functions.
• →Advise on the regulatory framework for core safety oversight functions: certification, licensing, surveillance, enforcement and accident and incident investigations.
• →Coordinate with other experts through Project Coordinator (Expert 4) on legal aspects of HR and financial reform.

• →Perform duties under the coordination of the Project Coordinator to the best of their ability to achieve the project objectives. 
• →When necessary, contribute to the review and harmonization of sections developed by other members of the expert team.
• →Compile the necessary documentation to carry out the work.
• →Prepare meetings and field visits appropriately, including preparing lists of stakeholders to be consulted, questionnaires, and corresponding visit and meeting reports.  
• →Participate in coordination meetings organized by the ICAO CDI and EUR/NAT Responsible Officers and the National Project Coordinator.
• →Ensure that ICAO's safety, security, and sustainability considerations applicable to the various work areas are incorporated into all deliverables. 
• →Participate, under the direction of the Project Coordinator, in the development of a detailed work plan with delivery dates and responsibilities for each team member. 
• →Contribute to the preparation of monthly project monitoring reports submitted to the ICAO CDI and EUR/NAT Responsible Officers and the National Project Coordinator. 
• →Contribute to the review and integration of all reports and documents into final deliverables. 
• →Prepare presentations for project progress briefings to the Government of Armenia, ICAO, and other stakeholders. 

• →Review and map existing Armenian aviation legislation against ICAO Chicago Convention obligations, SARPs, related guidance (to include ICAO Doc 9734) and best practices, as applicable; produce a legislative gap analysis report. 
• →Draft or substantially revise the primary civil aviation law and key secondary regulations to establish the legal foundation for an autonomous CAC and independent AASIID. 
• →Develop a legal and regulatory implementation roadmap with transitional provisions. 
• →Advise on ICAO compliance from a legal perspective, including Chicago Convention treaty obligations and USOAP corrective action requirements. 
• →Coordinate with government legal advisors, the Ministry of Justice, and parliamentary staff on legislative drafting processes. 
• →Provide legal opinions on the institutional status, powers, and accountability of the reformed CAC and AASIID as required during the project. 

Performs other related duties, as assigned.

The general objective of the work to be carried out by each Expert is to contribute, as part of the team and under the direction of the Project Coordinator (Expert 4), to the institutional transformation of the current CAC into a structurally autonomous, technically capable, and financially sustainable authority and strengthening the effectiveness, sustainability, and independence of the AASIID, in accordance with the objectives of Project ARM24802.

The Civil Aviation Law Expert reports to the Civil Aviation Committee (CAC) Authorities in close coordination with the ICAO Program Manager. Also coordinates with ICAO experts on administrative matters, ensuring compliance with policies and procedures.

• →University degree in Law, with a focus on public law, administrative law, or international law. Specialized education in aviation law or air law (Master’s degree or equivalent) is desirable.

• →Minimum 15 years of professional experience in aviation law, public law, or regulatory reform, with at least 5 years specifically in civil aviation legislation. 
• →Demonstrated experience drafting aviation legislation or primary laws establishing or reforming civil aviation authorities. 
• →Solid knowledge of the ICAO Convention on International Civil Aviation (Chicago Convention), its Annexes, and ICAO SARPs.
• →Experience working with ICAO Doc 9734 (Safety Oversight Audit Manual) and functional governance frameworks for CACs.
• →Proven experience in governmental legislative reform processes, preferably in developing or transition-economy contexts.
• → Familiarity with the CIS/Eastern European aviation regulatory and legal context is desirable.

Strong command of written and spoken English. Knowledge of Russian or Armenian is a significant asset.

Special Service Agreement: 500 USD per day worked plus DSA and airfare when on mission. No other allowances are provided.