ICAOICAO Annex 1
ICAO Annex 1 — Personnel Licensing
Read the official ruleAnnex 1 sets the international standards for licensing flight crew, air traffic controllers and maintenance personnel. It defines the categories of licence (student, private, commercial, airline transport, and the ratings attached), the knowledge, experience, skill and medical requirements for each, and the language proficiency standards (the ICAO Level 1–6 scale). National authorities build their own rules (FAA Part 61, EASA Part-FCL, etc.) on this common framework, which is what makes licences convertible between states. *Summary only — consult ICAO and your national authority for the binding text.*
This is an original plain-English explanation for training and reference, not legal advice and not for navigation. Always rely on the current official rule linked above. Last reviewed June 2, 2026.