ICAO's Universal Safety Oversight Audit Programme also promotes the universal implementation of SARPs through mandatory and systematic audits of the civil aviation infrastructure in all Contracting States, with a view to identifying and correcting deficiencies and shortcomings in safety-related areas. It is precisely the consistent increase in the number of commercial flights, and the subsequent pressures exerted on already congested airport, air traffic control and air navigation facilities that is the primary reason for the installation of this global air navigation system of the future. The objective of the world aviation community is nothing less than a system which provides aircraft operators with the freedom to choose a preferred flight plan with minimum constraints, while maintaining or increasing existing levels of safety. Safety is not a national issue, nor is it a regional or continental issue. It is a global issue.
Human beings travel all over the world across political boundaries.
They are entitled to a uniform application of internationally recognized safety standards wherever they may go. It is embedded in the mandate of the Organization, which is to promote the safe and orderly development of international civil aviation through the establishment of Standards and Recommended Practices, or SARPs. Since the creation of ICAO in 1944, the growth of civil aviation has been phenomenal. In 1945, there were barely 9 million passengers on the world's airlines scheduled services. In 1997, that figure rose to 1.5 billion passengers.