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Britain initiated the post war bilaterals for international airline flights with the Bermuda Agreement in 1946.

Although the ICAO nations have not established a multilateral system of routes and rates, they have come to a meeting of the minds on important operational problems.
For example, there is an article directly related to the investigation of aircraft accidents. Article 26 of the Chicago convention reads as follows:

"In the event of an accident to an aircraft of a contracting state occurring in the territory of another contracting state involving death of serious injury or indicating serious technical defects in the aircraft or air navigation facilities, the state in which the accident occurs will institute an inquiry into the circumstances of the accident, in accordance so far as its law permits, with the procedure which may be recommended by the International Civil Air Organization. The state in which the aircraft is registered shall be given the opportunity to appoint observers to be present at the inquiry and the state holding the inquiry shall report the findings to that state."  

What status do the provisions of Article 26 have in the structure of American law? Our Constitution declares that the laws of Congress made pursuant to the Constitution and the treaties of the United States are the supreme laws of the land. Therefore, the ICAO treaty to which the United states Government is signatory is as much a part of our law as the Department of Transportation Act of 1966. ICAO is published in the United States Statutes and Section 1102 of the Federal Aviation Act of 1958 (49 U.S.C 1502) States:

"In exercising and performing their powers and duties under this Act the Board and Administrator shall do