Caelum Custodia
| Signed | November 12, 1995 |
|---|---|
| Location | Passerville |
| Effective | 1 January 2000 |
| Signatories | 10 |
| Depositary | Governments of Luminerra and Notreceau |
| Language | Vetus Patrian |
| Languages | Nova Lumenic, Notreceauen, Mejian, Rochan, Bolesławian |
The Caelum Custodia (Sky Watch) treaty establishes a program of unarmed aerial surveillance flights over the entire territory of its participants. This treaty is designed to enhance mutual understanding and reduce points of contention between signatory nations and allow participating nations, regardless of size or capability, a direct role in gathering information about military forces and activities of concern to them. It entered into force on 1 January 2000, and currently has 10 party states. The idea of allowing countries to openly surveil each other is thought to prevent misunderstandings. It also provides mutual accountability for countries to follow through on treaty promises.
Summary
The Caelum Custodia regulations covers the territory over which the parties exercise sovereignty, including mainland, islands, and internal and territorial waters. The treaty specifies that the entire territory of a member state is open to observation. A nation preparing a mission under Caelum Custodia regulations must provide the target nation with estimated arrival times and flight plans which include airfields for the starting and ending of overflights, the points of entry to and exit from the state and even airfields for refueling. In addition, Caelum Custodia sets the maximum distance for flights from each of these airfields.
The general timeline for conducting an overflight looks as follows:
A state wishing to conduct an overflight needs to notify the (other) state that it wants to overfly at a minimum 72 hours before its observation aircraft arrives at the point of entry. At least 24 hours before beginning the actual observation flight it must submit a mission plan that provides details about the flight path, the distance, and the estimated flight time, among others. The observed party has the right to propose changes to this mission plan. If that happens, the parties can negotiate for a maximum period of 8 hours. If negotiations are successful, the observing party can take off for the observation flight. If there is no agreement, the observing party can cancel the flight. Observation flights may only be restricted for reasons of flight safety and not for reasons of national security. In the case that a restriction is placed upon an observation flight, the restricted nation must be provided with appropriate permission for a new mission within 24 hours.
The observation flight has to be completed 96 hours after arrival at the point of entry. First, however, officials of the observed party inspect the aircraft, the sensors and their associated equipment onboard to ensure treaty compliance. After the flights are completed, both parties sign the mission plan, which the observing party provides to all other states within a week.
Caelum Custodia established an Caelum Custodia Coordinatio Committee, generally referred to as 4C, that conducts its work by consensus. The 4C is in charge of the questions related to compliance with the Caelum Custodia regulations, and seeks to resolve ambiguities and differences of interpretation should they occur, consider applications for accession to the treaty, and take care of technical and administrative measures. The 4C convenes in semi-annual plenary meetings in Passerville, Notreceau.
Aircraft
Observation aircraft may be provided by either the observing party or by the observed party, wherein the observed nation will provide an aircraft and crew to ferry members of the observer nations observation team. Further, a state may elect to "share" their observation missions with another. As an example, the Royal Rochan Air Force does not operate any aircraft suitable for Caelum Custodia missions. As such, the government of Rocha Sur generally elects to shares its mission with the Lumenic Air Force. Lastly, states can lease aircraft from other states to conduct their overflights independently. These leased aircraft may be leased from non-participating nations but must comply with the standards set forth by the Caelum Custodia. All Caelum Custodia aircraft and sensors must pass specific certification and pre-flight inspection procedures to ensure that they are compliant with treaty standards. At no time may a nation operating under Caelum Custodia regulations be armed, including personal weapons for its flight crew. When conducting overflights, Caelum Custodia permits the usage of four different sensors with fixed maximum ground resolutions. Information and specifications regarding appropriate sensors and other monitoring equipment is as follows:
- Optical cameras, 30 cm
- Video cameras, 30 cm
- Infra-red line-scanning devices, 50 cm
- Synthetic aperture radars, 300 cm
The aircraft used by participating nation vary in model and manufacture but are without exception multi-engine transport aircraft. This is primarily for practical reasons. Overflights, especially those shared between several states, sometimes need to accommodate seating for more than 20 persons.
Aircraft commonly used by participating nations include:
Luminerra: The Tancredi G.06 Argento: Five Tancredi G.06 Argento aircraft, designated G.06CC are maintained by Lumenic Air Force for Caelum Custodia missions. They are operated by the 1° Squadrone da Osservazione "Caelum Custodes" stationed at Asaro Royal Air Force Base in Valora. The 1° Squadrone da Osservazione was expressly stood up with the purpose of conducting Caelum Custodia missions and often uses its aircraft to service requests from other signatories of the treaty. The 1° Squadrone da Osservazione often provides mission support for the governments of Rocha Sur, Ardeal, Wallachia and Oltenia.
Notreceau: The Notreceauen Airforce utilizes a version of the Prévoyance Faucon VII designated the Faucon VIII OC
Costa Mejis: Though the Royal Mejian Army Air Corps possession a single ARCSA C-97 Aparejo aircraft certified to conduct Caelum Custodia missions, it has not done so since 2014. On some occasions, it shares its missions with the Lumenic or Notreceauen governments.
Incidents
On March 1st, 2016 a MZL-33 operated by the air force of the Centralne Imperium Omandii and conducting a Caelum Custodia mission along the northern coast of Krasno was struck by a Soviet surface-to-air missile. The aircraft crashed approximately 37 miles off the coast of Krasno/ Of the 16 people on board, 4 were killed in the crash, including the aircraft copilot Porucznik Kacper Adamik and a mission observer from the Republic of Aesti. The remaining survivors were rescued by the Krasnan Navy
Signatory nations
| Nation | Signatory since |
|---|---|
| Luminerra |
1995 |
| Notreceau |
1995 |
 Rocha Sur |
1995 |
| Costa Mejis |
1995 |
 Pequeñoya |
1995 |
 Joleste |
1996 |
| Ardeal |
2010 |
| Oltenia |
2010 |
| Wallachia |
2010 |
| Skalité |
2010 |
| Berat |
2010 |
| Moravia |
2010 |
| Porizkhod |
2010 |
| Magyeri |
2010 |
| Krasno |
2010 |
| Aesti |
2010 |
| Svenka |
2014 |
Former signatory nations
| Nation | Signed | Withdrawn |
|---|---|---|
| Wetåld |
2011 | 2020 |
 Centralne Imperium Omandii |
1998 | 2018 |
| Maratha |
2005 | 2020 |