As far as I can tell the ICAO eLibrary does indeed provide free online access but does not allow download.
The pdf versions on the Swiss site do seem to move around a bit. Current location link per today.
does not allow download.
That’s a joke 
You can always do a screenshot (even if the PRTSC key is disabled by the browser, which is possible, you can use e.g. FastStone Screen Capture) and then combine the pages into a PDF. It can be automated if you know how. Only on locked-down tablets like an Ipad is this not possible. On Android there are automation tools.
Who spends their life working out these schemes? Maybe his other job is an ISO9000 quality manager
The link allows creating an account, but immediately asks a question that there is no clue what it is looking for. What are the valid group names it wants?
What utility is there is viewing ICAO documents? Can you discern local law from them in enough cases to be useful?
Silvaire wrote:
What utility is there is viewing ICAO documents? Can you discern local law from them in enough cases to be useful?
If you are operating in the USA, the utility is likely very small. If you are not, the ICAO documents are the standards upon which everything else is based. E.g. PANS-OPS describes the execution and design of instrument flight procedures, while in the USA you would use TERPS.
I don’t think any ICAO signatory country (including the US. which created ICAO) is much different in how it approaches application of ICAO recommended standards. The difference is how welll the national laws are regulated and documented. If they aren’t, then I guess it could be useful to look at the underlying ICAO agreements.
I think knowing ICAO is of little value (except to pass exams) because every country, and EASA, and Eurocontrol, deviates from ICAO in so many ways, that ICAO is of negligible value for guidance during actual flying.
Peter wrote:
ICAO is of negligible value for guidance during actual flying
PANS-OPS is an ICAO document.
