Airlines have right to investigation processes- AIB
The Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB), has said airlines have a right to participate in any investigation launched to look into accidents involving their organisation.
The Commissioner and Chief Executive Officer of the AIB, Mr. Akin Olateru, made this known on Friday to newsmen, at the end of a training exercise organised for key operators in the aviation industry.
According to him, there was need for airlines to understand the procedures surrounding accidents in the sector, and their rights as an organisation should an accident occur.
While urging the airlines to establish an in-house investigative departments that would address such issues, he disclosed that every serious airline in the world has a unit that takes care of accidents.
“It is very important for all of us to be on the same page and understand what accident investigations is all about.
“Airlines need to understand their rights. They still don’t know they have a right to request to participate in this investigation process, they need to understand what is expected of an airline or the service provider in the case of accidents as well as the regulator.
“This is one of the reasons why we extended the invitation to the airlines but unfortunately, they don’t see the need to send people in but i guess over time they will get to understand there is one aviation and the basic goal we have in this industry is to make it as safe as we can and everybody got to do their bit in accordance within the confinement of their regulation to support the industry and ensure we have a safer sky,” he said.
Olateru who stressed on the importance of trainings in the aviation industry, noted that the AIB under his watch carries out trainings every month to better equip and balance the skills of investigators to handle all manner of accidents including domestic, European and American airlines should they occur.
He further disclosed that the AIB was working towards having a foreign organisation, the NTSP, review all air accidents that have occurred in the country, and train its staff on how to deal with air traffic control issues, airport issues, air worthiness issues, flight operations issues.
“It is all training. We can’t have enough of training, there will be several more trainings. Since I came on board four things I have made my priority; equipment, infrastructure, human capital, system processes and proceedings,” he added.
He urged all airlines to stick to the approved manuals, regulations and ensure they have a safer operation that would further enhance the safety of lives and properties.
A former commissioner for Bagaia Banjul Accord Group, a West African Accident Investigation Agency, Mr. Caj Frostell, commended the AIB efforts in harmonising the experiences of different players in the aviation industry, to achieve greater results in the nearest future.
“The commissioner has a training plan and this is just a small part of that training plan. He is doing a fantastic job in training the personnel, training the investigators and the second thing that is exceptional is the effort to bring the whole aviation community together to this training opportunity to share their experiences together.
“AIB is an agency separate from all these regular agencies and this separation should not be seen as isolation. He has implemented that very well by bringing the total industry together to share their experiences together.
