…To Conform With Updated ICAO Standards
Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) has stated that it would review the existing Civil Aviation Investigation of Air Accidents and Incidents Regulations 2006 to conform with the updated International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPS).
The bureau also stated that the review became necessary to ensure that its policy was n tandem with its counterparts around the world, adding that the draft document, which is now in the status of notice of proposed rule to the industry, was already on the bureau’s website.
The decision by the accident investigation body to review the policy was made known in an online statement issued in Lagos by the AIB’s Head of Public Affairs, Mr. Tunji Oketunbi.
He hinted that since the current policy that was formulated in November 2006 came into operations, there had been series of amendments to accident and incident investigation by ICAO, especially to the Annex 13 of the convention.
Oketunbi said that AIB as one of the leading globally recognised aviation investigators could not operate in isolation of global standards and recommended practices.
To buttress the agency’s position said, “We are doing this in conformity with our regulation 22, which reads in part, ‘These regulations shall be amended from time to time to bring them into conformity with the provisions of ICAO Annex 13, any amendment thereto and the Civil Aviation Act.’”
The AIB spokesman in the statement quoted the AIB Legal Adviser, Mrs. Maureen Tsenongo as saying that the management had noticed some gaps in the current regulations, which the new one would seek to address.
“All relevant aviation stakeholders like airline operators, professionals, unions, oil companies operating within the sector, individuals with key interest in aviation, Non-Governmental Organisations, NGOs, and the general public are requested to come forward with their valuable contributions on the proposed amendment.’ Tsenongo said
‘Their contributions, which should be forwarded to the Commissioner of AIB and other management staff, should reach the Bureau within 30 days. Interested parties can also visit the bureau’s website: aib.gov.ng for necessary information and updates.” She added.