From left: Commissioner, Banjul Accord Group Accident Investigation Agency (BAGAIL) Mr Caj Frostell; Chief Executive Officer, Accident Investigation Bureau(AIB) Mr Akin Olateru and Deputy Director, Air Safety Investigation Bureau, Singapore, Mr Michael Alan Toft at the News Conference on Accident Investigation in Abuja on Friday (14/7/17).
03551/14/7/2017/Albert Otu/ICE/
The Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) says it will take measure to carry out a review of its existing regulations that will accommodate latest changes in the global aviation industry.
The AIB Commisioner, Akin Olateru, made this known in Lagos on when he said the review would enhance the bureau’s performance especially in the area of incident and accident investigations.
He disclosed that the review exercise will take place before the end of the year.
The commisioner said AIB was determined to ensure that its activities were in conformity with European standards and to continue to retain its position as the leader on the continent.
As stated by Olateru, the management had already notified stakeholders about its intent to review its existing regulations.
Olateru added that the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) recently reviewed its Annex 18 to accommodate new developments in the industry, stressing that in order to remain relevant, it would consistently look at its regulations.
He said the bureau’s core mandates were to investigate accident, recommend safety to prevent future occurrence and make aviation safer for business and air travellers, adding that the planned review was part of such processes.
“AIB came into existence in 2007 via the Civil Aviation Act 2006. The regulation was designed to guide how we do things.
“That regulation is outdated, it has to be reviewed. Regulation basically is to guide the stakeholders and to let everybody know how reporting system is done.
“If you look at Annex 18, it has just been reviewed by ICAO. We need to bring our regulations to speed to capture those new areas because you have to constantly review how you do things for you to stay relevant, if not, you will become outdated.
“It is easier to review regulations than to review the Act. Act is forever. Moreso, the need to review our regulations was part of ICAO findings the last time it audited us,” the commissioner said in statement.