AIB-N Commissioner asks airlines to set up investigation units
The Commissioner and Chief Executive Officer of the Accident Investigation Bureau, Nigeria (AIB-N), Engr. Akin Olateru has requested that all airlines operating in Nigeria should establish investigation units in their respective offices.
In a statement issued by the Bureau’s General Manager, Public Affairs, Mr Tunji Oketunbi, the Commissioner said this would help the airlines to understand and take advantage of the benefits of accident investigation to boost safety in their operations.
Speaking while receiving the investigation team from Cameroon probing the crash of the Havilland DHC -6-400 Twin Otter operated by Caverton Cameroon at the Bureau’s headquarters in Abuja on Wednesday, Olateru said big carriers like American Airlines have such units, adding that it is the responsibility of everyone to have an understanding of accident investigation in Africa.
The Commissioner further disclosed that when fully commissioned AIB-N training school will play a significant role in training airlines’ personnel in accident investigation, which will help them in investigating occurrences with a view to enhancing safety in their operations.
The AIB Training School, a world-class training institution located in Abuja, is near completion and is expected to commence operations before the end of the year.
Singapore and the other two countries, according to Olateru, have signified readiness to assist the AIB training school.
The Cameroonian delegation was led by Mrs Leopoldine Essimi of the Ministry of Transport including Col. Brice Okomou, Capt. Raymond Ekenglo and Mrs Mispa Samnick.
According to Essimi, the delegation was in Nigeria to seek AIB-N expertise in the reading of flight recorders, transcription of the Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR), and analysis of the Flight Data Recorder (FDR) and FDR animation.
The DHR-6-400 Twin Otter (registered TJ-TIM) was operating Yaoundé (Nsimalen) – Dompta – Yaoundé (Nsimalen) on May 11, 2022, when it crashed killing all the passengers and crew members. The aircraft was found crashed in a forest, not far from Nanga Eboko.
According to Olateru, Nigeria was part of the investigation in line with the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Annex 13 since there were Nigerians onboard the ill-fated aircraft adding, however, that Cameroon has not decided whether it would cede the investigation completely to Nigeria or not.
The Commissioner said Nigeria will be assisting Cameroon in the investigation with her Flight Safety Laboratory, which according to him is one of the best in the world currently.
The laboratory has an upgraded facility called Memory Access Retriever System (MARS), which will be deployed to retrieve information from the CVR, which was badly burnt and damaged.
He said: “As you are aware, we have one of the best safety laboratories in the world. We have the capability, that the United States NTSB (National Transportation Safety Board) has, which is getting information from burnt or damaged flight recorders. This aircraft crashed and a recorder was badly burnt but we will be able to retrieve the information. This is one of the best equipment you can find in the world today.”
The two countries are however exploring areas of cooperation and collaboration that can boost accident investigation and air safety in Africa.
“You will understand that this is not the first time Nigeria will be helping other nations. We helped Sao Tome and Principe during an investigation. We helped the Gambia. We helped the Niger republic. We are helping Sierra Leone. We just got approval from the Ministry of Justice to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Sierra Leone to help them set up an accident investigation body. This is where we are today, “ said Olateru.
