The Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) is set to carry out a review of its existing regulations, which seek to accommodate latest changes in the global aviation industry.
Speaking at the end of a weeklong peer review exercise carried out with European consultants over the weekend in Lagos, AIB Commissioner, Mr. Akin Olateru said that the management had already circulated the information about its intent to review its existing regulations to concerned stakeholders in the sector.
He reiterated its determination to make its activities in conformity with European standards and continue to retain its position as the leader on the continent, adding that the review exercise would take place before the end of the year.
The AIB boss explained that some of the existing regulations of AIB had since become outdated and needed changes, which he said could not be accommodated with the current regulations in use.
He also pointed out that the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), recently reviewed its Annex 18 to accommodate new developments in the industry, stressing that in order to remain relevant, an organisation like AIB needed to consistently look at its regulations.
On the peer reviewed carried out by two consultants on behalf of the bureau; Mr. Caj Frostell, the former Commissioner of Banjul Accord Group Accident Investigation Agency (BAGAIA) and Mr. Ismo Aaltonen, Chief Air Safety Investigator, Safety Investigation Authority, Finland, Mr. Olateru said this became necessary in order to plug the existing gaps in the system.
He explained that the peer review exercise included equipment, infrastructure, technical personnel, system, processes and procedures, regulations and the entire organization while also benchmarking it with European standards.
The AIB commissioner explained that the duo checked the entire AIB’s books to determine its conformity with best standards, adding that the bureau would continue to invest in infrastructure and human capital in order to remain relevant in the industry.
Also commenting on the exercise, one of the two consultants, Caj Frostell, said that AIB’s equipment and technical personnel could compete with the best in the world.
They called for more training and retraining of technical personnel in order to remain current on the job.
