Chinedu Eze
The Banjul Accord Accident investigation Agency (BAGAIA) is planning to develop a $1.5 million integration of Flight Data Analysis Capability for member states.
It is expected to provide each state with a core analysis capability with Nigeria’s Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB-N) existing Flight Data Recorder and Cockpit Voice Recorder (FDR/CVR) Safety lab as the central hub for expert technical support.
BAGAIA Commissioner, Charles Irikefe Erhueh, made this known recently, when he was a guest of the Guinean Civil Aviation Authority in Conakry where he discussed the importance of the regional aircraft accident investigative body and steps taken to keep it thriving.
Erhueh also pointed out the importance of establishing an independent Investigation body separate from Civil Aviation Authority in Guinea to investigate aircraft accidents expressing optimism that Guinea would show interest just as Sierra Leone and others have done. The commissioner also called on the Guinea CAA to deepen the country’s membership of BAGAIA by meeting their obligations to the regional body, especially with regards to clearing their outstanding subscription.
The Guinean Civil Aviation Authority Director General, Mr. Mamady Kaba, while welcoming the BAGAIA Commissioner to Conakry, promised that independent Investigation Agency would be established in few months to come, being that the Act is in the final stage to see to it come to fruition.
He also said Guinea would clear its outstanding once the Act was signed into law.
“That the papers for the creation of the AIG was created 3 years ago and they are looking forward for it assent into law” that they are willing to clear of the outstanding when the Act is signed into law with the measure they will put in place,” he added.
The BAGAIA Commissioner was happy and assured the commitment of BAGAIA to member states in ensuring that the country is up to speed as aviation is global.
They further deliberated on issues involving who pays for Investigation when it is delegated to BAGAIA, and the commissioner in response stated that only logistics would be handled by the state of occurrence since they are contributing their quota as enshrined in the Agreement.
He went further to say that there were so many values to tap or gain from BAGAIA activities with offerings of trainings and assistance in ICAO Universal Safety Oversight Audit Programme (USOAP) activities and collaboration with other states as the case may be.
On the proposal for Flight Data Analysis Capability for member states as highlighted in the commissioner’s presentation, the proposal once it reached fruition would provide each State with a core Flight Data Analysis capability with the world-class Nigerian AIB existing FDR/CVR Safety lab as the central hub for expert technical support.
The BAGAIA Commissioner in his remarks thanked the DG and his cabinet for the warm reception received since his arrival.
He also visited the Air Navigation Agency of Guinea and had brief meeting the Director General Mr. Soumah Ahmed Tidiane with the deputy Hadja Oumou Diallo where he was welcome.
