ART Cautions against Knee-jerk Reactions to Incidents, Accidents

Chinedu Eze

Industry think-tank, Aviation Round Table (ART) has cautioned aviation agencies and the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development against knee-jerk and arbitrary pronouncements when aircraft incidents or accidents occur.

Speaking at the Quarter one 2024 breakfast meeting held in Lagos by the group at the weekend, President of ART, Air Commodore Demola Onitiju (retd), said such reactions are dangerous and risky and in violation of due process.

According to him, incidences of runway incursion and excursion are not unusual in aviation practice, adding many of the issues that contribute to runway excursions can only be resolved when the regulatory and investigating bodies coordinate their findings and work together.

“Knee-jerk reaction to aircraft incidents and accidents is dangerous and hurtful. Incidences of runway incursion and excursion are not unusual in aviation practice. Runway excursion prevention is complex because the effect of the risk and resilience factors is highly cumulative. Some of the factors that contribute to runway excursions include but are not limited to -the runway condition, maintenance and reporting. To this list, add- aircraft performance and operations, collaborative approach path management and adherence to robust policies for safe descent and approach planning, stabilised approach, safe landing and go-around.

“The solution to these challenges can only be done together by the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and the Nigeria Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) in a coordinated way not through arbitrary pronouncements that are not only meddlesome, dangerous and risky but violates due process,” he said.

The ART; therefore, advocated for the strengthening of NCAA’s autonomy consistent with the Act establishing it and global best practices.

“We made this call to ensure that it is adequately insulated from short-term political pressure. In the Nigerian circumstances, the NCAA is expected to be both benign and harsh in its spontaneous enforcement of standards and rules to retain our trust,” he said.