OPENING SPEECH AT THE CONFERENCE ON PREVENTING HUMAN FACTORS IN AIR ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION ORGANISED BY ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION BUREAU IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE LEAGUE OF AIRPORT & AVIATION CORRESPONDENTS HELD AT IKEJA SHERATON HOTEL ON 15^TH JANUARY 2021 BY THE COMMISSIONER/CEO OF ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION BUREAU ENGR. AKIN OLATERU

The Commissioner/CEO of AIB Engr. Akin Olateru would have loved to be here with us today, but due to some unforeseen circumstances, he is unavoidably absent. He tendered his unreserved apologies, please. I read this speech on his behalf.

Protocol…

Good morning.

Thank you to each and every one of you for being here with us today as you have always been honoring us with your presence. We are pleased to be able to welcome you to yet another important conference with the theme “Preventing Human Factors in Air Accident Investigation”. Our appreciation goes to all those who contributed in making this gathering a possibility; most especially our partners – the League of Airport and Aviation Correspondents (LAAC).

The goals of this conference are to enhance our understanding of Human Factors, their contributions to accident causation and proffer solutions to reducing Human Factors in accident/incident causation, amongst others.

1. INTRODUCTION

Aircraft accidents are dominated by the failure of human factor failure.

Despite of a positive development in the trend of accidents recorded since the beginning of the 21^st century, the number of air accidents is still unsatisfactory. Consequently, it is of paramount importance to do everything that would contribute to substantial reduction of the human factor failure in air transportation. A system of models appears to be an important tool for overall understanding of the complexity of human factors, serving as starting-points to an analytical and classification research of the human factor. At the same time, these models enable qualified investigation and assessment of the causes of air accidents and incidents, thereby preventing them from repeated occurrence.

2. CLASSIFICATION OF THE CAUSES TO AIR ACCIDENTS

Throughout the world, Civil Aviation Authorities are distributing a large number of publication and surveys on air accidents and incidents, according to which aviation proud itself in the most favourable statistics in terms of air transportation safety. At the rate of which accidents air transportation is currently representing one accident per million takeoffs. Air safety has to be improved despite the substantial progress made in many areas affecting air transportation. The progress was most remarkable in selection and training of the personnel, aircraft design and manufacturing, weather monitoring and forecasting, improving mechanical reliability, system monitoring, communication, precision and scope of navigational aids, cockpit instrumentation and passenger cabin, safety equipment, air traffic control and utilization of other airport facilities.

Although there are various definitions of the Human Factors, we can simply define Human Factors as the issues affecting the fit between people and the systems in which they work in order to improve safety and performance. They are the social and personal skills, such as communication and decision making which complement our technical skills. The study of human factors involves applying scientific knowledge about the human body and mind to help understand human capabilities and limitations. Human factors knowledge can be used to reduce the likelihood of errors and build more error tolerant and more resilient systems. These are important for safe and efficient aviation.

Causes affecting the accident rate in air transportation can be classified from various factors and points of view. The most general and probably the most transparent way of classification is dependence on human action or failure, technical and meteorological factors. As far as the organizational or legislative shortcomings are concerned, they could also be instrumental in supporting the factors mentioned, mostly as a result of poor adherence to legislative procedures or mismanagement of resources associated with air operation.

There is a range of causes to air accidents. In view of the fast development taking place in almost all the aviation fields, the occurrence of air accidents caused by technological advancement is reducing. This development, however, is adding to the complexity of systems and raising the level of seriousness, all that to be managed by the humans.

According to the Boeing MEDA (Maintenance Error Decision Aid) Program, in the early days of flight, approximately 80% of accidents are caused by the machine and 20% were caused by human errors. Today, that statistic has reversed and approximately 80% of airplane accidents are due to human errors. Regardless of the actual percentage, there is little disagreement among government and industry experts over the importance of Human Factors as a primary element in the causes of accidents and incidents.

Therefore, you will agree with me that the need to take all available measures to reduce the contribution of Human Factors in aviation accidents cannot be overemphasized.

3. INVESTIGATION OF AIR ACCIDENTS

Investigation of air accidents is a complex process focused on a variety of specific phenomena, the consequences of which are mainly their causes as objects of investigation. Only a consistent and an all-round investigation of an air accident enables accepting and realizing a system of efficient measures for preventing accidents and incidents from reoccurring, thereby maximizing the efficiency of effect in improving the overall level of flight safety.

The act of investigation is left to the competence of appropriate state authorities, whereby their jurisdiction is given predominantly by the area where the accident happened. Coordinated effort in this regard is expected from the manufacturer of the type suffering losses, the airline as the operator of the aircraft, local civil aviation authorities registering the aircraft as well as other subjects involved, depending on the circumstances of the accident. As a rule, the authority to investigate the air accidents and incidents falls to the appropriate authority, depending on the country where the accident occur.

3.1 Prevention of air accidents

Investigation is focused on determining and analysing the circumstances of the accident, proficiency, organization and coordination of the flight, status of the equipment, medical status and professional competence as well.

Measure to prevent accident rate from increasing are developed by operators as a result of analyses focused on the activities and causes of the accidents or incidents. Prevention should primarily focus on training and human capacity development, regular maintenance of the equipment, technical support, competency in the conduct of air traffic control, organizational and operational control issues as well as general welfare of all personnel involved in the operation.

However, prevention should prove inefficient if not carried out on a basis of planning and steadiness. As its substantial part is made up of the analyses of air accidents, the operator is liable to make constant use of all the technical tools of objective control mostly flight data retrieved from the flight recorders, etc.

Finally, Air accident is seldom a result of a single cause. It is typical for accidents or incidents to originate from a combination of factors. It is the accumulation of these events, which will eventually result in air accident. Thus, by prevention of accidents is meant timely detection and elimination of the causes before they develop into an event.

4. CONCLUSION

For a substantial progress in air transportation safety to be achieved, it is necessary to focus on the most frequently occurring air accidents, such as the CFIT and runway excursions and overruns and loss of control of the aircraft. It is also important to focus on the phases of flight especially at its beginning (takeoff) and end (landing).

When assessing the development in accidents, it follows that despite the enormous progress made in the field of air transportation, its safety fail to develop to satisfaction, with causes identified as incomprehensive approaches to learning and appreciating the human factor.

It is my utmost belief that the panelists will do justice to the subject matter. I therefore urge you to actively participate in the proceedings.

Thank you for listening.