COVID-19 PANDEMIC HAS NOT DIMINISHED QUALITY OF AIB INVESTIGATIONS,SAYS COMMISSIONER/CEO
| The Commissioner Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) Engr. Akin Olateru has said that the emergence of Covid-19 Pandemic has not diminished the quality of investigations by the agency. Speaking with aviation journalists in Lagos ,Olateru said”in terms of performance, we refused to let the pandemic affect us. We are still doing what we would do normally, Covid-19 or not. We still ensure we deliver on our mandate, we ensure we do what we have to do, but the only problem we have is funding. Covid-19 has affected our revenues greatly.” “You know our source of revenue is from the 3 per cent we get out of the 5 per cent we collect from the Ticket Sales Charge/Cargo Sales Charge (TSC/CSC). So, in terms of affecting us, it’s more of less funding. But, in terms of doing delivery on our mandate, we made sure it hasn’t affected us in anyway.” On the plan to expand the scope of accident and incident to other mode of investigation in the country. He said it will start once the bill is approved by the National Assembly and the President. Currently, we are set out to investigate air accident and there is a proposed bill in the National Assembly. “At the House of Representatives, it has passed the second reading; we are waiting for public hearing on the new AIB bill. At the Senate, we are waiting for second reading and public hearing. “Thereafter, it will be transmitted to the President for assent. “For us, when you look at what we’ve done in air transport, we have been able to mitigate so many risks; we have managed to learn from our lessons in serious incidents. You look at aviation, it is a highly regulated industry, very expensive, highly technical, the fastest and the safest means of transportation and it is because of all these checks and balances that have made it so. “There is a difference between investigating for liability, criminality and safety. AIB has been investigating for safety, not for liability and it is the same we want to take to other modes of transportation. It is not about who is at fault, it is about how can we prevent future occurrence. This is our core mandate and this is what we want to focus on. That is where we are and it’s going to take effect as soon as we have the green light from the president.” On what is major challenges are,the AIB Chief Executive explained that, “when you look at it, challenges could come in, in any organsiations in four major areas; equipment, infrastructure, human capital and systems processes and procedures. I always say that if you score less than 7 out of 10 in any of these four areas, you still don’t have a company. “If you have the best equipment and you don’t have manpower, you are not going anywhere. And if you have the best manpower, equipment, but you don’t have a good infrastructure and there are no systems and procedures to help them navigate their workings, you are not going anywhere.” So, those four areas, I will say we had a huge challenge in them when I came in. Of course, the pillar of all the four is funding, but with the support of Aviation Minister and the National Assembly, we have been able to navigate throughout that.” On how much he has AIB has expended on investigation, he told newsmen that ”There are no two accidents that are the same; they may look the same, but there are no two accidents that are the same. Also, in terms of costing, I don’t think I have been able to break it down to exact figure. So, I will not be able to give you the exact figure, but I can describe the process for you.” “The type of accident will determine the cost. Sometimes, we have to send an engine back to the manufacturer, they call it engine teardown. So, we have to factor in cost of shipping, estacodes for two of my engineers that will go with it. What we want to ascertain is the engine producing power as at the time of the crash. “So, there are several things that can push up the cost in accident investigation. It is a painstaking process, very detailed exercise, tasking and sometimes, it can be daunting because you must get it right. This is what accident investigation is all about. You must ensure whatever fact you put out there, you have enough evidence to back it up and this is why we go through so many different processes, depending on the crash. We get supports from engine manufacturers, air frame manufacturers, supports from some countries sometime because it can be very complex sometimes.” |
