BAGAIA members don’t pay for the cost of investigation, as Guinea mulls independent agency

L-R Director-General, Guinean Civil Aviation Authority, Mr Mamady KABA, the BAGAIA Commissioner Engr. Charles Irikefe ERHUEH, the AIG Focal Point Engr. Sidiki Traore

The seven-member states signatory to the Banjul Accord Group Accident Investigation Agency, BAGAIA, will henceforth be relieved of financial burden while investigating serious incidents or accidents when they’re up to date in their subscriptions to the regional body.

A mere cost of logistics would be borne by the state of occurrence and when the proposed $1.5million investment comes to fruition, all member states would be able to digitally key into the investigation procedures and processes as being conducted by BAGAIA in the state of occurrence.

The BAGAIA Commissioner, Engineer Charles Irikefe Erhueh, made these thrilling disclosures in Conakry, where he was hosted by the Director-General, DG, Guinean Civil Aviation Authority, GCAA, Mr Mamady Kaba.

In the BAGAIA Commissioner’s presentation to the management of GCAA, Engr Irikefe explained that the proposed USD $1.5m integration project of Flight Data Analysis Capability for member states shall provide each member states with a core analysis capability which shall be in sync with existing Nigeria’s Accident Investigation Bureau, AIB-N, world-class Flight Data Recorder and Cockpit Voice, FDR/CVR, Safety laboratory, which would serve as the central hub for expert technical support.

According to the presentation each BAGAIA State shall receive: Laptop/workstation with Flight Data Analysis Software, Audio Analysis Software, Flight Animation Software.

He stated that the laptop shall provide field capability to participate along with the State of Occurrence who would Centrally coordinate contact from BAGAIA with each State contributing and expanding on existing FDR/CVR lab in Abuja with Satellite capabilities.

BAGAIA Commissioner appealed to the DG, GCAA, that the best industry practice in the realm of accident and serious incident investigation is for an independent body to conduct the investigation and not saddle that responsibility with the regulatory agency as presently obtained in Guinea.

Responding, the GCAA, DG, Mr. Mamady Kaba, said the legislative framework for creating an independent agency for accident investigation had been completed. Only the assent of the head of state is being awaited for the accident investigation agency to come to life.

Mamady Kaba also said that Guinea will clear its outstanding once the Act is signed into law.
His words “the papers for the creation of the AIG was created 3 years ago and we are looking forward to its assent into law.”

The BAGAIA Commissioner in his remarks thanked the DG and his cabinet for the warm reception received since his arrival.

BAGAIA helmsman also visited the Air Navigation Agency of Guinea and had a brief meeting with the Director-General, Mr Soumah Ahmed Tidiane with the deputy Hadja Oumou Diallo where he was given a rousing welcome.

The Commissioner also reiterated the need to embrace good working relationship with an independent Investigation body.
He reminded his audience that despite all the fuss, accident or serious incident investigation objective is not to apportion blame or liability but to ensure that safety recommendations are made for continuous safety improvement in all the value chain of air transport.