Civil Aviation Authority hosts Asia Pacific meeting and workshop on aircraft accident investigation

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) of Sri Lanka hosted the 3rd Meeting of the Asia Pacific Aircraft Accident Investigation Groupand Asia Pacific Regional Aircraft Accident Investigation Workshop of the International Civil Aviation Organization from 23 to 26 June at Ramada Hotel, Colombo.

A total of 45 delegates from 20 countries including Sri Lanka attended this important aviation activity of the Asia and Pacific regions which took place under the annual event calendar of the Asia and Pacific Regional Office of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

In addition, Regional Officer Flight Safety of ICAO Bangkok Regional Office attended representing the Regional Director. Sri Lanka will be represented at the AIG Meeting by a three-member delegation from the Civil Aviation Authority while 30 delegates from the CAA and the local industry attended the workshop.

The meeting took place on the first two days followed by the workshop on the last two days. The Chairman of the Accident Investigation Group was the Director of the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau of Singapore.

The purpose of both events was to assist the States in keeping abreast of developments in the area of aircraft accident investigation, enhance and promote investigation capabilities and share expertise, experience and information among accident and incident investigation bodies. The meeting also deliberated on the action plan in the Asia Pacific regions to improve the aircraft accident investigation capabilities and recent global initiatives in accident investigation.

At the workshop, 15 experienced investigators spoke on a wide range of subject matter which will include their experiences in investigations in to the recent major aircraft accidents, investigations under challenging environment including sea search operations and underwater wreckage recovery and equipment.

Two leading aircraft manufacturers, Boeing from the United States of America and Embraer from Brazil, made presentations on Special Techniques in aircraft accident investigation.

Collaboration of states in aircraft accident investigation is vital as it pools the knowledge, experience, equipment and facilities and most of all, expertise to investigate in to aircraft accidents and find the causes for the accidents to happen and prevent occurrence of them under similar circumstances in future.

Shibly Aziz, Chairman of CAA, Sri Lanka attended the opening session as the Chief Guest.

Conduct of this event in Sri Lanka further strengthened the cooperative partnership of the State in civil aviation with the other Asia and Pacific States. It also reaffirmed the country’s commitment to global aviation safety where Sri Lanka is an active member of the International Civil Aviation Organization which is a UN specialised agency established in 1944 to set the international Standards and Recommended Practices in aviation safety, security, efficiency and regularity of global air transportation.

This regional event was organised by Parakrama Dissanayake, Senior Director of CAASL under the direction given by H.M.C. Nimalsiri, Director General of Civil Aviation.