Nigerias AIB set to become first to introduce digitalised accident/incident reporting globally

NIGERIAS Accident Investigation Bureau-Nigeria (AIB-N) is set to become the first in the world to introduce digitalized reporting that will change the face of serious incidents and accidents reporting and take safety recommendations nearer to the public.

This is just as the Commissioner of the Bureau, Mr Akin Olateru has indicated the readiness of his management to change the face of serious incident and accident reporting system in Nigeria by improving on the existing Annex 13 of the International Civil Aviation Organization, which deals with Accident Investigation.

According to the AIB Commissioner, before the end of the year, the Bureau would introduce a digital reporting system, which would be web-based, graphics and animated style, saying that this would further ease safety recommendation reports.

Olateru emphasised that when this comes onboard, Nigeria would be the first country in the world to adopt the system, stressing that the bureau had already signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Saudi Arabia on this, while the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) was also being carried along.

His words: AIB-N will, very soon, be in the world news. We are going the extra mile to come up with a different reporting style from Annex 13, which gives us the right to investigate serious incidents and accidents in the sector.

We need to move to the 21st century of accident reporting. With the new style we are coming up with, AIB-N will be the first organization in the world to improve on Annex 13. We are already discussing with ICAO and we are at the procurement stage at the moment. However, we hope to start the new system before the end of the year.

Equally, key players in the countrys aviation sector have called for a single accident reporting system that will enhance air transport safety.

Participants at a two-day Industry Engagement on the Review of Accident Reports organized by the Bureau in Abuja on Wednesday, bemoaned how many operators had formed the habits of hiding serious incidents that occurred on their aircraft from AIB-N, warning that this would not move the sector forward.

Speaking at the event, General Manager, Airworthiness and Standards at the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Mr Godwin Balang, emphasized the importance of a single reporting system, which he said should be made mandatory and accessible to all players in the Nigerian aviation industry.

While declaring that the single reporting system should involve NCAA, AIB and airline operators, Balang said this would prevent inconsistent or inappropriate reporting systems.

He canvassed for the use of checklists by all operators to ensure accuracy and prevention of air accidents in the system.

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