Accident and incident investigation workshops took place in Abu Dhabi from 26th to 28th May 2013
Dubai, UAE: The General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) recently hosted the third Regional Accident and Incident Investigation Organization [RAIO] meeting in Abu Dhabi. The event saw participation from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Kingdom of Bahrain, State of Kuwait, Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, Republic of Sudan and a wide range of industry partners.
RAIO is an initiative by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), that helps to eliminate duplication of efforts by pooling human, technical and financial resources, and achieving economies of scale that leads to effectiveness and efficiency. Additionally, it helps investigators in the region gain experience quickly and demonstrate improved regional solidarity.
The GCAA's Air Accident Investigation Sector (AAIS), with the support from its partners, is leading this international initiative to enhance the regional capabilities in investigating incidents and accidents. This is being achieved through the cooperation of the member states who are working together in investigating major aircraft accidents that require highly specialized experts and facilities.
Middle East and North Africa Society of Air Safety Investigators [MENASASI]
On Monday 27 May, the GCAA hosted the inaugural meeting of for the Middle East and North Africa Society of Air Safety Investigators [MENASASI] in Abu Dhabi.
Participants covering various sectors of air transport industry from across the region, gathered in Abu Dhabi for a one day workshop on accident investigation led and hosted by the GCAA's Air Accident Investigation Sector.
Executive Director of the GCAA Air Accident Investigation Sector(AAIS), Eng. Ismaeil Abdul Wahed joined forces with a board of five esteemed personnel with wealth of experience in safety and investigation, to establish a regional Society of Safety Investigators.
The high level of participation in the MENASASI organization meeting has reflected the region's recognition of the initiative for an open but confidential forum for exchanging ideas, experience and information on aviation safety, and accident and incident investigation.
Post-accident Communications Workshop
On 28th May 2013 the GCAA organized a workshop on how to improve an organization's awareness levels of the issues associated with accident investigation process.
The objective of this one day workshop was to highlight how communications during accident investigation processes should be managed, while providing lessons learned from other successful and unsuccessful experiences in investigation processes around the region.
The workshop also covered issues related to cultural and political differences around the region and their influence on accident investigation process. It raised the necessity for organizations to deal with accident investigations with a holistic team approach.
Conclusion
Following the three- day event, participants agreed to work closer in solving any potential issues that might occur and on the importance of having a strategy to handle issues related to accident investigation process.
H.E. Saif Mohammed Al Suwaidi, Director General of the GCAA and Chairman of Arab Civil Aviation Commission Council (ACAC) said:
"The UAE enjoys a safer than ever before aviation environment, nevertheless we need to continue to improve on this. Although it takes years to develop expertise in international standard accident investigation, by developing the local knowledge, the region will become self-dependent very soon".
"Without the support from the higher management nothing could have been possible" said Eng. Ismaeil Abdul Wahed, Executive Director of the GCAA AAIS, "A few years ago regional coordination for establishing a Society of Safety Investigators was not considered feasible, however our joint efforts brought states and people closer. This will help facilitate the processes of recruiting and developing air accident investigators in the UAE and the other states."
© Press Release 2013
