ICAO’s Accident Report Compliance? IATA says not GOOD!
Below is a strong criticism by IATA of the ICAO members compliance with the international organization’s Annex 13, quoted above. Its clear mission is to ensure the safe and orderly growth of international civil aviation.
In furtherance of its charter mission, one of its highest responsibilities is to conducts compliance audits to ensure that member states adhere to the standards and recommended practices outlined in the ICAO charter and its annexes. These audits help identify areas where improvements are needed and ensure that international aviation safety and security standards are maintained.
Those audits are published at its UNIVERSAL SAFETY OVERSIGHT AUDIT PROGRAMME (USOAP) website and these audits focus on the Member Nations complaince against critical elements (CEs). These measures assess each nation’seffective implementation and maintenance of aviation safety standards, for these standards are crucial for its safety oversight capabilities. The relevant CEs for Annex 13 include:
- Specific Operating Regulations:
- State Civil Aviation System and Safety Oversight Functions
- Technical Personnel Qualification and Training: Providing adequate training and qualifications for technical personnel involved in safety oversight.
- Technical Guidance, Tools, and Provision of Safety-Critical Information
- Resolution of Safety Concerns: Addressing and resolving identified safety issues PROMPTLY and effectively.
This chart, illustrative only, shows that the USOAP scorecard separates ACCIDENT INVESTIGATIONS as a distinct category. The blue dotted line shows the average score for all Nations and the “DOT” above accident investigations is the LOWEST MARK of all. A sampling, not scientific, of 5 countries shows abysmal tallies. ICAO has NOT ISSUED A SPECIFIC RECENT REPORT detailing the compliance of all Member Nations with these timely filing requirements.
IATA operations, safety and security senior VP Nick Careen, noted this dismal Annex 13 record and commented:
“We need governments to step up, we NEED ICAO TO PUT PRESSURE ON COUNTRIES THAT ARE NOT FILING THESE REPORTS ON A TIMELY BASIS”. He explained that IATA seeks these reports “because we want to learn from them, it’s a simple as that”, adding that ACCIDENT REPORTS ARE A MAJOR SOURCE OF INSIGHTS AND INFORMATION REQUIRED TO MAKE SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS.
ICAO’s primary mission is global aviation safety and through its leadership, many (if not most) of its Member Nations now rely on data, in particular the information contained in countries’ final accident reports, to reduce the likelihood of repeated mistakes. The failure of this UN organization to assure that the ICAO members adhere to Annex 13 requirements should be a topic for the ICAO Council soon!!!
IATA safety chief calls for timely reporting of accident investigations
By Greg Waldron
IATA’s safety chief has expressed concern about a shortfall in the number of final accident reports being published in line with ICAO Annex 13 standards, noting that recommendations from such inquiries are invaluable for improving air safety.
MARK SEARLE, IATA’s global safety director, says that the airline industry continues to provide an extremely safe travel experience for passengers. He points to IATA’s mid-year accident figures, which show an improvement over 2023.
OVER ONE YEAR AFTER the crash of flight MU5735, a China Eastern 737-800, a final report with safety lessons has YET TO EMERGE
“Everything in the safety report seems to be showing that we’re trending in the right direction,” says Searle, who spoke with FlightGlobal at the recent World Safety & Operations Conference in Hanoi.
One challenge that IATA has identified, however, is that governments are failing to provide timely safety reports in line with ICAO Annex 13 guidance. This calls for the state leading an accident investigation to release a preliminary report within 30 days of the occurrence, and a final report, which includes safety recommendations, as soon as possible, ideally within 12 months.
Accident investigations were the subject of a panel discussion at the conference. Rafael Rastrello, head of safety at LATAM Airlines, gave a presentation on the issue, disclosing that of 242 accidents between 2018 and mid-year 2023, JUST 113, OR 47%, have had their final accident investigation REPORT PUBLISHED.
The problem is not specific to any region, although Africa and South America show the biggest final report shortfalls in the last two years.
“Looking back over the last three years, it most certainly appears to us that FEWER THAN 50% OF ACCIDENT INVESTIGATIONS ARE PROVIDING THE REPORTS AS REQUIRED BY ICAO ANNEX 13,” says Searle.
“For me, as an ex-pilot, and for the wider airline industry, accident reports ensure that we learn from the issues that have happened in the past and [that we] try to mitigate those with corrective actions.”
He points to the accident reports covering the loss of flight AF447, an Air France Airbus A330-200 that crashed in the mid-Atlantic in 2009 while operating the Rio de Janeiro-Paris route. Although the investigation period was extended due to the challenging location of the crash site, lessons from the accident greatly influenced upset and recovery training.
Searle lists several reasons for the lack of timely reporting. One challenge is that MANY COUNTRIES LACK THE PERSONNEL AND RESOURCES FOR COMPREHENSIVE SAFETY INVESTIGATIONS. Such countries, he feels, perhaps could pool investigation resources with neighbours. Sovereign governments, however, may be wary about a loss of control.
“A lot of states like to have their own investigation authorities,” says Searle. “If you start to share that responsibility, where do the borders start to impact the ability for that pooling of expertise?”
[Curiously, ICAO already supports such cooperation- EFFECTIVE[1]?]
A further hurdle for the aviation industry is nurturing future investigators.
“We have some very mature people within accident investigations, who have been there for many, many years, and who have seen and investigated crashes over the years. But WHERE’S THE FUTURE GENERATION COMING FROM?”
IATA is exploring how the training of accident investigators can be standardised, which would ultimately encourage more homogeneous reporting.
It is critical, however, that reporting not become a mere box-ticking exercise, leading to a slew of final reports that offer little value from a safety perspective.
Searle admits that politics can play a role in aircraft accident investigations, noting that some countries and regions have provided minimal reporting about accidents that happened well over a year ago.
“THESE LEARNINGS FROM EVENTS THAT HAVE HAPPENED BEFORE ARE CRITICAL FOR THE FUTURE SAFETY OF THE INDUSTRY,” HE SAYS.
“AND SO, PERSONALLY, I DON’T BELIEVE IT’S ACCEPTABLE TO DRAG ONE’S HEELS IN CONDUCTING ACCIDENT INVESTIGATIONS IN ACCORDANCE WITH [ANNEX 13].”
[1] Per Copilot AI–Regional Accident and Incident Investigation Organizations (RAIOs) have proven to be quite effective in producing thorough and high-quality accident investigation reports. Here are some key points highlighting their effectiveness:
- Enhanced Collaboration: RAIOs facilitate collaboration among member states, pooling resources, expertise, and information. This collective approach often leads to more comprehensive and detailed investigations
- Improved Reporting: By standardizing procedures and methodologies, RAIOs ensure consistency and accuracy in accident and incident reporting. This helps in identifying trends and implementing preventive measures more effectively.
- Resource Optimization: Smaller states, which might lack the resources to conduct independent investigations, benefit significantly from the shared resources and expertise provided by RAIOs.
- Training and Capacity Building: RAIOs often provide training and capacity-building programs for investigators, enhancing the overall quality and reliability of investigations.
- Compliance with International Standards: RAIOs help member states comply with international aviation safety standards and recommendations, such as those set by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
Overall, RAIOs play a crucial role in improving the quality and effectiveness of accident and incident investigations, contributing to enhanced aviation safety globally.
