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“Civil Aviation” Inks Agreement with UK to Enhance Accident Investigations

Direct News Source

03-Oct-2012 The General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) has recently entered into a mutual agreement with the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) of the United Kingdom on cooperation relating to aircraft accident and incident investigation.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), which was signed in August, aims to enhance aviation safety through the two parties' cooperation in the investigations into the civil aviation accidents and incidents.

Both GCAA and AAIB, whenever resources allow, will offer mutual assistance and the use of air safety investigation manpower, facilities and equipment as it deems appropriate. Such assistance may include expertise in the fields of engineering, operations, flight recorders and human performance.

H.E Saif Al Suwaidi, Director General of GCAA, said that: "Enhanced cooperation with international aviation-related entities is part of GCAA strategic plan initiatives in creating more advanced, communicative and responsive safety environment through partnership and alliances with national and international stakeholders."

In addition to its in-house modern flight recorders' lab located in Abu Dhabi, the GCAA will get benefits in utilizing the AAIB's read-out and analysis labs as well as expertise and other technical resources for the old types of flight recorders.

Mr. Ismaeil Abdelwahed, Executive Director of Air Accident Investigation at GCAA, outlined that previous to this latest MoU, the GCAA had entered into agreements with more than one national and international organization such as the Civil Defense of Dubai, the Civil Aviation Authority of Dubai, the Abu Dhabi Aircraft Technologies LLC (ADAT), the Central Metallurgical Research and Development Institute (CMRDI) of Egypt, the Canadian Transport Safety Board (TSB) and the French Bureau of Aircraft Accident Investigation (BEA). The GCAA is in the final touches of signing MoU with the Interstate Aviation Committee (IAC) which encompasses twelve East Europe states.

It is worthy to mention that international cooperation in air accidents and incidents investigations is one of the utmost recommendations of the International Civil Aviation Authority (ICAO).