About the annual meeting of managers of independent transport accident investigation bodies

The IAC delegation participated in the annual Meeting of manager of independent transport accident investigation bodies under the authority of the International Transport Safety Association (ITSA, International transportation safety), from May 23-25 which was held in Paris last year.

Established in 1993 and consisting of 16 investigation bodies the Association includes National Transport Safety Board (NTSB), Canadian Transport Safety Board (CTSB), Dutch Safety Board, transport accident and incident investigation bodies of Sweden, Finland, Norway, Australia, Great Britain, New Zealand, India, Japan, South Korea, France, Singapore and Member States of the "Agreement on Civil Aviation and Use of Airspace" represented by the Interstate Aviation Committee.

Current issues of transport safety, disasters investigation results, practice in the field of development and implementation of recommendations aimed at safety development, monitoring of such recommendations implementation to state authorities were discussed during the meeting.  

In connection with recent events the issues connected with aviation security, accident investigation connected with unlawful interference in civil aviation activity (terrorism, etc.) were emphasized during the meeting. The necessity to strengthen the status of investigation structures independence from tribunals, executive and supervisory authority was the subject of discussion. This status will allow the investigation bodies to conduct really impartial investigations and identify both direct and root systemic accident causes without ascertaining someone's guilt and not being the hostage of narrow preoccupations. The gathered members were focused on data protection (including CVR and video recorders) from inappropriate use during transport accident investigation. The participants emphasized the necessity of international cooperation intensification in this field and active propaganda of non-punitive culture in the field of investigations connected with "human factor". 

The following Association Meeting is scheduled to be held in Tokyo in autumn 2017.