Page 27 - Index

and standard for “safety recommendation many more final reports became available.
of global concern” and revised provisions on In May 2021 during the AIGP meeting, it was
recorded data for accident and incident in- reported that the number of final reports
vestigations became applicable in Annex 13. becoming available had increased to 63%.
These amendments were recommendations For at least another 10%, there was some
of the AIGP, of which many of you are mem- reason why they were not published. The
bers. I would like to, once again, reinforce AIGP working group is progressing with this
our gratitude for your assistance in helping research to obtain responses from states that
us advance the AIGP’s work program. still need to reply.
Allow me to highlight a few of the current
work program elements under consideration Other Topics
by the AIGP. Some of these elements have Some of the other topics the AIGP addressed
reached a level of maturity to be recom- include accident/incident data reporting,
mended for the consideration of the Air investigator training guidance material, re-
Navigation Commission as proposed amend- gional accident and incident investigations,
ments to Annex 13, whereas others are still trust framework, and conflict-zone-related
being considered. investigations.

Investigating RPAS Accidents A Challenge
and Incidents I would like to challenge you as an ISASI
Due to the advances of remotely piloted group with members on the forefront of new
aircraft systems (RPAS), the AIGP drafted investigation techniques to consider meth-
and recommended provisions for the inves- ods for investigating accidents involving new
tigation of RPAS accident and incidents. This technologies. We think of RPAS on the one
was a complex process that required coor- hand, but even more interesting are the in-
dination with the RPAS panel to understand vestigation of occurrences where new tech-
the intricacies of RPAS and how best to ap- nologies are fitted to current aircraft. And in
proach and investigate accidents involving the near future, dynamic updating of aircraft
these aircraft systems. software—maybe even in real time—could
be enabled to address the real challenges
Availability and Protection of Flight for the security of these systems as they
become connected. Or imagine an autoland
Recorder Data as a GADSS Requirement system for current aircraft in the case of pilot
With the requirement for timely availabil- incapacitation. Think of the challenges for an
ity of flight recorder data under the global investigator if an aircraft with such a system
aeronautical distress and safety system is involved in an accident.
(GADSS), options such as transmission of
flight recorder data, or deployable flight Conclusion
recorders, became realities. The concern Annex 13 is a mature document used as a
with this is the protection of the sensitive global reference, mainly in complex inves-
flight recorder data if it is transmitted or tigations involving numerous states and
how data on a deployable flight recorder is different parties. Your discussions, which
protected during the recovery process. The feed the participation of ISASI in the devel-
AIGP recommended amendments to Annex opment of ICAO investigation provisions,
13 addressing this topic.
are undoubtedly what makes this annex a
benchmark to investigations worldwide.
Publication of Final Reports ICAO reaffirms its wish to count on your
The 2015 High-Level Safety Conference valuable contributions toward the progress
acknowledged that many investigations may of safe international air transport.
not be conducted or may go unreported and ICAO would like to express its gratitude
recommended that ICAO review relevant to Marcus Costa, a long-standing member
provisions in Annex 13 and take appropriate of ISASI, who retired from ICAO after 17
action. During the initial research by the years as chief of the Accident Investigation
AIGP, reviewing more than a thousand fatal Section. His dedication to the work of ICAO
accidents that occurred between 1990 and and to the accident investigation community
2016, data indicated that almost 60% of the is well known.
final reports had not been published. After I have noticed your comprehensive
further research and follow-up with states, program in the next days and wish you
with the assistance of ICAO regional offices, fruitful discussions.

January-March 2022 ISASI Forum • 27