AIB charges NAAPE to be professional in discharge of their duties

Akin Olateru, Commissioner, Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) has charged members of the National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE) to be more professional in the discharge of their duties.

Olateru also said that accident reports of the bureau have received commendations in recent time due to the processes adopted by the management before releasing such to the public.

A statement by Tunji Oketunbi, head, public affairs, AIB, said that Olateru stated this recently when the leadership of NAAPE, led by its President, Abednego Galadima paid him a courtesy visit in his office at the Murtala Muhamed Airport (MMA), Lagos.

According to Olateru, if members of NAAPE aircraft engineers and pilots in various organisations displayed professionalism in the discharge of their duties, the Nigerian aviation industry would experience more growth while the sector would continue to remain safe for flight operations.

Olateru also lauded NAAPE for showing pragmatic professionalism in dealing with managements of various organisations in the industry, saying that their attitude had brought stability to the sector and enjoined them to continue with this approach.

He said: “There is no organisation without workers and if there is no organisation, there will be no workers. Your association has demonstrated enough professionalism.

“Without NAAPE, there is no aviation. NAAPE is one of the most important unions in the industry. I am not however saying that other unions are not important. But, everything surrounds aircraft. If there is no aircraft, there is no aviation. NAAPE comes first in the industry. So, I will want you to also enjoin your member to be more professional in the discharge of their duties.”

Commenting on the release of accident reports by the bureau, Olateru observed that none of its reports had been faulted by any individual or organisation in recent time.

He said this was so due to the new approach adopted by the current management, which removed accident reports from the apron string of individuals to collective contributory.

He explained that because of the quality of works done by investigators, no engine or aircraft manufacturer had faulted the reports of the agency on aircraft incident or accident.

“Hadi Sirika, the Minister of State for Aviation, recently told me that we should not rush our reports so that it can’t be faulted by anyone. So, I took the time to take him through the process to show him that our reports can’t be faulted. Our reports are not done individually again.

“Now, we have groups comprising of experienced and inexperienced investigators. No one personalises reports again. And after the groups have finished their work with the draft reports, we send them to stakeholders for their comments and observations. On getting feedbacks, we now do a general review, which involves virtually all the investigators, before it goes out for proof reading.”

Olateru insisted that aviation industry anywhere in the world is technical and volatile, stressing that whatever developments that takes place in other sector affects aviation industry.

CHETACHUKWU UMEREMADU