Group calls for collaborations between air safety organisations

The Banjul Accord Group Aviation Safety Oversight Organization (BAGASOO) has called for deeper partnership between the Regional Accident Investigation Organization (RAIO) Banjul Accord Group Accident Investigation Agency (BAGAIA) and a Regional Safety Oversight Organisation (RSOO) BAGASOO.

This is just as BAGAIA has said that Africa has had fewer hull losses in the past six years owing to sharing of information and capacity among member states of BAGAIA as well as ensuring implementation of safety recommendations.

Herbert Jow, regional finance and administrative manager, representing executive director of BAGASOO, made this known at the sixth commission meeting of the BAGAIA which held at the Metzy Hotel in The Gambia from July 12-14, 2021

Jow said the organization was mulling the alignment of policies and procedures between the organisations stressing it that it presented an opportunity to work more closely to address common challenges in the sub region for both member and non-member States.

He said, “We are delighted therefore to emphasize that our presence at this meeting demonstrates our determination to commit to greater collaboration, building on a relationship of mutual support, exchange of ideas, sharing of expertise and furthering of a fruitful partnership.

“To start with we are of the opinion that for uniformity under the umbrella of BAG, for the two organizations to harmonize their corporate administrative policies and procedures (staff rules/financial regulations etc..) were possible and also align the protocols for the provision of services to our member States and non-member States.”

Commissioner of BAGAIA, Charles Irikefe while expressing the benefits of deepened collaboration among member states and why that should be extended to the region and that is achievable with all hands on deck.

He said, “In the last few years, Africa has suffered fewer hull losses as compared to the era when aircraft were dropping out of the skies. In the case of our region with Nigeria as a case study, it has gone 6 years without a single crash until recently of military crashes, however, this is laudable for us all as Africans because we are learning fast to ensure our safety recommendations are implemented.”

He explained that the entire region is learning from reports that member states’ Accident Investigation Bureaus are churning out and with BAGAIA inclusive, they hope to replicate the same efficacy in those countries which may not have the wherewithal to conduct these investigations and make safety recommendations.

“Our meeting in the past couple of days have not only been revealing but has also shown that with all hands on deck, there is little we cannot achieve as a region with regards to investigating incidents and accidents and putting the results to the service of aviation, and humanity in general,” Erhueh said.