Commissioner, Banjul Accord Group Accident Investigation Agency ( BAGAIA) Engineer Charles Irikefe Erhueh has said that cost of safety is nowhere near what happens when there is an accident stressing that accidents and incidents investigation be taken seriously for the safety lessons they provide.
Engineer Erhueh made this known during a visit to Sierra Leone Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau( SL-AAIIB) for an Assistance Mission to States in the Development of Legislation, Regulations and Procedures relating to CE:1-CE:8.
As part of the Banjul Accord Group Accident Investigation Agency’s (BAGAIA) Strategic Plan cum 2023 Work Programme the Regional Accident Investigation Organisation ( RAIO) has the responsibility to monitor and provide inputs to member states on the formulation and implementation of its operations in relation to ICAO-SARPS in the area of aircraft accident and incident investigation (AIG).
During this visit the BAGAIA Commissioner commended the Sierra Leone Deputy Minister of Transport and Aviation, Mr. Rex Bhonapha of the government for keying into the idea of establishing an aircraft accident bureau which his team midwifed in 2020 after extensive interaction between BAGAIA and the state.
Deputy Minister of Transport and Aviation during his earlier response commended the SL-AAIIB and BAGAIA especially for the role the latter played in ensuring the establishment of the bureau saying that the new body is doing very well while adding that the hardest part of any institution is the start-up phase.
He said the government is doing its best to push the bureau to an envious one in the continent.The deputy minister further said safety in aviation was key and that he has worked in mining industry where he stood in as a safety manager.
He said incident and accident ,98% causes are due to human factor while 2% is due other factors.
“Safety is very key, we will not wait until it happens.
The commissioner SL-AAIIB, Engr. Olubunmi Wellington thanked the Deputy Minister for his support so far and said the bureau will continue to count of him for more growth and assistance.
The meeting was held between BAGAIA Team, SL-AAIIB with the Deputy Minister of Transport and Aviation at his office and had in attendance Deputy Minister Mr.Rex Bhonapha, Commissioner Sierra Leone Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau Engr. Olubunmi Wellington, BAGAIA Commissioner Engr.Charles Irikefe Erhueh, the Technical Support/Training Director BAGAIA Engr.Ameh Samuel,the ICT personnel of SL-AAIIB Mr. Ralford Rollings-Bull (ICT Officer-SLAAIIB).
