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Tag: Akin Olateru

  • AIB seeks AfDB funding for Safer Skies programme

    NIGERIA’S Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) said at the weekend that it was seeking assistance from African Development Bank (AfDB) to fund the Safer Skies for Africa programme.

    The bureau said it reached out to the AfDB, following the decision of the United States (U.S) government to discontinue its sponsorship of the programme from next year.

    Its Commissioner and Chief Executive Officer, Akin Olateru, stated this in a media briefing in Lagos at the close of a training seminar for African nations, called “Safer Skies for Africa”.

    Heads of accident investigation bureaux from several African countries attended the programme sponsored by AIB and the U.S Department of Transportation.

    Olateru said the U.S. government, which had sponsored the programme for many years, did not give any reason for its action.

    The AIB chief said the bureau decided to approach the AfDB to consider funding air safety in Africa due to the huge role air transport plays on the continent as an enabler of economic development.

    He said the proposal to continental financial body was for it to see it as its corporate social responsibility (CSR) project.

    According to him, the programme has impacted positively many African countries, which got training assistance from the U.S Department of Transportation and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).

    Olateru said: “Today, we have come to the end of the programme where we brought in African nations to an aviation safety gathering sponsored by AIB Nigeria in conjunction with the Safe Sky Africa, which is the Department of Transport in the U.S, and the U.S NTSB.

    Read Also: AfDB lauds Chinese commitment to Africa

    “Unfortunately, I heard the programme has come to an end as the U.S government will no longer sponsor the safe sky programme. This is very unfortunate because African has really benefited from this programme.

    “I think we Africans should put heads together on how we can help ourselves. We have approached AfDB, under its corporate social responsibility, to take up sponsoring the programme. To help Africans, that is why we owe it to ourselves to work together as a team and strengthen aviation and make aviation a safer place to be.”

    The AIB chief said talks were ongoing to partner the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) to facilitate the mechanism for release of the funds from AfDB for execution of the programme.

    Throwing more light on the programme, he said: “I cannot speak on behalf of the U.S government on why they decided to stop the funding the Safe Skies for Africa project. All I know is that we were told that the project has stopped. On the AfDB, I make bold to say this is my initiative of getting AfDB to sponsor this project to the benefit of Africa nations.

    “I had a meeting with the ICAO president two months ago in Montreal, Canada. I had a discussion with him on how AfDB can continue to sponsor this project through ICAO because AfDB will not just release money to AIB Nigeria; it has to be an independent organisation, which is ICAO. It is not just to Nigeria but to African nations.

    “There will be another meeting during the next ICAO Assembly on the clear-cut modality on how to get this done. So, talks are still on, on how to make this work.”

     

  • AIB to release six crash report this month

    The Commissioner of Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) Akin Olateru has stated that the agency would release the final report on Delta Air Lines Airbus A330-223 and five other accidents and incidents reports on April 25,2019.

    This is just as the Bureau said it has invested $1 million on the training of staff in the last one year, adding that arrangements are on to establish a training institution in partnership with the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology(NCAT) and  Cranfield University.

    Recall that one of the engines of Delta Air Lines A330-223 aircraft caught fire on February 14, 2018, a situasion which made the aircraft to make an return minutes after take off.

    He made this known while delivering his Keynote address at the Bureau’s 2019 Stakeholders’ Forum with a theme, “Review Accident Investigation Bureau Regulations 2016 and its Implications on Stakeholders”at Radisson Blu Hotels, Lagos.

    Olateru explained that apart from Delta Airlines accident  report, other final reports to be released includes: Cessna 208B Caravan with registration 5N-BMJ belonging to late former governor Danbaba Suntai, which occurred on October 25, 2012 and Diamond DA40 aircraft belonging to International Aviation College ( IAC) Ilorin with registration 5N-BRD on November 25, 2013,

    Others are 2018 Dana runway incident in Port Harcourt Bristow Helicopter Sikorsky S76C++ with registration 5N-BQJ on February 3, 2016 and Gulfstream 2000 belonging to NestOil with 5N-SRI in February 2018.

    The AIB boss stated that he had sent the report of the Delta serious incident to the aircraft manufacturer; Airbus for the 60 day review before the release of the report and that it returned from the manufacturers with ‘No Comment’.

    AIB , he stated was trying to clear all the backlog of reports, adding that when he was appointed the boss of AIB, he put experts in group to investigation, a departure from the old older where investigation was personalized.

    To further buttress his point and to show the confidence reposed  on AIB reports, Olateru said that at Cranfield University in United States,” Our reports are been used as case studies.”

    According to him, “We are trying to clear all the backlog of report We have moved AIB from an agency of government that released accidents and incidents reports two times a year to an agency that release 23 reports in two years. When I came to AIB investigation was personalised. But today I have put people in group to investigate accidents and incidents.”

    The AIB CEO disclosed that the agency has invested heavily in the training of the agency’s staff in Singapore and National Transport Safety Board(NTSB) In the United States for On the Job Training(OJT).

    On the capacity of its Flight Safety Laboratory, he said that the lab. Has the capacity to download anything including Flight Data Recorder (FDR) and Cockpit Voice Recorder ((CVR)

    Earlier, the Managing Director of Spring Fountain, Mr. Tunde Fagbemi stated that the aviation industry was the most regulated in the world and that it is because of its importance attached to safety.

    He pointed out that the reason accidents happened is because of some series of activities that were ignore

    “Aviation is the most regulated industry in the world, why do we need to regulate and it’s unfortunate but Ethiopian knows the need for regulation, Boeing, Airbus, Bombardier know why aviation needs to be regulated.”

    He continued, “Accident is not what needs to happen, but it is something that we need to prevent. An accident is a culmination of many little events that were ignored and the most fundamental objective of AIB is safety and issuing safety recommendations for the betterment of the industry.”

    The AIB Commissioner also revealed that the bureau is in the process of signing an agreement with France so the AIB can handle investigations of French-Speaking West African countries’ incident,” they appreciate what we are doing here, he said, “meaning we are doing something right.”

  • Osinbajo: Landing in dusty environment caused chopper’s crash – AIB

    ……Attributes crash to effects of landing in dusty environment

     

    The Accident Investigation Bureau ( AIB ) on Wednesday released the report of the helicopter crash involving Agusta Westland W 139 Caverton Helicopters which flew Vice President to Kabba in Kogi State.

    The AIB attributed the February 2, 2019 crash of the Chopper marked with registration number 5N – CML to effects of a brown out generated during its landing in a dry dusty environment.

    It said Caverton should have carried out risk assessment test at the Kaaba stadium before the flight.

    Brown out in aviation par lance means a condition generated during landing in a sandy, dusty environment.

    The chopper operated by Caverton Helicopter occurred at Kaaba Stadium in Kogi State. It flew Osinbajo his entourage and three crew members.

    The chopper was manufactured in 2012.

    Speaking at a briefing at its headquarters at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, AIB Commissioner and Chief Executive Officer, Akin Olateru said though the investigation into the crash is ongoing, it has however issued two safety recommendations to the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and the operator : Caverton Helicopters Limited.

    Olateru said the NCAA should issue advisory circular to helicopter operators on the effects of brown out and how to mitigate its effects.

    The second safety recommendation, Olateru said is for Caverton Helicopters to carry out proper risk analysis and assessment before operating flights into unapproved landing pad.

    He said the final report on the accident will be released in few months.

  • Nigeria, Republic of Benin partner on air accident investigation

    The Nigerian Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) and the Bureau Enquêtes-Accidents of Benin Republic have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on accident investigation.

    The MoU was signed on the sideline of the ongoing workshop on accident investigation for African countries organised by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), on Wednesday in Abuja.

    While signing the MoU, Mr Akin Olateru, AIB Commissioner, said the two countries would partner in the area of accident investigation, capacity building and information sharing, to enhance standards.

    Olateru said the partnership would help the nations’ accident authorities fulfill their international obligations in accident investigation.

    According to him, the agreement in the MoU is in four parts — cooperation, capacity and human development, exchange of information and assistance.

    He said the two countries would assist each other in the event of an accident in any of the countries by combining their resources and expertise to conduct the investigation.

    According to him, AIB will be signing another MoU with Sao Tome, Niger Republic and other countries within the next few months.

    “All these today between Republic of Benin and Nigeria is to help us both to fulfill our obligations with regards to ICAO convention on accident investigation.

    “The synergy will go a long way to enhance capacity of our investigators because they will be working with each other to investigate accidents in any of the countries.

    “It is about capacity building at the end of the day;if you look at it because the more you practice the more you learn in accident investigation practices because there are no two same accidents and it takes years to fully train an accident investigator.

    “This for us, is to enhance our capability and boost our expertise in terms of accident investigation and as at today, Nigeria is the leader in terms of accident investigation in Africa” he said.

    Bongo Paul, Head of Bureau Enquêtes-Accidents, Benin Republic, said he was glad to have signed the MoU with Nigeria, adding that the negotiation for the partnership had been on for six months.

    Paul said it was significant to have entered into the partnership with a next door neighbouring country in addition to the ones with European countries.

    He said the idea was to enable Benin to fulfill its obligations in the area of accident investigation through capacity building.

  • AIB fingers poor crew resource management as cause of Associated airlines crash

    Accident Investigation Bureau ( AIB ) on Wednesday attributed poor co- ordination between the two pilots that operated the ill – fated Associated Aviation October 3, 2013 as the cause of the crash saying the crew failed to implement principles of crew resource management.

    The AIB, while releasing the final accident report said the pilots should have aborted take – off the aircraft following indications from the aircraft that some components were not properly activated.

    Besides, the failings of the crew, it also fingered poor regulatory oversight duties by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority ( NCAA ) as another causal factor for the crash.

    Speaking yesterday at a briefing in Lagos , AIB , Commissioner and Chief Executive Officer, Akin Olateru apologized for the delay in the release of the accidents reports saying probe of  air accidents is not to indict any agency but to avoid reoccurrence.

    Olateru also fingered poor company as part of the cause of the crash.

    The Associated Aviation Embraer 120 aircraft with 20 passengers on board was conveying the remains of former Ondo State Governor, Chief Olusegun Agagu for burial in Akure.

    Besides, the Associated Aviation crash report, the AIB also released five final reports involving Bristow Helicopters , NCAT  trainer aircraft , Westlink Aviation and NAHCO loader and AeroContractors Aircraft .

    Olateru said since January 2017  the AIB, has released 16 accident reports.

  • AIB detains Delta Airlines crew over aircraft fire

    Nigeria’s Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) said on Wednesday that crew of Delta Airlines Airbus 330 – 200 that caught fire mid -air after taking off from the Murtala Mohammed International Airport in Lagos cannot leave the country until they obtain incident statement.

    AIB’s Commissioner and Chief Executive Officer, Akin Olateru disclosed this at a press briefing in Lagos.

    Olateru said the airline’s flight engineers cannot carry out any repairs on the aircraft because it has become the subject of investigation.

    He said the AIB is taking the step as part of its obligations to protect the aircraft under investigation.

    Olateru said Delta Airlines has not officially report the incident to the AIB, a development that contravenes Nigerian laws.

    He said the AIB and Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) were collaborating on how to carry out comprehensive investigations into the cause of the aircraft engine fire.

    He berated the airline for failing to notify the AIB on the incident as the country of occurrence in line with the regulations of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).

    Olateru said: “When you have this kind of thing, we take possession of the aircraft and nobody goes near it. The aircraft is under safety investigation. That is what is required by law but until they make a formal report, then we are expecting them.

    “I was made to understand they have appointed two investigators to work with us and they should be arriving this afternoon, I was made to understand.

    “US NTSB notified us that Delta has appointed two investigators to join us and NTSB is nominating one person. Their representative too will be joining to assist us on this investigation.

    “There is no competition or rivalry. For your information, I was notified by the DG of NCAA on the incident.”

     

  • AIB boss urge pilots, others to be professional in their duties

    AIB boss urge pilots, others to be professional in their duties

    Mr Akin Olateru, the Commissioner, Accident Investigation Bureau ( AIB ), has  emphasised the need  for members of the National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers ( NAAPE ) to discharge their duties professionally.

    The commissioner’s call is in a statement by Mr Tunji Oketunbi, the Head, Public Affairs, AIB, on Sunday in Lagos.

    Oketunbi stated that the commissioner made the call when a delegation of NAAPE, led by its President, Mr Abednego Galadima, paid a courtesy visit to Olateru at the AIB headquarters.

    Olateru said the Nigerian aviation industry would experience more growth and safe flight operations if aircraft engineers and pilots in various organisations displayed professionalism in carrying out  their responsibilities.

    He lauded NAAPE for the pragmatic approach  in dealing with managements of various organisations in the industry, noting that the attitude had brought stability to the sector and enjoined them to continue  in the same manner.

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

    “It is not about money. For some unions, it is for the highest bidders, but you have been consistent with the truth.

    “Without NAAPE, there is no aviation. NAAPE is the most important union 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 urge your members 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 times.

    He attributed this to the new approach by the current management, which removed accident reports from the apron string of individuals to collective contributions.

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

    “The Minister of State for Aviation, Sen. Hadi Sirika, recently told me not to rush reports that could be faulted by anyone.

    “So, I took time to go through the process to show him that our reports can’t be faulted. Our reports are not done individually again.

    “We now have groups comprising 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 comments and observations.

    “On getting feed backs, we now do a general review, which involves virtually all the investigators, before it goes out for proof reading,”he said.

    Olateru noted that aviation industry anywhere in the world was technical and volatile, stressing that whatever developments that took place in other sectors also affect aviation industry.

    He pointed out  that the minister  was working with Central Bank of Nigeria ( CBN ) to ensure that interest rate on loans obtained by investors in the sector was not more than nine per cent, which would go a long way in improving standards in the sector.

    Olateru emphasised that it required expertise for an investor to run an airline business successfully and enjoined investors in the sub-sector to allow proven professionals to run the businesses.

    In his remarks, Galadima commended Olateru for bringing stability to AIB within a short period of time.

    He promised that the association would work with the management, especially in the area of accident prevention and would sensitise members on non-hazard and violation according to Annex 13 of the International Civil Aviation Organisation ( ICAO ).

    He added that “we want to see that the industry grows. We are here to see that aviation in Nigeria grows and gets a win-win for employees and employers.

    “We recognise that AIB has paucity of funds, but despite this, the bureau has been paying the licence fee to NAAPE members in the agency.

    “I will also use this opportunity to call for the release of promotion letters to our members in your organisation as the year is running out. Also, I seek proper placement as it affects our members. We will support you, but as friends, we will also tell you the truth.”

  • AIB, Unilorin sign agreement on usage of $5.8m lab

    AIB, Unilorin sign agreement on usage of $5.8m lab

    The University of Ilorin (Unilorin) and the Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the usage of the bureau’s $5.8 million metallurgical laboratory at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the agreement was signed by both parties at the AIB’s headquarters at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos on Tuesday.

    Mr Akin Olateru, the Commissioner of AIB, said at the signing ceremony that the partnership would be beneficial to the agency and the university.

    He said it was worrisome that both private and public business organisations expend little or no resources to funding of researches and projects in the country.

    According to him, Harvard University in the United States alone has in excess of $30 billion for research purposes.

    The commissioner said with adequate research, the country would benefit more.

    He explained that the vision of the management was to make the laboratory a world class facility where giant construction companies and countries like South Africa, United Kingdom and other European nations could come to conduct research.

    The AIB boss said the collaboration with the university would lead to the recognition of Nigeria as a serious nation in research in the international community.

    He maintained that usage of the facility would lead to human capital development in the country, while the laboratory would also give students more opportunity to practise whatever they had been taught in the classrooms.

    Olateru said :”This is a very important occasion for us and I believe University of Ilorin too should be proud of this occasion.

    ” I have about 30 years experience in aviation and this is the first that I know of, that an aviation agency is signing an MOU with any higher institution in this country for the benefit of Nigerians.

    “Let’s look at it very well, Federal Government owns AIB and University of Ilorin is equally owned by the federal government. Why can’t we collaborate?

    “I challenge every other agency to see how we can all collaborate. No more a stand-alone business. We should find a way how we can benefit on one and other.

    “You don’t need to have all the resources, competence or the technical expertise by yourself; it is all about collaboration,” he said.

    Olateru said that the agency hoped to lure more academic institutions to make use of the facility, stressing that it would also form part of its Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).

    On his part, the leader of the university’s delegation, Prof. Yinusa Jimoh, noted that it was the first time the institution would sign an MoU with any Ministry, Department and Agency (MDA) in the country.

    He expressed the hope that it would be mutually benefitial to parties involved.

    Jimoh noted that Nigeria had a lot to gain from the partnership, stressing that rather than travel abroad for research, they would be able to do so with ease in the country.

    He enjoined other academic institutions in the country to take a cue from the institution by looking inward whenever they are conducting researches, stressing that this would also go a long way in curbing capital flight out of the country.

    “Nigeria has a lot to gain through this partnership because Nigerians go to every part of the world for research purposes.

    “We still send materials overseas when we are doing some research work. Our facilities still require improvement and this is a good facility for us; we are taking good opportunity of this.

    “We are looking for a place to improve our facilities and we have it now. By tomorrow, this thing that we are starting today will be a huge benefit for this country.

    “I can assure you that we are starting an agreement that would be sustained. It’s a win-win situation for all of us involved,” Jimoh said.

  • AIB resuscitates $5.8m laboratory at Abuja airport

    The Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) said on Tuesday it has resuscitated its $5.8 million Flight Safety Laboratory at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

    AIB’s spokesman, Mr. Tunji Oketunbi, said in a statement that the Bureau’s Commissioner, Mr. Akin Olateru, made the disclosure at training in Abuja.

    The training was facilitated by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and Singaporean Government.

    Olateru said the agency has also trained staff on the handling of the laboratory, which was constructed and equipped in 2012.

    The commissioner noted that the management had signed a contract with a Canadian firm, CEA/Flightscape in 2011 to install state-of-the-art equipment in its new laboratory.

    He said the laboratory was designed to download information from Flight Data Recorder (FDR) and Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR), among others.

    He said: “The summary of the matter is that the laboratory was not working when I took over as the commissioner.

    “I made it a priority to resuscitate the laboratory considering its importance to the discharge of AIB’s responsibilities.

    “I galvanised all the necessary quarters to achieve this mission. ICAO and the Singaporean government agreed to help.

    “First I charged our ICT compound to get the laboratory running, which they successfully did. So, I can confidently tell you that the laboratory is working.

    “However, we need the in-house capacity to manage it and maximise the benefits of the facility. This is where ICAO has come in.”

    Olateru said the optimum performance of the laboratory was central to the Bureau’s contribution to safety in Nigeria and the sub-region.

    He added that the management was not unaware of the expectation of ICAO and the West African sub-region from the  AIB.

    NAN