RIYADH — A report issued by the Aviation Investigations Bureau (AIB), under the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA), revealed that it had received 958 notifications about occurrences of accidents and other incidents during the year 2019, an increase of 70.7 percent compared to 2018 when it accounted for 561 notifications. AIB investigates accidents and other occurrences involving civil aircraft safety, and analyses data on all notified accidents and incidents. Notifications received by AIB included 246 incidents, including seven serious incidents, in addition to 712 other notifications pertaining to operational problems that are not classified as flight incidents. No accidents were recorded in the past year. According to the report, AIB conducted 26 investigations and released 27 reports related to the notifications received, including seven reports of Annex 13, 16 reports of limited scope, one report on safety concerns and three reports without completion of final investigations. The bureau issued 46 recommendations, including 44 related to safety and two stand-alone recommendations related to safety. The report showed the most prominent goals and responsibilities of the AIB, including the impartial investigation of aviation accidents and incidents, the preparation of studies necessary to enhance the safety of civil aviation, and recommendations related to aviation safety. AIB aims to strengthen aviation safety through independent occurrence investigations and safety studies, promote an effective and comprehensive safety reporting system and communicate risks and safety recommendations. It also conducts research into specific matters of concern that emerge from data analysis and specific incidents, or matters that may be referred to by other organizations. It does so in a manner consistent with the Aircraft Accident and Incident Investigation Convention on International Civil Aviation that was signed in Chicago in the year of 1944 (Annex 13). The AIB may also investigate serious accidents or incidents involving Saudi registered aircraft overseas, or assist with overseas investigations involving Saudi registered or foreign aircraft if an overseas investigative authority seeks assistance and the AIB has the suitable resources available.
