The Banjul Accord Group Accident Investigation Agency (BAGAIA)

Basic Accident Investigation Training Course

Engineer Charles Irikefe Erhueh, BAGAIA Commissioner

Mr. Nicholas Leroy – EASA Representative / Chief Facilitator

Capt. Moses K. Weefur, Commissioner, Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB)

Hon. Abraham T. Simmons, Executive Director Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB)

Hon. Daniel T. Johnson, Deputy Secretary General for Administrative Affairs, Roberts Flight Information Region (RFIR)

Hon. Jero H. Mends-Cole, Managing Director, Liberia Airport Authority (LAA)

Facilitators / Trainers

Participants

Distinguished Ladies and Gentleman

The last couple of months have been very exciting times for the Liberia Civil Aviation Authority. Particularly so, we can reference the gallant efforts being exerted to restore normalcy and compliance to ICAO Standards and Recommended Practices as well as international norms for the Aviation Sector of Liberia, as required by ICAO.

As you all are aware, recent International Civil Aviation Organization, Universal Safety Oversight Audit Program, Continuous Monitoring Audit (ICAO USOAP/CMA) result shows a very dismal Effective Implementation (EI) score for the Aviation Sector in Liberia, Categorizing us as Non-Compliant. We must change this narrative by taking these progressive steps in actualizing the implementation of the CAP that should mitigate and alleviate the discrepancies and anomalies identified.

The way forward to achieve this objective entails collaboration, cooperation and pooling of efforts and resources. Training, therefore, becomes a critical aspect in this regard. Several weeks ago, the Banjul Accord Group Aviation Safety Oversight Organization (BAGASOO) was here in Monrovia collaborating with the Liberia CAA to conduct a course in “The Resolution of Safety Concerns”. The last two weeks was jammed packed with two International Civil Aviation Organizations, Regional Office Safety Team (ICAO ROST) Missions, specifically from the Western and Central African (WACAF) Office to assist the LCAA in drafting a plan of actions to correct the discrepancies found.

Today, we are here to start a workshop for “Aircraft Accident Investigations” being conducted by the Banjul Accord Group Aviation Investigation Agency (BAGAIA), and hosted by the Liberia Civil Aviation Authority (LCAA) in collaboration with the newly formed Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) of Liberia. These are all significant progressive steps aimed at improving Aviation Safety and development not only for Liberia, but the sub region as a whole.

Through concerted efforts, the Liberia Legislature enacted an Act creating the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau AAIB in 2019 to further enhance aviation safety for the aviation sector. The AAIB is now fully functional and operational; a very significant achievement in addressing some of the outstanding issues highlighted by ICAO in its audit findings.

I therefore welcome you all to this all-important forum. Participants, I urge you to be attentive and interact to the fullest to enhance our capabilities as Inspectors.

Trainers, I wish you all the best as we all look forward to a very productive week of professional exchange. I therefore declare this forum open.

Thank you.