… prepares country for ICAO audit


L-R: BAGAIA Technical support/Training Director Engr.Ameh Samuel, Commissioner of Sierra Leone Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau( SL-AAIIB) Engr.Olubunmi Wellington, BAGAIA Commissioner Engr. Charles Irikefe Erhueh,
The Honourable Minister of Transport and Aviation Hon. Kabineh Moinama Kallon and Director General of Sierra Leone Civil Aviation Authority( SL-CAA), Dr. Moses Tiffa Baio at the just concluded Assistance Mission in Freetown, Sierra Leone.


Ahead of the Sierra Leone upcoming International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Audit, the Banjul Accord Group Accident Investigation Bureau ( BAGAIA) has announced that it has made  progress  with the Sierra Leone Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau ( SL-AAIB).


It said there is also progress in preparing the Sierra Leone Civil Aviation Authority (SL- CAA) to play in the global stage.


Commissioner of BAGAIA, Engineer Charles Irikefe Erhueh, disclosed this in a meeting with the Sierra Leone Minister of Transport and Aviation, Kabineh Moinama Kallon, at the 
Ministry of Transport and Aviation, Freetown Sierra Leone after BAGAIA’s five-day Assistance Mission to the West African country.


According to Erhueh, BAGAIA and the SL have been able to make progress in  the country’s Civil Aviation Act 2023 Bill (the Act),  the regulations; SL-CAR part 13 which deals with  aircraft accident and incident  investigation,  compliance checklists and have completed the State Aviation Activity Questionnaire (SAAQ), ICAO Protocol Questions (PQs) as well as restructuring the Bureau’s Organogram.


The BAGAIA helmsman also said the combined team from both the Regional Accident Investigation Organisation (RAIO) and Sierra Leone have reviewed the training manual as well as  drawn up career progression of staff.


The Commissioner further added that the staff of the Bureau needs basic/in-house training on accident investigation hence, the need to have its secondees from Nigeria on time to put them through.


He however harped on funding again, urging the Minister to make a commitment  towards the payment of the subscription that the BAG-group agreed on to ensure Assistance Missions like what is currently happening is replicated in other climes in need.


According to him, BAGAIA ought to have been in Sierra Leone  long before now but  was hindered  due to paucity of  funds.  


 Kallon who responded to the issue of outstanding subscription said he would discuss with his Director General SL-CAA, Commissioner SL-AAIIB and see how the country can make payment despite low finances.


He however said as chairman of the Council of Ministers, it will be difficult for him to speak to other ministers regarding payment of subscriptions if his country has not paid, stressing, “I need to lead by example.”


Speaking on the upcoming audit, the Minister appreciated BAGAIA stressing it has been very helpful to SL-AAIIB. 


“We have promised the president of Sierra Leone that we are going to pass the ICAO Audit this time around. 


“For a long time now, Sierra Leone is yet to pass the ICAO Audit but with all  these relevant assistance offered by BAGAIA alongside other organisations, we are confident that we will pass it this time around.”


Ahead of the Sierra Leone upcoming International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Audit, the Banjul Accord Group Accident Investigation Bureau ( BAGAIA) has announced that it has made  progress  with the Sierra Leone Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau ( SL-AAIB).

It said there is also progress in preparing the Sierra Leone Civil Aviation Authority (SL- CAA) to play in the global stage.

Commissioner of BAGAIA, Engineer Charles Irikefe Erhueh, disclosed this in a meeting with the Sierra Leone Minister of Transport and Aviation, Kabineh Moinama Kallon, at the 

Ministry of Transport and Aviation, Freetown Sierra Leone after BAGAIA’s five-day Assistance Mission to the West African country.

According to Erhueh, BAGAIA and the SL have been able to make progress in  the country’s Civil Aviation Act 2023 Bill (the Act),  the regulations; SL-CAR part 13 which deals with  aircraft accident and incident  investigation,  compliance checklists and have completed the State Aviation Activity Questionnaire (SAAQ), ICAO Protocol Questions (PQs) as well as restructuring the Bureau’s Organogram.

The BAGAIA helmsman also said the combined team from both the Regional Accident Investigation Organisation (RAIO) and Sierra Leone have reviewed the training manual as well as  drawn up career progression of staff.

The Commissioner further added that the staff of the Bureau needs basic/in-house training on accident investigation hence, the need to have its secondees from Nigeria on time to put them through.

He however harped on funding again, urging the Minister to make a commitment  towards the payment of the subscription that the BAG-group agreed on to ensure Assistance Missions like what is currently happening is replicated in other climes in need.

According to him, BAGAIA ought to have been in Sierra Leone  long before now but  was hindered  due to paucity of  funds.  

 Kallon who responded to the issue of outstanding subscription said he would discuss with his Director General SL-CAA, Commissioner SL-AAIIB and see how the country can make payment despite low finances.

He however said as chairman of the Council of Ministers, it will be difficult for him to speak to other ministers regarding payment of subscriptions if his country has not paid, stressing, “I need to lead by example.”

Speaking on the upcoming audit, the Minister appreciated BAGAIA stressing it has been very helpful to SL-AAIIB. 

“We have promised the president of Sierra Leone that we are going to pass the ICAO Audit this time around. 

“For a long time now, Sierra Leone is yet to pass the ICAO Audit but with all  these relevant assistance offered by BAGAIA alongside other organisations, we are confident that we will pass it this time around.”

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