Foundation for Aviation Safety Pushes for Aircraft Accident Investigation Reform

The Foundation for Aviation Safety has exposed a long-unchanged aviation framework: the International Civil Aviation Organization’s Annex 13 standards for accident investigations. The question that remains is whether the system has been left alone because it works, or simply left behind in the chaos.

The Foundation’s critique emphasizes that, while Annex 13 lays out an independent investigation regime, many accident inquiries remain constrained by the “state of occurrence” rule. Under this system, the country where the accident happens automatically spearheads the investigation. This may generate political or commercial conflicts of interest, especially when domestic manufacturers or operators are involved.

Another key concern is the transparency and thoroughness of investigation processes. The Foundation cites high-profile cases in which important data, including full cockpit-voice-recorder transcripts or system fault messages from aircraft health-monitoring systems, were allegedly excluded from preliminary or final reports.

While Annex 13 mandates that preliminary reports be issued swiftly (within 30 days) and final reports ideally within twelve months, real-world performance lags. Observers note that fewer than half of serious investigations deliver reports within the standardized timeframe, meaning delayed safety recommendations and less preventive value.

The Foundation calls for the rapid modernization of this framework to put it on par with the complexity of today’s aviation industry. Key areas include ensuring independence across the board, disclosing any and all data, and taking advantage of technology to speed up collaboration, which is particularly important for multinational investigations.

“Reform is not just overdue — it is essential to preserving the integrity of global aviation,” the group said. “The Foundation for Aviation Safety is prepared to take a leading role in shaping and developing this new process, and we respectfully invite you to join us in this effort.”

FMI: www.foundationforaviationsafety.org