Board Participates In More Than Just Domestic Accident Investigations

The NTSB late last week outlined the agency's role and participation in international aviation safety investigations; a lesser known role for the agency.

"Aviation safety knows no borders - and there are no boundaries to what we can achieve when we work together," said NTSB Chairman Deborah A. P. Hersman (pictured). "The NTSB works closely with our international counterparts to provide technical expertise in foreign aviation accident investigations and similarly, we have benefitted from their participation in our investigations."

During the Board meeting, NTSB Board members and staff discussed the U.S. obligations under the International Civil Aviation Organization's (ICAO) Annex 13. Annex 13 provides the international protocols for the investigation of aircraft accidents and incidents. The meeting also highlighted specific examples of international investigations in which NTSB participation led to improvements in aviation safety in the U.S. and abroad.

Facts about international aviation accident investigations:

• In the last ten years NTSB investigators have provided support to about 1,900 foreign investigations;
• A third of the recorders processed by the NTSB are from foreign accidents; and
• The NTSB has issued more than 320 safety recommendations stemming from findings developed through participation in international investigations with twelve of these issued in 2011.

FMI: www.ntsb.gov