Lagos – The Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) on Wednesday said it had published a total of 117 safety recommendations since it began operations 10 years ago.

Passengers’ aircraft.

AIB Commissioner, Akin Olateru, said the AIB had also stepped up collaboration with Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to ensure the implementation of the recommendations to improve air safety in the country.

The commissioner made the announcement while presenting four final Accident Reports and launching of the AIB’s Mobile Application in Lagos.

“AIB was established in 2006 by the Civil Aviation Act and since commencing operations in 2007, we have published 117 safety recommendations.

“This year from the 10 published reports, 35 safety recommendations have been made.

“Our statutory obligation is to investigate air accidents and serious incidents: and by our safety recommendations, mitigate them in order to forestall reoccurrence,” Olateru said.

Olateru noted that his administration inherited 27 pending accident investigation reports when he assumed office in early 2017 and assured that it would conclude all the reports by the end of 2018.

He said that accident investigation played vital role in enthroning and sustaining robust air safety regime, adding that this could only be achieved when outcomes of accident investigations are timely released.

Olateru said that the launch of AIB Mobile Application was one of many processes aimed at easing communication for a safer sky for the flying public.

“AIB Mobile App, as it is called, gives us a new and more convenient way to receive aircraft accident report in real time.

“This app would improve engagement with Nigerians by providing easy and open access to the bureau and its activities,” he added.

Among incident reports presented by AIB was the Aero Contractors’ Boeing 737-500 with registration 5N-BLE which occurred en route Kaduna Airport on June 5, 2015.

It also presented a report on the serious incident of Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT) Socata TBM 850 aircraft with registration 5N-BZA near Kaduna Airport, Kaduna, on May 21, 2013.

Others were the Bell 407 helicopter 5N-BIC at Uyo Airport, Akwa Ibom State, on Oct. 21, 2009 and International Aviation College (IAC) Diamond DA42 aircraft 5N-BNH incident which occurred on Aug. 18, 2014 at the Ilorin International Airport.(NAN)