Macao and France sign Declaration of Intent on Cooperation relating to Aircraft Accident and Incident Investigation

With the objective of enhancing aviation safety, the Civil Aviation Authority of Macao SAR and the Investigation Bureau for Civil Aviation of France (Le Bureau d’Enquêtes et d’Analyses pour la Sécurite de l’Aviation civil (BEA) France) met in Macao on 17 June 2008 to discuss mutual cooperation relating to aircraft accident and incident investigation. The two parties signed a Declaration of Intent in which Macao and France will cooperate in aircraft accident and incident investigation, investigation training and sharing of information and expertise. The areas of cooperation are as follows:
1. Both parties will exchange views on the latest development of international standards, and share experiences on the making of laws and rules administered in each party that govern aircraft accident and incident investigation. Each party will offer assistance if necessary.
2. The parties will facilitate exchanges of personnel for training and development, including investigation training courses, hands-on experience and observer status at major investigation accident sites. 3. Each party will offer assistance and the use of air safety investigation facilities and equipment to the other party as it deems appropriate and as resources permit. 4. The parties will maintain regular contact and each party will organize visits to or meetings with the other party with the aim of exchanging experiences, skills and technical knowledge.
5. Each party will endeavour to share with the other party relevant information about an investigation it is conducting. Such information will not be released by the other party without the express consent of the party conducting the investigation.
6. Each party will, where applicable, endeavour to facilitate relations between the other party and aircraft accident investigation authorities of third parties with which it has closer relations or to which it is geographically closer. In the meeting, the two parties introduced to each other the functions of their organizations and the management of aircraft accident and incident investigation administered in their area. Both parties reaffirmed that the sole objective of the investigation of an aircraft accident or incident should aim at the prevention of accidents and incidents and not the apportionment of blame. Maintaining aviation safety has always been the focused attention of AACM. For this reason, the effective management of aircraft accident and incident investigation is considered significant by the Authority. Facing the inadequate experience in this aspect, the rapid development of the industry and the remarkable increase of aircraft number and aircraft type in the near future, AACM wishes to establish cooperation with the other places so that assistance can be drawn from these places to Macao, including the provision of technical support and the use of investigation facilities in case of an accident or incident in our community, as well as provision of training to the Macao investigators to strengthen their knowledge in the respective field. In addition to the cooperation with BEA – France, AACM has held a meeting with the General Administration of Civil Aviation of China (CAAC) in Beijing in April this year for the discussion of similar cooperation between Macao and the mainland. The meeting concluded with a preliminary consensus in which CAAC agrees to offer aircraft accident and incident investigation training, the use of investigation facilities and all other necessary assistance to Macao. Furthermore, if situations permit, CAAC will invite the Macao investigators to participate as observers in the investigation of aircraft accidents or incidents that occur in the mainland. AACM and CAAC are presently drafting the respective cooperation arrangement which is expected to be signed within this year.