Kevin has been assigned responsibility at Chief Aeronautical Officer level for the Air Accident Investigation Unit. Under International Convention, European Regulation and Statutory Instrument, the role of the AAIU is to promote aviation safety through the private investigation and public reporting of accidents and incidents. The AAIU is obligated to:
Conduct investigations into air accidents and incidents that occur within the State and its territorial waters;
Support foreign investigation authorities who conduct investigations into occurrences to Irish Register/Operated aircraft abroad;
Conduct investigations where the State of Occurrence delegates the investigation back to the State of Registry/Operator;
Conduct foreign investigations where the investigative responsibility lies solely with the State of Registry;
Conduct investigations into State aircraft when and where agreement is reached between the Ministers of the Department of Defence and the Department of Transport.
AAIU does not apportion blame or liability.
Investigations are held in private; they are confidential and protected by Law.
More information about the AAIU and access to our reports into accident investigationsare available on our website at www.aaiu.ie
Detailed Functions:
Investigate accidents and incidents as obligated under International Convention, European Regulation and Statutory Instrument.
Maintain and run the Safety Occurrence Tracking System (SOTS) in order to identify occurrences that come within the remit of the AAIU to investigate.
Maintain and populate the European Coordinated Aviation Incident Reporting System (ECCAIRS) database with occurrences coming under the remit of the AAIU to investigate.
Respond to technical and statistical queries from the Department, Public, Institutions and International Bodies;
Maintain and run a 24 hour/365 day on-call roster to respond to notification of occurrences.
Maintain two immediate response support vehicles and the associated equipment.
Maintain the wreckage recovery and examination facility at Gormanston, Co Meath.
Maintain and run the Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) and Flight Data Recorder (FDR) readout, analysis and animation facility.
Maintain and run the photographic and forensic laboratory facility.
Interface with An Garda Síochána, the Emergency Services and all Irish Airports regarding emergency planning, procedures and conduct of AAIU investigation at accident sites.
Participate in National and International meetings relating to Accident Investigation.
Attend Coroner’s Inquests when requested.
Provide technical aviation advice to the Minister and other Government Departments’ and Agencies, as requested;
Update and maintain the AAIU Website.