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Launched Aug 26 1996.

  First posted 3/20/98

See also ICAO definition of investigation adopted for the governmental aviation accident investigation agencies

TOPIC: Defining investigation, naming investigation agency


Date: Tue, 2 Dec 1997 23:02:39 -0500
From: Ira Rimson "irimson02@comcast.net"
Subject: Jim Hall's response

I have to interject Frank Taylor's comment that the AAIB is the only investigative authority that even has got its name correct. "Aircraft Accident Investigation Board". (Stewart says the Canadians have their's right too, but it changes so frequently that's hard to pin down.) I also suspect that "Bureau Enquete d'Accident" means about the same.

But any reference to "Safety" is nonsense. The NTSB doesn't have anything to do with safety. It has to do with UNsafety. (NTUB - the acronym itself is worth the change!)

Safety is the FAA's function, and the NTSB's function is to investigate when the safety of the public is jeopardized by breakdowns within the system

New name recommendations: Federal Aviation Safety Administration (FASA) National Transportation Investigation Board (NTIB)

Then maybe both agencies will be able to figure out what there roles are.


in a message ...

Date: Tue, 2 Dec 1997 23:02:39 -0500
From: Ira Rimson
Subject: Jim Hall's response

Ira wrote :
(Stewart says the Canadians have their's right too, but it changes so frequently that's hard to pin down.) I also suspect that "Bureau Enquete d'Accident" means about the same.
______

I recently encountered exactly the same issue as I had to translate in French the Standard for Professional Qualifications for Fire Investigators 1993 ed. (NFPA 1033). The introduction of the word investigation caused some discomfort.

In French, the word investigation was not in use when regulations were designed and drafted concerning enquiries conducted by a Board. The Board (in any safety matter or matter where an enquiry must be conducted - there are dozens of examples -) was assigned a mission that was not "investigation" but recommendations, and their assignment was not "investigation" but enquiry, hence the word "ENQUETE" in French.

This system or procedure being much the same in jurisdictions conforming to common law, a BOARD also conducted an "Inquiry", hence the emphasis on Safety and Recommendations.

The notion of "investigation" is therefore relatively new... And not only in French.

Now we have a growing convergence around the word "investigation" - but not yet a definition -, and regulations, standards, directions, procedures, etc., should reflect that emerging trend.


Hugh