AAIB takes next steps to decode Air India AI171 Dreamliner crash

Under the Ministry of Civil Aviation, AAIB has achieved more than 220 flights since its inception in 2012, but deciphering the flight data registrar (FDR) and the CVR sound recorder in India, the AI171 crash is the largest test of its recently opened laboratory.

The challenge is not only related to the availability of tools, expertise and advanced experience, but also a type of air accident that involves B-787 Dreamliner with a complete loss of the body. Aviation experts say that there are more than 1000 Dreamliner managed by different airlines and everyone in the industry wants to know a reason behind the accident.

“It is extremely important to know what happened on the Air India flight. The entire industry wants to know what happened to this 787 – the plane may have problems or anything else wrong,” says Court Hoffman, a veterans in the aviation industry.

What after now after CVR and FDR data has been downloaded?

The evidence and data collected by AAIB investigators are subject to a detailed audit to a detailed understanding of the circumstances surrounding the occurrence that is being investigated and any safety issues that have a causal effect or a contributing to occurrence. The team is led by DG AAIB GVG Yugandhar, Aviation Medicine, ATC and representatives of the National Safety Council for National Transport (NTSB).

“This may require the investigator to review a complex and different set of evidence and request clarifications from different stakeholders, wherever it is required. AAIB investigators may request repeated meetings with the relevant staff or other employees of the operator to discuss safety issues that were observed during the investigations,” according to officials.

The documents and records collected from the operator, the organizer, the relevant employees, or the other stakeholders are studied and analyzed by investigators and a review in cooperation with the subject experts, if necessary.

They said: “The results of aviation registrar data analysis or examination of any components or other reports of specialists may be studied and may require deliberations with various stakeholders.”
What makes the investigation long, sometimes, may provide an examination and analysis of a different set of evidence and data a mysterious, incomplete or contradictory image.

They said: “This may push more evidence or may also require more interviews with witnesses or other employees. These requirements are likely to increase the scope of the investigation and add to the period of investigation.”

After the completion of the examination and analysis of all available evidence, the investigation team records the report to include all real information, analysis, conclusions and safety recommendations. The coordination of the investigation report that will be followed according to ICAO Annex 13.

During the formulation of the report, it may be necessary to review the stages of collection of evidence or examination and analysis of the investigation. The drafts are reviewed between all members of the investigation team and members of the subject participating during the investigation.

“Once the report project is completed, it is shared with the status of the registry, the status of the operator, the status of the manufacturer or design status and any other country provided during the investigation. According to Paragraph 6.3 of the ICAO 13 supplement, comments are searched from the countries concerned and reviewed to provide the required amendments in the report project,” the official explained.

The draft report is internally reviewed and submitted to DG, AAIB for admission. However, if any problem is determined during consultation or review that may need more deliberations or analysis, researchers may be asked to collect additional evidence and analyze them as needed to complete the facts, analysis, conclusions and the recommendations of the report’s draft adequate.

The final reports are accepted on the investigations by AAIB by the Director General, AAIB after a comprehensive consultation and review.