AAIU Overview
The Air Accident Investigation Unit (AAIU) is part of the Department of Transport, and is responsible for the investigation of aircraft accidents and serious incidents that occur within Ireland. In addition the AAIU provides assistance to foreign safety investigation authorities who conduct investigations into occurrences involving Irish registered and / or operated aircraft abroad. Furthermore, in some cases Foreign States may delegate Investigations back to the AAIU.
The Chief Inspector of Air Accidents reports directly to the Minister for Transport. The AAIU headquarters is located in the Department of Transport, 2nd Floor, Leeson Lane, Dublin 2, D02 TR60, Ireland.
The AAIU conducts its investigations of aviation occurrences in accordance with Annex 13 (as amended) to the International Civil Aviation Organisation Convention, REGULATION (EU) No 996/2010 OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL, and Statutory Instrument No. 460 of 2009. The fundamental purpose of such investigations is to determine the circumstances and causes of these events, with a view to the preservation of life and the avoidance of similar occurrences in the future. It is not the purpose of such investigations to apportion blame or liability.
The AAIU does not have any inspection remit. Issues concerning liability are neither investigated nor described in association with our investigations.
AAIU Investigation Reports
In accordance with the provisions of Annex 131 to the Convention on International Civil Aviation, Regulation (EU) No 996/20102 and Statutory Instrument No. 460 of 20093, safety investigations are in no case concerned with apportioning blame or liability. They are independent of, separate from and without prejudice to any judicial or administrative proceedings to apportion blame or liability. The sole objective of safety investigations and Final Reports is the prevention of accidents and incidents.
Accordingly, it is inappropriate that AAIU Reports should be used to assign fault or blame or determine liability, since neither the safety investigation nor the reporting process has been undertaken for that purpose.
Extracts from AAIU Reports may be published providing that the source is acknowledged, the material is accurately reproduced and that it is not used in a derogatory or misleading context.