Singapore legislation
Section 51
Section 51
Air Accident Investigation Bureau of Singapore and Inspectors
(1)
For the purposes of this Part, the Minister may appoint as an Inspector of Accidents any individual (whether or not a public officer) who has suitable qualifications and experience to properly exercise the powers of an Inspector of Accidents under this Part.
(2)
Where 2 or more public officers are appointed as Inspectors, the Minister must appoint from among them a Chief Inspector of Accidents.
(3)
There is established a department of the Government known as the Air Accident Investigation Bureau of Singapore or AAIB, comprising such number of public officers who are Inspectors of Accidents and such other public officers as are necessary for the proper functioning of the AAIB.
(4)
The function of the AAIB is to carry out investigations into any accident or serious incident —
that occurs in Singapore;
that occurs outside Singapore, that involves a Singapore registered aircraft or an aircraft operated by a Singapore operator and if either of the following apply:
the occurrence is in any non-contracting State which does not intend to carry out an investigation of the accident or serious incident in accordance with Annex 13;
the investigation has been delegated to Singapore by another Contracting State by mutual arrangement and consent; or
that occurs in a location which cannot be definitely established as being in the territory of any State and that involves a Singapore registered aircraft or an aircraft operated by a Singapore operator.
(5)
In addition to subsection (4), the AAIB —
may carry out such other investigations into incidents (other than serious incidents) —
that occur in Singapore from which air safety lessons may be derived; or
that occur outside Singapore, that involve a Singapore registered aircraft or an aircraft operated by a Singapore operator, and from which air safety lessons may be derived; and
may discharge any other function which is incidental or conducive to the attainment or furtherance of the purposes of this Part that may be prescribed by regulations made for the purposes of this Part.
(6)
In exercising any power under this Part, the AAIB and every Inspector must ensure that the power conferred on the AAIB and an Inspector must be exercised in a manner that is consistent with Singapore’s obligations under the Chicago Convention.
(7)
The AAIB must, as soon as practicable after an investigation under this Part has been completed, publish, by electronic or other means, a report in relation to the investigation.[13B