Media

5 March 2008: The Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) welcomes the report of the Air Accident Investigation Unit (AAIU) of the Department of Transport into a serious incident which occurred off the south east coast of Ireland on 23 September 2007. The IAA accepts all the safety recommendations made in the report, all of which are now being implemented.

Safety is the IAA’s number one priority. The IAA, and Ireland, has an excellent air safety record and, as acknowledged in the report, the AAIU has not investigated an incident of this seriousness in the previous seven years.

The incident on 23 September 2007 took place at a time when traffic levels were light to moderate. When the incident occurred, it was immediately reported by the controllers to the duty station manager. The controllers were relieved of their positions and their ratings (license to operate as air traffic controllers) withdrawn. This is the normal procedure in such situations. The AAIU was informed of the event immediately. The controllers were offered Critical Incident Stress Management counselling services. The Authority also acted immediately and began its own internal investigation.

Following this serious incident, the radar controller involved underwent a training programme tailored to the lessons arising from the event, and subsequently returned to operational duty.

In this event where air traffic control separation of the aircraft was not satisfactorily effected, the onboard collision avoidance systems ensured the safety of the two aircraft and their passengers.

A full copy of the report can be found at : http://www.aaiu.ie/aviation/aaiu/recentreports/index.asp?lang=ENG&loc=1652