Why Does NTSB Conduct International Activities ?
Fulfill international obligations-ICAO
Attain national purpose and agency goals
Provide technical support to the safety efforts of developing states - on site
Notes:
Why does the NTSB conduct international activities? The answer is - to Fulfill international obligations to ICAO – the International Civil Aviation Organization.
The NTSB is responsible, consistent with U.S. Department of State requirements, to fulfill the obligations of the United States presented in Annex 13 to the Chicago Convention on International Civil Aviation. It is commonly called “ICAO Annex 13.”
It is recognized that a sovereign nation, as the state of occurrence of an accident, is responsible for an accident investigation within its territory. If an accident or incident occurs in a foreign state involving civil aircraft of a U.S. operator or airline, or of U.S. registry or an airframe or engine of U.S. manufacture, then the U.S. Government participates in these investigations through an NTSB appointed Accredited Representative and a team of advisors named by the NTSB.
Also we note Annex 8. The NTSB is responsible, consistent with U.S. Department of State requirements, to provide Accredited Representative leadership that enables the FAA to fulfill the obligations of the United States as presented in ICAO Annex 8, titled Airworthiness of Aircraft. Annex 8, Paragraph 4 states, “Continuing Airworthiness of Aircraft,” the State of Design of an aircraft must maintain a system to receive airworthiness information from user States, decide when action is needed to maintain continuing airworthiness and the safe operation of the aircraft, and transmit appropriate information to all user states. The NTSB Accredited Representative, and advisors from the FAA and industry participate in foreign accident investigations to fulfill this obligation and to gain air safety information to protect the traveling public.
There are other reasons why the NTSB conducts international activities. One is to attain national purpose and agency goals. Certainly, the care of human life and happiness and the Safety Board’s mission to make recommendations to preclude the recurrence of accidents go hand in hand. Many of our accident prevention initiatives come from data gained through international investigations.
We also have many opportunities to Provide technical support to the safety efforts of developing states. These opportunities may occur through participation on site at the accident location or through later meetings and dialog as the investigating state forms their analysis and recommendations.