Behind the Scenes at AAIB | Aviation International News

Behind the Scenes at AAIB

The UK’s Air Accident Investigation Branch (AAIB) boasts a permanent staff of just 45 people and a seemingly modest annual budget of £4.5 million ($6.3 mil

By Charles Alcock • Managing Editor

May 7, 2008

The UK’s Air Accident Investigation Branch (AAIB) boasts a permanent staff of just 45 people and a seemingly modest annual budget of £4.5 million ($6.3 million). Almost three-quarters of its personnel–31 people–are accident inspectors, including four principal inspectors (two covering operations and two for engineering); 10 operations and 10 engineering inspectors; and four FDR and CVR specialists.

All AAIB operations inspectors are pilots with ATP certificates who, through an agreement with various UK airlines, fly left seat two or three days each month on scheduled flights. Between them, they specialize in all major air-transport aircraft types. Many of the engineering inspectors also hold pilot licenses, at least to private pilot level.

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