Saudi Gazette report

RIYADH —The General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA), represented by the Aviation Investigation Bureau (AIB), the Ministry of Health, and the Public Prosecution have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to investigate deaths resulting from aviation accidents. The signing ceremony was held in the presence of GACA President Abdulaziz Al-Duailej at the authority’s headquarters here on Monday.

The AIB was represented by its Director General Abdulilah Felimban in signing the deal while the Public Prosecution was represented by Assistant Undersecretary for Investigation Sheikh Hisham Al-Hazmi. Dr. Maram Al-Otaibi, general supervisor of Laboratory Services, Blood Banks and the Forensic Medical Services Center, represented the Ministry of Health.

The memorandum focuses on enhancing opportunities for cooperation in the common aspects of aviation accidents. This is through applying the terms of MoU to include the following elements: forensic procedures in terms of autopsy and medical tests of the injured; procedures for examining narcotics, psychotropic and alcoholic substances after the accident; participation in the exchange of information related to the above mentioned aspects, in addition to the importance of protecting and respecting intellectual property rights; complying with maintaining the confidentiality of information and data related to the MoU or related to another party, his business, operations and clients as a result of implementing this memorandum.

The MoU also includes training and exchanging experiences in order to strengthen the scientific and practical data base for the working team and find solutions to related issues.

The signing of the agreement comes within the framework of the qualitative partnerships carried out by GACA with all governmental and non-governmental agencies so as to enhance the capabilities of the aviation sector and raise the efficiency of performance.