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Admissibility of air accident investigation reports: does it really matter?

Admissibility of air accident investigation reports: does it really matter?. ROBERT LAWSON QC. EU Regulation 996/2010. The sole objective of safety investigations is “the prevention of future accidents and incidents without apportioning blame or liability.”

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Admissibility of air accident investigation reports: does it really matter?

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  1. Admissibility of air accident investigation reports: does it really matter? ROBERT LAWSON QC

  2. EU Regulation 996/2010 The sole objective of safety investigations is “the prevention of future accidents and incidents without apportioning blame or liability.” Investigations “… shall in no case be concerned with apportioning blame or liability. They shall be independent of, separate from and without prejudice to any judicial or administrative proceedings to apportion blame or liability.”

  3. Tailored to a safety agenda “The extent of safety investigations … and the procedure to be followed in conducting such safety investigations shall be determined by the safety investigation authority, taking into account the lessons it expects to draw from such investigations for the improvement of aviation safety …” “Each safety investigation shall be concluded with a report in a form appropriate to the type and seriousness of the accident or serious incident. …” “The safety investigation authority shall make public the final report in the shortest possible time and if possible within 12 months of the date of the accident or serious incident.”

  4. The question: If so, does the use of any such report in civil proceedings – in relation to questions of blame or liability – notwithstanding really matter?

  5. The risks? • Deter assistance with investigations • Encourage intervention of legal advisers on behalf of those from whom assistance is sought • Slow down the investigation • Increase in applications for the underlying records • Lead to defensive report writing, so that it can be justified in court • Involvement in court proceedings presents an unwanted workload for investigators, distracting from the pursuit of their ‘sole objective’ • Adverse impact upon the perception of the independenceof investigators

  6. Discuss …. ROBERT LAWSON QC Quadrant Chambers 10 Fleet Street London EC4Y 1AU 020 7583 4444 www.quadrantchambers.com robert.lawson@quadrantchambers.com

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