The goal is for Malaysia to achieve a robust SSP that defines the regulatory structure and responsibilities of the country and seeks to improve aviation safety by 2025, says CAAM CEO

by S BIRRUNTHA / pic source: caam.gov.my

THE Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM) and the Transport Ministry (MoT) have launched a State Safety Programme (SSP) to further strengthen the safety standard of the highly regulated aviation industry.

CAAM CEO Datuk Captain Chester Voo said the SSP is an integrated set of regulations and activities aimed at improving safety, as defined by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).

He added that the objective is to achieve an acceptable level of safety of aviation services and products delivered by aviation service providers that include aircraft operators, air navigation service providers, airport operators, training, and maintenance organisations.

“SSP encapsulates the government’s commitments through its aviation agencies, namely MoT, CAAM and the Air Accident Investigation Bureau  to the aviation industry and the international community towards achieving the highest level of aviation safety. 

“It is a framework that allows the State safety oversight authority and service providers to interact more effectively in the resolution of safety concerns. 

“The goal is for Malaysia to achieve a robust SSP that defines the regulatory structure and responsibilities of the country and seeks to improve aviation safety by 2025,” he said during the launching ceremony of SSP at the Kuala Lumpur Air Traffic Control Centre in Sepang, Selangor today.

The main role of CAAM is to promote and regulate the safety of civil aviation in Malaysia, while AAIB is responsible for the investigation of air accidents or serious incidents and the subsequent issuance of safety recommendations to enhance aviation safety and prevent such accidents or serious incidents from recurring. 

Voo noted that Malaysia is committed to developing and implementing effective strategies, regulatory frameworks, and processes to ensure that civil aviation activities under CAAM’s responsibility achieve the highest level of safety.

He said while the prevention of aircraft accidents and/or serious incidents remains the main objective, it is recognised that the aviation system cannot be completely free of hazards and associated risks.

“Human activities or human-built systems cannot be guaranteed to be free from operational errors and their consequences. 

“Therefore, safety is a dynamic characteristic of the aviation system, whereby safety risks must be continuously mitigated,” he said.

Voo also emphasised that it is important to note that the acceptability of safety performance is often influenced by domestic and international norms and culture. 

He added that if safety risks are kept under an appropriate level of control, a system as open and dynamic as aviation can still be managed.

Within 15 years, CAAM and MoT aim to put in place an increasingly effective, robust and eventually more sophisticated safety oversight system to achieve zero fatalities in scheduled commercial operations. 

Voo said the safety priorities support this aspirational goal which identifies safety-related challenges and the prioritisation of areas that require action to enhance safety in Malaysia.

Meanwhile, Transport Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong said the aspect of safety and security is one of the most important things in ensuring the growth of the aviation industry in line with compliance with the safety standards.

AAIB is an organisation under the MoT which is responsible for implementing the main objective of the SSP by carrying out independent and transparent air accident investigations.

“MoT through CAAM will not hesitate to take strict action against any party that ignores the regulations and aviation safety standards that have been set,” he stressed.

On Sept 11, a helicopter, with a single pilot on board, was reported to have lost contact with KLATCC at 12.16pm and crashed in Bidor, Perak.

The aircraft took off from Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport in Subang at 11.37am for a private flight and was scheduled to land at the Sultan Azlan Shah Airport at 12.37pm.

In a statement on Sept 12, the CAAM said that an investigation into the incident would be conducted by the Transport Ministry’s Air Accident Investigation Bureau in accordance with Part XXVI of the Civil Aviation Regulations 2016.

Wee said early indications had shown that the 58-year-old pilot was still alive at the time when he was found at the crash site.

However, the minister later confirmed that the victim passed away due to the severity of his injuries.

The victim had been identified as Tzs Kin Richard Chan from Hong Kong.