The West African Society of Air Safety Investigators

Mission Statement

WASASI is the West African chapter of the International Society of Air Safety Investigators (ISASI) committed to improving air safety by focusing on current West African and internal issues in the investigation and prevention of accidents and incidents. WASASI’s mission is:

• to promote air safety through the exchange of ideas, experiences, and information about the findings from and outcomes of aircraft accident and incident investigations, and to otherwise aid in the advancement of flight safety.
• To promote technical advancement by providing education through lectures, displays, and presentations and by exchange of information for mutual development of improved investigations.
• To broaden professional relationships among members.
• To maintain and increase the prestige, standing and influence of the Air Safety Investigator in matters of air safety

WASASI does not adopt specific positions on any safety topics or debates and Trustees and Members will not use WASASI as a platform to represent any particular position.

Membership, Benefits, and Legal Status

The full voting membership of WASASI is automatic for any person who:

• Is an individual member of the International Society of Air Safety Investigators (ISASI) in good standing (paid-up) and
• Has a valid West African connection, such as citizenship of a West African country of working for a West African-based organization.

WASASI does not currently have a membership subscription beyond the requirement to be an individual member in good standing with ISASI.

There is no formal ‘Corporate’ membership of WASASI as corporate memberships are arranged through ISASI

For legal and accounting purposes, WASASI shall be registered under the provisions of ISASI. This status places no limitations of the nationalities of the Trustees or of the voting membership of WASASI outside of those imposed by WASASI for membership.

 

WASASI Governance – ‘Executive Committee’

WASASI is led by an Executive committee, who also act as the Trustees.

            President

            Vice President

            Treasurer

            Secretary

There shall be an official WASASI Annual General Meeting (AGM) every year, either at the WASASI seminar or, if that is not held, at the ISASI annual seminar. At alternating AGMs (every two years), one-third of the Trustees will stand for re-election or retire from office, triggering a WASASI trustee election. All WASASI members in good standing are eligible to stand for election as a Trustee and to vote.

 

In addition to the AGM, the Executive Committee (the Trustees) will report back to the membership through at least two Newsletters (Summer and Winter) and at meetings called during ISASI or WASASI seminars which do not include an AGM.

 

Roles in the Executive Committee

President: The President organizes and chairs the meetings. He/she calls the annual general meeting of the members and sends the Trustees’ annual report to the AGM

Vice President: The Vice President replaces the President in his/her absence or impediments and collaborates in carrying out the WASASI’s activities.

Treasurer: The Treasurer deals with the finances of the society and sends the annual statement of accounts to the AGM and the ISASI International office.

Secretary: The Secretary deals with membership and maintains the mailing list of members in coordination with the President. He/she distributes the newsletters and other documents to the members. He/she keeps records of meeting minutes and ensures that WASASI complies with its obligations in relation to the keeping of, and provision of access to, registers of its members and ‘Trustees’.

WASASI Members

Each WASASI Member should respect and adhere to the principles on which WASASI was founded and developed.

Each member shall:

• Promote accident investigation as a fundamental element in accident prevention.
• Assist other Members to carry out their accident investigation tasks.
• Not use membership status to effect personal gain of favor beyond signifying qualification to published membership criteria.
• Not represent the Society or imply a position of the Society in public utterances on any issue unless prior written authority had been received from the International Society President.
• Seek advice of the Executive Committee, in the event a situation arises were contemplated conduct by the Members may violate the WASASI Constitution or ISASI Code of Ethics and Conduct of the Society.
• Submit evidence of violations to the WASASI Executive Committee and refrain from public discussions of the alleged violation until the committee findings have become a matter of appropriate record.
• Encourage uninhibited, informal exchange of views among Members: however, any sensitive information thus gained shall not be made public or transmitted to others without clear approval of the person from whom the information was gained.
• Have an obligation to improve the professional image of the society, however, Members shall
• Refrain from unfounded criticism of officers of the society either publicly or privately unless the matter is investigated thoroughly and brought to the attention of the President with reasonable time being allocated to review the situation and act accordingly
• Encourage and participate in the education, training, and indoctrination of personnel likely to become involved actively in accident investigation.
  Develop and implement a personal program for a continually improving level of professional knowledge applicable to air safety investigations.
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Seminars

The aim of the yearly seminar is to keep the West African air safety investigation community abreast of current developments and evolving best practices in aircraft safety investigation.

The seminar will include presentations on case studies, the West African environment, challenges of modern air safety investigations, and human factors in aircraft accidents and incidents.

 

Meetings

The Executive Committee will meet, either in person or by telephone conferencing, a minimum of once every three months.

 

The AGM will be held during the annual ISASI seminar or the annual WASASI Seminar.

• The President will organize and chair the meetings or nominate a deputy.
• The Executive committee will compile the agenda and the Secretary will circulate it to the membership
• The AGM or Membership meeting may include small group discussions.
• Non-members will be invited to group meetings, but will not be permitted to vote.
• The Secretary will distribute the Minutes of the meeting.

 

Sharing of information (including confidential materials)

• Information will be shared via the WASASI website, which will be password protected
• Permission will be sought to enable the distribution to members of presentation material and papers.

 

Review:

• The Executive Committee will review the relevance and value of its work and the terms of reference on a regular basis.