Council Directive 80/1266/EEC of 16 December 1980 on future cooperation and mutual assistance between the Member States in the field of air accident investigation

COUNCIL DIRECTIVE  of 16 December 1980  on future cooperation and mutual assistance between the Member States in the field of air accident investigation  (80/1266/EEC)
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, and in particular Article 84 (2) thereof,
Whereas the technical complexity of large modern aircraft is constantly increasing ; whereas, pursuant to Chapter 5 of Annex 13 to the International Civil Aviation Convention, it is incumbent upon the Contracting States to have accidents involving such aircraft investigated immediately at the request of the competent Member States by independent experts from a wide range of specialized technical and operational fields;
Whereas not all Member States are able to keep permanently or fully available the specialist staff and appropriate technical facilities required for investigating major accidents;
Whereas the homogeneous technical development of and the uniform performance standards in aviation in the Member States make it possible for them to cooperate in the investigation and prevention of air accidents;
Whereas more than 90 % of accidents involve aircraft of up to and including 5 700 kg maximum permissible take-off weight and whereas it is advisable for air safety and for the prevention of accidents that such accidents also form the subject of an exchange of information,