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Cabinet considers new aviation law

The government would pay for the investigation and salvage expenses of aircraft accidents involving commercial airlines, public aircraft and ultralights under a new law the Cabinet will consider this week.

The aviation accident investigation law (飛航事故調查法) would also impose fines on those refusing or failing to cooperate in the government's efforts to investigate aircraft accidents. Those providing false information or leaking investigation information would also be punished.

According to a Cabinet official who asked not to be named, the draft is designed to separate the supervision of the civil aviation industry from the investigation of aircraft accidents.

In addition to approving the draft aviation accident investigation law, the Cabinet is set to approve a draft amendment to Article 84 of the Civil Aviation Law on Wednesday during the weekly closed-door Cabinet meeting.

Under the draft aviation accident investigation law, the Aviation Safety Council would become the aviation safety investigation board.

It would be responsible for investigating "aviation occurrences" involving commercial or public aircraft or ultralights other than an those operated by Taiwanese armed forces or intelligence agencies.

"Aviation occurrence" is defined as any accident or incident associated with the operation of an aircraft, and any situation or condition that the board has reasonable grounds to believe could, if left unattended, induce an accident or incident.

The draft also stipulates that the board must shoulder expenses related to the investigation of an aviation occurrence, salvage and transportation of the aviation data recording devices and wreckage of the aircraft.

The board would also be empowered to request information, interviews or assistance from certain people or agencies.

Those refusing to provide information or providing false information would face a fine of between NT$600,000 and NT$3 million. The fine would continue to be issued until the party complied with demands for information.

Those dodging, refusing or providing false information during an interview would receive a fine of between NT$60,000 and NT$300,000. The fine would continue to be issued until the person complied.

While the aviation safety investigation board would be the sole party responsible for making public the investigation information, unauthorized personnel leaking information could face a fine of between NT$60,000 and NT$300,000.

Besides the aviation accident investigation law, the Cabinet is also set to approve the draft bill of the organic law of the aviation safety investigation board (行政院飛航安全調查委員會組織條例) on Wednesday to elevate the legal status of the independent entity.
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