[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1998, Book II)]
[September 2, 1998]
[Pages 1507-1508]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Memorandum of Understanding Between the United States of America and 
Russian Federation on Cooperation in the Field of Civil Aircraft 
Accident/Incident Investigation and Prevention
September 2, 1998

    The Government of the United States of America and the Government of 
the Russian Federation, hereinafter referred to as the Parties,
    Desiring to promote civil aviation safety and accident prevention,
    Recognizing the mutual benefit of improved procedures for the 
investigation and reporting of the facts, conditions, and circumstances 
of civil aviation accidents/incidents,
    Recognizing the many mutual aviation safety benefits that have been 
realized through cooperation in accident/incident investigation and 
prevention under the auspices of the Working Group on Accident 
Investigation, pursuant to cooperative agreements between the United 
States and Russia; and,
    Recognizing the February 5, 1997, joint statement of the U.S.-
Russian Commission on Economic and Technological Cooperation indicating 
that the Parties intend to develop bilateral cooperation in the field of 
civil aviation,
    Have agreed as follows:
    1. The Parties shall take measures to strengthen cooperation on 
civil aircraft accident/incident investigation and prevention. 
Cooperation may include, but is not limited to:
        a.  Assistance and exchange of techniques for the investigation 
            and prevention of civil aircraft accidents and incidents.
        b.  Exchange of accident/incident investigation and prevention 
            data.
        c.  Assistance and exchange of information on issues related to 
            accident/incident investigation and prevention within the 
            competence of the International Civil Aviation Organization.
    2. Competent Authorities responsible for implementation of this 
Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) are:
    For the Government of the United States of America--The National 
Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), with support and participation of 
the Federal Aviation Administration.
    For the Government of the Russian Federation:
    The Interstate Aviation Committee (IAC), a specially authorized body 
in the area of aircraft accident investigation that shall act on behalf 
of and on instructions of the Government of the Russian Federation;
    The Federal Aviation authority of Russia (FAAR), a specially 
authorized body in the area of prevention of aircraft accidents and 
investigation of incidents with civil aircraft that shall act on behalf 
of and on instructions of the Government of the Russian Federation.
    3. Aircraft accident and incident investigations shall be carried 
out in accordance with the Convention on International Civil Aviation 
(Chicago Convention of 1944) and Annex 13 to the Chicago Convention of 
1944. Pursuant to Annex 13, the following authorities shall be 
responsible

[[Page 1508]]

for instituting and conducting the accident/incident investigation under 
the following circumstances:
    The NTSB shall have primary responsibility in the event of any 
aircraft accident/incident occurring on the territory of the U.S. 
involving a Russian-operated or -registered aircraft or an accident/
incident occurring in the U.S. involving an aircraft or aircraft engine 
of Russian design or manufacture. The FAA shall participate in the NTSB 
investigation. The NTSB shall also have responsibility for providing the 
U.S.-accredited representative to investigations of accidents/incidents 
occurring on the territory of the Russian Federation involving a U.S.-
operated or -registered aircraft or an accident/incident occurring in 
the Russian Federation involving an aircraft or aircraft engine of U.S. 
design or manufacture. The FAA shall participate as an advisor to the 
NTSB accredited representative.
    The IAC shall have primary responsibility in the event of any 
aircraft accident occurring on the territory of the Russian Federation 
involving a U.S.-operated or -registered aircraft or an accident 
occurring in the Russian Federation involving an aircraft or aircraft 
engine of U.S. design or manufacture. The IAC shall also have 
responsibility for providing the Russia-accredited representative to 
investigations of accidents occurring on the territory of U.S. involving 
a Russia-operated or -registered aircraft or an accident/incident 
occurring in U.S. involving an aircraft or aircraft engine of Russian 
design or manufacture.
    The FAAR shall have primary responsibility in the event of any 
aircraft incident occurring on the territory of the Russian Federation 
involving a U.S.-operated or -registered aircraft or an incident 
occurring in the Russian Federation involving an aircraft or aircraft 
engine of U.S. design or manufacture. The FAAR shall also have 
responsibility for providing the Russia-accredited representative to 
investigations of incidents occurring on the territory of U.S. involving 
a Russia-operated or -registered aircraft.
    4. The Parties shall take steps to establish mutual confidence in 
each other's civil aircraft accident/incident investigation and 
prevention system, and shall cooperate to improve those systems.
    5. The Parties shall implement this MOU in accordance with their 
respective national laws and regulations and in accordance with the 
rules and principles of international law. Security and confidentiality 
of data, especially proprietary documents, are subject to the respective 
national laws and regulations of both Parties.
    6. The Competent Authorities shall continue participation in the 
Working Group on Accident Investigation, and prepare recommendations in 
the optimum working relationship among the Competent Authorities of the 
Parties.
    7. This MOU shall enter into force upon signature and shall remain 
in force until terminated by six (6) months' written notice from one 
Party to the other Party.
    In Witness Whereof, the undersigned, being duly authorized by their 
respective Governments, have signed the Memorandum of Understanding.
    Done at Moscow, this second day of September, 1998, in duplicate, in 
the English and Russian languages, each text being equally authentic.

 
 For the Government of the  United States     For the Government of the
                of America:                      Russian Federation:
 
            William J. Clinton                      Boris Yeltsin
 

Note: An original was not available for verification of the content of 
this memorandum.