It is now nearly 3 years since that tragic day of 19^th December 1997 when 104 people, our loved ones, were so tragically killed in the SilkAir Flight MI 185 crash. The Association has continued to receive numerous approaches by members of the world’s media inquiring on how the families are coping three years on. Accordingly, we feel it appropriate to issue our third annual statement to the media, clearly outlining the current status and situation. Further, in view of the recent tragic SQ 006 airline disaster in Taiwan, our Association has received an increased amount of interest and contact by the world’s media, requesting us to comment on this particular incident as well.

With regards the SQ 006 tragedy, we once again express our deepest condolences to all families affected by the crash and continue to offer our support to the Next of Kins. We know that the next few months, and indeed years, will be very difficult for those families who lost their loved ones on the flight. We fully understand their pain and hope that our own experience will allow us to help them in some way or other.

On a positive note, we are relieved that the cause of the crash of SQ 006 appears to be relatively easier to identify. A faster conclusion to the crash investigation would certainly lessen the burden on these families as they recover. We are also comforted by the apparent increased transparency of the investigation and speedier release of information by the investigative body, the airline and the government of Singapore. We hope that statements made by senior officers of Singapore Airlines and Singapore Government Ministers with regards their commitment to enhancing aviation safety will indeed materialise. This has been the goal of our own Association since the crash of SilkAir flight MI 185 and we have expressed this to numerous government departments in the past years. We certainly hope that it has not taken a second fatal accident for them to now take this subject more seriously than was previously the case.

On the subject of how we are coping emotionally, naturally, every family who lost someone has had to continue to deal with the loss in a most painful manner. We have all had to deal with our grief in a variety of ways; some have found inner strength that they did not know they possess, whilst others have and continue to carry their grief in a most painful manner. Our burden has also not been helped by the fact that we do not really have a place to feel close to our loved ones, given the nature of the accident. The families are also hurt by recent reports of SilkAir’s inability to maintain the Palembang memorial in pristine conditions, contrary to the promises they have made.

On the crash investigations, as we mentioned this time last year on the 2^nd Anniversary, we continue to and have always understood the complexities of an airline investigation and the time that is required to get the investigation completed. We remain patient and await, along with the rest of the world, for the results of the investigation. We are, however, frustrated by various issues that we feel could have been handled more appropriately and in a more timely manner by the relevant authorities. Accordingly, we would like to take this opportunity to reiterate to you, these areas of concern.

Firstly, with regards to the crash investigation. To say the least, we continue to be disappointed with the whole investigation process led by the NTSC of Indonesia. Up till now, the NTSC have not released much detail of their findings including the Cockpit Voice Recorder transcripts, simulation test results as well as the complete disciplinary record of the cockpit crew. Although we understand that such investigation are time-consuming and can stretch several years, the lack of regular status updates and release of investigated facts and findings have all contributed to a non-transparent process that has created unnecessary suspicions and speculations. This has not only hurt the feelings of the families but has raised serious doubts on the ability of the investigation team to pinpoint the cause of the crash.

Secondly, we have met on several occasions this past year with representatives from the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT). The topics discussed included the status and quality of the investigation, the promotion of aviation safety and the apparent lack of transparency in the SilkAir crash investigation.

During these meetings, the Families have stressed to MCIT the importance of having an independent and unbiased body evaluate the systems and procedures of the airline. It is the families’ perception that MCIT has so far taken the stand that the airline itself is in the position to assess its own safety records, administrative and operational procedures. Since the SilkAir crash, SIA and SilkAir have reiterated that comprehensive internal reviews have been conducted and have expressed full confidence in their current systems and procedures. As interested parties, it is surprising that the airline is allowed to conduct their own internal reviews and reach their own conclusions. The numerous recent incidences, however, seem to raise questions about their conclusions. In a short period of three years, the SIA group has encountered two major crashes involving the loss of 187 innocent lives. In between, the airline also suffered the embarrassment of having an employee siphon away millions of dollars from its coffers. The airline's systems and procedures, that has been claimed to be "in line with international best practices" apparently failed for 13 years to detect this embezzlement. If such administrative oversight were to occur in more critical areas within the airline, the consequences could potentially, be far more serious than a simple loss of funds. As such, the families are surprised and disappointed that MCIT have so far chosen not to evaluate more independently and intensively the safety and administrative procedures within the airline. From the meetings, it has become painfully clear that MCIT does not intend to implement or recommend any changes to airline procedures until the investigation is completed. Whilst we appreciate the significance and importance of the work conducted by the NTSC, we certainly do not believe that improvements and enhancements of these procedures cannot take place in the meantime.

To assure the families and the public at large that the airlines best practices are indeed up to mark, MCIT should now conduct its own independent verification of the policies and procedures of the company in terms of operations, maintenance and administration. Emphasis should be placed on the procedures over which allegations and questions have been raised in light of interim reports issued so far and are within the scope and ability of MCIT. Naturally, allegations of design faults in the Boeing 737 aircraft could not be investigated by MCIT. However, the CAAS could and should in fact, have played a role in such an investigation with regards allegations of aircraft design faults that have plagued this model of aircraft for many years and are the proven cause of other Boeing 737 crashes.

Thirdly, the Association is glad to hear the recent announcements made by all parties concerned in the SQ 006 incident within Singapore. They have promised a thorough and transparent investigation and that all facts and findings will be made public. We would request the same level of commitment and transparency to the SilkAir crash investigation findings. As Dr Cheong of Singapore Airlines recently said, "There is no point in concealing any information" or words to that effect. To this end, our Association has recently written to MCIT requesting that all families receive a copy of the final report when it is released. At the same time, we have also requested a copy of the local police investigation. This is likely to be released in conjunction with or as part of the Final Crash Investigation Report. By witnessing both reports, we wish to put our minds at rest that all avenues have been exhausted, all relevant documents have been supplied to the NTSC by the airline and aircraft manufacturer and that the full investigation has indeed been completed.

Recent reports now indicate that the final crash report will be issued shortly. The draft final report was apparently released on 13^th October 2000 to SilkAir, the Ministry of Communications, the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore, the Singapore Police, Boeing, the NTSB as well as other agencies involved in the investigation. With this development, we are hopeful that the report would be released prior to the 3^rd Anniversary of the accident.

To wrap things up, we have requested for a final briefing to be conducted by Professor Diran from the NTSC for the families and Next-of-Kins. For those families unable to attend due to geographic constraints, a full copy of the report should be sent to them simultaneously. As the findings of the investigation really do involve the public welfare as well, the briefing should be televised nationally as with the recent SQ006 press conferences.

It is the Association's hope that with the completion of this investigation and release of findings that the families concerns with regards the quality of the investigation will be put to rest.

Fourthly, in view of Singapore having experienced two major airline disasters, we hope the government of Singapore will now take an active role in promoting and enhancing aviation safety at an international level.

In the last three years, several requests to meet our Prime Minister and the Minister of Communications and Information Technology to discuss issues pertinent to accident investigations and aviation safety have been turned downed. Instead, representatives were assigned to meet the families indirectly. Although disappointed, we certainly hope that this is not reflective of the government's commitment to an issue affecting the welfare of its citizens.

On our part, we have nevertheless raised several important issues to both the MCIT and the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO). These are issues related to international guidelines that we feel should be considered by the ICAO in the interest of aviation safety. As the governing body for international aviation safety, we sincerely hoped the ICAO would consider the points raised, which we feel are very valid indeed. We are requesting that the government of Singapore now take the initiative to assist us in this worthy cause in the interest of safety for the flying public.

In conclusion, we wish to remind the authorities that they have a responsibility to determine and announce the true cause of the SilkAir MI185 crash. It is still our opinion that a veil of silence exists in relation to the progress and findings of the investigation since the crash. This veil of silence has continued to lead to many allegations and theories by the worlds’ media, aviation industries and other organisations within the aviation industry. Because of this, many families have also expressed fears that the final report may turn out to be inconclusive. Although this has yet to be verified, we strongly hope that the authorities involved will leave no stone unturned in its efforts. Despite the difficulties involved with this crash, we are confident that sufficient evidence exists to make a reasonable conclusion as to the cause. An inconclusive report would seriously damage the public's confidence in the competence of the investigation efforts and even cause doubts on the integrity of the investigators, the airline and our government. The truth behind the accident should not be compromised for any other reasons or priorities if future accidents are to be avoided

The recent tragic SQ 006 crash has put the spotlight on our local airlines' safety record and dented Singapore's reputation as an aviation hub. To restore the public's confidence, both airline officials and local ministers have promised to be open and transparent in determining the cause for the crash. At this point, only an honest and conclusive result to the SilkAir investigation can reinstate our confidence in their words and promises.

Time has not helped to heal the wounds. We still continue to miss those who were killed so terribly much and there is not one day that they are not in our thoughts.