The ATSB has come a long way since its creation on 1 July 1999.
Legislation, training and IT systems have all been upgraded. The
ATSB has an increasingly national and international reputation for
independent safety material. This is reflected in the almost
800,000 new visitors to the ATSB website which also had more than
30 million 'hits' in 200607, and in multiple articles in such
publications as the prestigious US-based Flight Safety Foundations
AeroSafety World.
During 2006 - 07, the ATSB finalised its complex investigation
into Australian civil aviation's worst accident since 1968, the
15-fatality aircraft accident near Lockhart River, Queensland on 7
May 2005. The 500-page final report released on 4 April 2007
identifies important safety issues to enhance future aviation
safety relating to the crew, the operator, regulatory oversight and
instrument approach chart design. Three ATSB factual reports, a
research report and ten safety recommendations were released during
the course of the almost two-year investigation. A further ten
safety recommendations were issued with the final report, which
also utilised an enhanced ATSB investigation and analysis
methodology. Among other coronial inquests, the ATSB assisted with
the inquest into the Lockhart River accident by the Queensland
State Coroner which included a month of hearings on Thursday Island
and in Brisbane. The Coroner reported on 17 August 2007.
During the year the Bureau released 80 final aviation
investigation reports, 19 aviation safety recommendations, 10
aviation safety research reports and five research grant reports.
The ATSB also cooperated with the Indonesian National
Transportation Safety Committee (NTSC) in the investigation of the
Garuda Airlines Boeing 737-400 accident at Yogyakarta Airport on 7
March 2007 in which 21 died, including five Australians, and 12
were seriously injured. ATSB assistance included an on-site team
comprising a Deputy Director and two senior investigators, flight
recorder analysis in Canberra, and the drafting of preliminary and
final reports.
In April 2007 the Bureau introduced a new Safety Investigation
Information Management System (SIIMS) aviation database which will
be extended to rail and marine in 2007-08. SIIMS was developed
using the $6.1 million committed by the Australian Government in
the May 2004 Budget, and was within time and budget.
In marine, the ATSB released 14 investigation reports, issued 38
safety recommendations and continued an education campaign on
commercial fishing vessel safety. International success included
ATSB coordination and facilitation of recent amendments to the Code
for Investigation of Marine Casualties and Incidents as a member of
the IMO Flag State Implementation Subcommittee. The ATSB also
assisted with the inquest into the loss of the Immigration vessel
Malu Sara with five fatalities in the Torres Strait.
The ATSBs rail safety investigation team released nine final
reports and 39 safety recommendations under the Transport Safety
Investigation Act 2003 (TSI) which included a number of level
crossing accidents. In June 2007, the ATSB published jurisdiction
regulators rail safety occurrence data in eight key categories
covering the period January 2001 to December 2006. Further
improvements in rail safety data are being sought through a process
coordinated by the National Transport Commission.
The ATSB is continuing its commitment to training its
investigators through accredited Diploma of Transport Safety
Investigation. In 200607, 12 staff completed the TSI Diploma with
13 progressing through the required coursework and mentoring.
In March 2007 I completed my term as Chairman of the
International Transportation Safety Association (ITSA), which
includes major independent transport safety investigation bodies
from around the world. ITSA has been revitalised and has grown to
include the UK, Japan and Norway. France and South Korea are
potential new members.
The ATSB continued to support Ministers with road safety advice
and coordinated with other jurisdictions to develop the National
Road Safety Action Plan for 2007 and 2008, which was approved by
Ministers of the Australian Transport Council. While the challenges
in road safety are immense, progress is being made in jurisdictions
and through other stakeholders. It has been my privilege to chair
the National Road Safety Strategy Panel since 1999 and work with
such dedicated officers as ATSB General Manager Joe Motha and Team
Leader John Goldsworthy and senior staff including Chris
Brooks.
In 2006-07 the ATSB released 25 road safety research and
statistical publications including a report on transport injuries
amongst Indigenous people. The Bureau also helped organise an
Indigenous road safety forum in October 2006. Work continued in
preparation for the major novice driver research trial in New South
Wales and Victoria which the Australian Government is supporting.
Partners are scheduled to finalise the curriculum and conduct pilot
testing before the end of 2007.
All of the achievements made in 2006-07 and on an ongoing basis
are the result of the dedication of ATSB professional officers. For
this untiring service, I salute them all. Most have made major
personal sacrifices to make a difference for future transport
safety. I particularly recognise my direct report colleagues: Peter
Foley, Kerryn Macaulay, Joe Motha, Alan Stray and Julian Walsh. The
investigator-in-charge of the Lockhart River investigation, Greg
Madden and his team also deserve special praise.