A media conference discussing the progress of the investigation into the circumstances surrounding the mid-air single fatality accident on 27 August 2008 will be held tomorrow, Thursday 28 August 2008.

Where: 47 Silver Street, (crn Lorna and Silver Streets) Cheltenham, Victoria

Time: 10:30 am (local time)

Mr Mike Watson, Investigator in Charge (IIC) will discuss factual information known to the investigation team at this time and will outline the investigation process.

Any person/witness with information about the accident is encouraged to contact the ATSB on 1800 020 616.

No further media briefings will be conducted by the on-site team. After this briefing, all media enquiries must be directed to the media contact listed below.

A media conference discussing the progress of the investigation into the circumstances surrounding the Qantas Boeing 747-400 depressurisation and diversion to Manila on 25 July 2008 will be held in

Canberra, ACT today, Wednesday 30 July 2008.

Where: 15 Mort Street, Canberra ACT (ATSB Headquarters)

Time: 2:00 pm local time (AEST)

Mr Julian Walsh, Director, Aviation Safety Investigation will discuss factual information known to the investigation team at this time and will outline the investigation process.

Any person/witness with information about the accident is encouraged to contact the ATSB at atsbinfo@atsb.gov.au

A media conference discussing the progress of the investigation into the circumstances surrounding the Qantas Boeing 747-400 depressurisation and diversion to Manila on 25 July 2008 will be held in Manila today, Tuesday 29 July 2008.

Where: Lufthansa Technik Offices Boardroom, Manila Airport

Time: 2:00 pm Manila time, (4:00 pm AEST)

Mr Neville Blyth, Investigator in Charge (IIC) will discuss factual information known to the investigation team at this time and will outline the investigation process.

Any person/witness with information about the accident is encouraged to contact the ATSB at atsbinfo@atsb.gov.au

No further media briefings will be conducted by the on-site team. After this briefing, all media enquiries must be directed to the media contact listed below.

On Friday 23 May 2008 at 10.30 am AEST, the ATSB will hold a media conference to release its final investigation report into the grounding of the Panamanian registered bulk carrier Pasha Bulker on Nobby's Beach, Newcastle, New South Wales on 8 June 2007.

When: Friday 23 May 2008

Where: 15 Mort Street, Canberra, ACT (ATSB Headquarters)

Time: 10:30 am local time (Australian Eastern Standard Time)

Mr Peter Foley, Acting Executive Director, ATSB will present and discuss the findings of the final report and associated safety action.

A media conference discussing the progress of the investigation into the circumstances surrounding the Fairchild Metroliner single fatality accident on 9 April 2008 will be held today, Friday 11 April 2008

Where: Outside the NSW Water Police Compound, Jubilee Place, BALMAIN, NSW

Time: 2:00 pm EST (local time)

Mr Allan Coppin, Investigator in Charge (IIC) will discuss factual information known to the investigation team at this time and will outline the investigation process.

Any person/witness with information about the accident is encouraged to contact the ATSB on 1800 020 616.

No further media briefings will be conducted by the on-site team. After this briefing, all media enquiries must be directed to the media contact listed below.

A media conference discussing the progress of the investigation into the circumstances surrounding the mid-air fatality on 26 February 2008 will be held today, Wednesday, 27 February 2008

Where: At the accident site north - east of Wee Waa, NSW

The briefing will be conducted adjacent to 'Glen Arvan' on Trindles Lane - from Wee Waa take the highway towards Narrabri and turn left approximately10 km from Wee Waa and then 3 km north to the briefing site (near position .30 degrees 10.63 minutes S, 149 degrees 30.72 minutes E).

Time: 1300 ESuT (local time)

Mr Alex Hood, Investigator in Charge (IIC) will discuss factual information known to the investigation team at this time and will outline the investigation process.

Any person/witness with information about the accident is encouraged to contact the ATSB on 1800 020 616.

No further media briefings will be conducted by the on-site team. After this briefing, all media enquiries must be directed to the media contact listed below.

A media conference discussing the progress of the investigation into the circumstances surrounding the Pitts S-2A Special single fatality accident on 18 March 2008 will be held today, Wednesday 19 March 2008.

Where: Side Lane - 50 metres north of accident site on the western side of The Northern Road

Time: 11:00 am ESuT (local time)

Mr Marcus Matthews, Investigator in Charge (IIC) will discuss factual information known to the investigation team at this time and will outline the investigation process.

Any person/witness with information about the accident is encouraged to contact the ATSB on 1800 020 616.

No further media briefings will be conducted by the on-site team. After this briefing, all media enquiries must be directed to the media contact listed below.

An ATSB investigation has found that the driver of a motor vehicle who was fatally injured on 11 August 2005 at the Edith Street level crossing in Horsham, Victoria, did not give way to the train as prescribed in 'Road Rules�- Victoria'. The motorist drove into the path of the train even though the level crossing flashing lights and bell were operating correctly.

The ATSB's report concludes that it is likely that the driver of the car was distracted by internal and/or external factors. Internal factors may have included an expectation that a train would not be present, familiarity with the crossing and/or personal issues. External factors may have included the presence of an intersection immediately after the crossing.

The report further concludes that there was nothing the train crew could have done to prevent the accident. In the interest of enhancing future road/rail safety the ATSB has made a series of recommendations which include opportunities for better public education regarding the dangers of level crossing, the improved inspection of warning signage associated with level crossings and a review of the upgrade priority assessed for the Edith Street level crossing.

Horsham is situated on the main Melbourne to Adelaide line and is approximately 300 km north-west of Melbourne, and 450 km south east of Adelaide. The level crossing comprises a single rail line crossed at right angles by the roadway and is protected by flashing lights a bell, approach warning signs and road markings. Copies of the report can be downloaded from the ATSB's internet site.

A crew member on board the P&O cruise ship, Pacific Sun fell to his death because his safety harness was not properly secured, according to an Australian Transport Safety Bureau report released today.

On 5 February 2006, Pacific Sun berthed at number eight wharf Darling Harbour, Sydney. The quartermaster on the twelve to four watch was assigned to clean rust streaks from the outside of the port bridge wing. At 1205, before the quartermaster started work, the officer on watch checked his safety harness and completed a work permit. The quartermaster then climbed out onto an open catwalk and started to work outside the bridge wing of the ship, 24 m above the concrete wharf.

At about 1249 the quartermaster apparently lost his footing and fell onto the wharf below. He died as a result of the injuries he sustained in the fall.

The ATSB's investigation report states that the quartermaster was probably in the process of moving the safety line on his harness from one strong point to another at the time that he lost his footing and fell. The factors which contributed to his fall include a safety harness that was fitted with only one lanyard and workplace risk assessment and procedures that were inadequate. The quartermaster may also have been distracted from the task at the time by non-work-related issues.

The ATSB report recommends that ship operators should ensure that the procedures, permits and risk assessments for personnel working aloft adequately identify the hazards and stipulate measures to mitigate the risks. The report also recommends that ship operators should ensure that the safety harness and lanyard used by personnel working aloft are appropriate for the purpose considering all aspects of the tasks to be performed.

Copies of the report can be downloaded from the ATSB website, or obtained from the ATSB by telephoning 1800 020 616.

An ATSB Research report has found that pilot workload was perceived as being higher, and reported losses of situational awareness were more common, with the area navigation global navigation satellite system [RNAV (GNSS)] approach like the one being flown by the crew of the 15-fatality aircraft at Lockhart River on 7 May 2005, compared with all other approach types except the non-directional beacon (NDB) approach, which involved similar workload and situational awareness levels.

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau has made a number of recommendations to enhance the safety of RNAV (GNSS) approaches including to Airservices Australia for a review of waypoint naming conventions for the purpose of improving readability and contributing to situational awareness; and a review of approaches with segment lengths different from the 5 nautical mile optimum and/or with multiple segment steps.

ATSB recommendations to the Civil Aviation Safety Authority include further research to better understand factors affecting pilot workload and situational awareness during the RNAV (GNSS) approach.

The ATSB has today also dispatched copies of its confidential draft final report on the Lockhart River accident to directly involved parties. This is to enable checking of the accuracy of more than 400 pages of the report and appendices and to ensure natural justice. In accordance with international convention, directly involves parties have up to 60 days to comment before the ATSB reviews comments and finalises the report for public release.

The research report (Perceived Pilot Workload and Perceived Safety of RNAV (GNSS) Approaches) can be downloaded from the ATSB internet.