Non-factory amateur-built and experimental (ABE) aircraft are a popular alternative to general aviation aircraft. In Australia, there is little comprehensive data on these aircraft and what people do when building or buying them second-hand. Key players in this part of aviation were consulted in developing a survey to better understand these aircraft builders and owners. The survey was distributed electronically and in hard copy to owners of VH-registered ABE aircraft, and about 50 per cent of active ABE aircraft owners answered the survey. It focussed on choice of aircraft, construction and modifications, test flights, transition training, and maintenance. It provides a valuable reference point for aircraft operators, those considering ABE aircraft, aviation regulators, and aircraft associations. In developing a more comprehensive understanding of this sector of aviation, relevant parties are in a better position to plan, build and operate ABE aircraft in the future.

The purpose of this publication is to examine trends in the numbers of transport accident deaths in Australia in the 1980s and 1990s in the light of the most recent comparable data from most other countries that are members of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). Overall, the data indicate that in the period from 1980 to 1999 Australia's transport safety improvement compared favourably with that of other OECD countries and performance reached OECD median levels in the 1990s.

Data for this publication have been obtained from the World Health Organisations Mortality Database but responsibility for the analyses presented here rests solely with the ATSB.

The OECD was formed in 1961 to promote economic cooperation and development among its members. Current member states are Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Luxembourg, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, the UK and the USA.

At about 0110, on 21 June 2000, a fisherman from Iluka, New South Wales, was killed when his 14 m trawler was run down and sunk by a 181 m long, 42 717 tonne deadweight bulk carrier.

The aim of this study was to investigate the safety climate1 of Australian aviation as perceived by commercial pilots. To do this, the ATSB sent a survey to 5000 commercial pilots throughout Australia. The survey had two parts: one was a safety climate scale and the other asked about safety experiences during the last year. Demographic information was also sought. This report is limited to the demographic data and the first part of the survey, the safety climate scale. Safety climate perceptions are also reviewed. The safety climate instrument was developed as a generic measure of safety climate for the transport sector. Use of this measure with an aviation sample revealed four factors of safety climate important to aviation - management commitment, training, equipment and maintenance and rules and procedures. Graphs of each factor by flying category (RPT, charter and aerial work) are presented. Most respondents either agreed or strongly agreed that the aspects of safety measured were present in the industry.

Following three midair collisions at major general aviation airports in Australia between February and July 2002, the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) conducted a review of midair collisions in Australia between 1961 and 2003. The objectives of the review were to identify common characteristics and contributing factors, assess whether there had been a change in the midair collision rate in recent years, and to compare the characteristics and rate of midair collisions with those of other countries.

Although most runway incursions do not result in accidents, the potentially catastrophic consequences of runway incursions place them high on the agendas of aviation safety agencies internationally. The majority of runway incursions in Australia have a low potential to result in an accident. Australia has never experienced a large scale accident due to a runway incursion but vigilance is required to maintain this safety record. Data described and analysed in this report were sourced from the ATSB's OASIS database. The data have been reviewed and analysed to better understand runway incursions in Australia.

To facilitate comparisons between rail safety in each of the jurisdictions in Australia, comparisons between rail safety in Australia and in other countries, and comparisons between the safety of the different modes of transport (air, water, road and rail), the ATSB has referred wherever possible to national and international standards. The Australian standard AS 4292, Railway safety management, includes an appendix titled 'Incident definition and recording requirements'. State rail safety regulators have also devised a national standard called 'Occurrence categories and definitions'. Both of these standards are an important first step, but they fall far short of defining a 'minimum common dataset' as this is understood in the field of quantitative research.

(a report produced and published by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau, Canberra, Feb 2004)

The purpose of this publication is to examine trends in the numbers of railway accident deaths in Australia in the 1980s and 1990s in the light of comparable data from other countries that are members of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). Overall, the data indicate that in the period from 1980 to 1999 Australia's rail safety improvement compared favourably with that of other OECD countries and performance reached OECD median levels in the 1990s.

Data for this publication have been obtained from the World Health Organisation's 'Mortality Database' but responsibility for the analyses presented here rests solely with the ATSB.

The OECD was formed in 1961 to promote economic cooperation and development among its members. Current member states are Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Luxembourg, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, the United Kingdom and the United States.

In addition to those on the ATSB web site under Rail Safety / Statistics, other publications by the ATSB on related topics include:

• Transport accident fatalities: Australia compared with other OECD countries, 1980-1999
• Cross-modal safety comparisons

The purpose of this publication is to examine trends in the numbers of railway accident deaths in Australia in the 1980s and 1990s in the light of comparable data from other countries that are members of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). Overall, the data indicate that in the period from 1980 to 1999 Australia's rail safety improvement compared favourably with that of other OECD countries and performance reached OECD median levels in the 1990s.

This report has been produced by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) using data supplied by the rail safety regulators in each State and the Northern Territory of Australia since 2001. The ATSB does not collect the data itself and depends entirely on the efforts of the rail safety regulators to provide accurate and reliable information.

Train kilometres

Note: Excludes tram kilometres. Figures for Tasmania are not available.

Passenger train kilometres

Note: Excludes tram kilometres. Figures for Tasmania are not available.

Freight train kilometres

Note: Figures for Tasmania are not available.

Tram kilometres

Train passenger journeys

Note: The railways providing passenger journey figures to the rail safety regulators are currently able to provide only estimates. Figures for Tasmania are not available. Excludes tram passenger journeys.

Tram passenger journeys

Notes

The definitions provided below are selected excerpts from the definitions of terms used by State and NT rail safety regulators in Australia. The definitions have been developed by them, in consultation with the rail industry, as part of their administrative role in providing government oversight of the safety of the rail industry in Australia.

Train kilometres: the number of kilometres travelled by trains, both freight and passenger.

Train: one or more units of rolling stock coupled together, at least one of which is a locomotive or other self-propelled unit that is designed to run on a railway. Both track maintenance machines and trams (streetcars or light rail) are included in this definition. However, in this national report tramway activity is disaggregated from railway activity as a whole since most of the tramway activity in Australia is concentrated in Melbourne, Victoria.

Passenger train kilometres: the number of kilometres travelled by passenger trains (in this national report, excluding trams).

Freight train kilometres: the number of kilometres travelled by freight trains.

Tram kilometres: the number of kilometres travelled by trams.

Train passenger journey: a journey made by a passenger, all or part of which was on a train. A passenger journey is calculated as follows: urban areas - a point-to-point journey irrespective of the number of vehicles or modes used for the trip; non-urban areas - a point-to-point journey but each change of vehicle along the route is counted as a separate journey. In this national report, tram passenger journeys are excluded.

Tram passenger journey: a journey made by a passenger, all or part of which was on a tram. A passenger journey is calculated as follows: urban areas - a point-to-point journey irrespective of the number of vehicles or modes used for the trip.

Railway employees: persons (whether full or part time) who work for or at the direction of a railway organisation, including contractors and volunteers. In this national report, excludes tramway employees.

Tramway employees: persons (whether full or part time) who work for or at the direction of a tramway organisation, including contractors and volunteers.

Additional statistics on Australian railways are available from the Australasian Railway Association (see http://www.ara.net.au(Opens in a new tab/window)).

Disclaimer

The data in this report are supplied to the ATSB by State and NT rail safety regulators. Data quality and national consistency, in particular, thus depend on the efforts of these regulators. The ATSB accepts no liability for any loss or damage suffered by any person or corporation resulting from the use of these data.