Since November this year, there have been numerous stories in the Australian media suggesting, among other things, that commercial aviation safety is declining and fatal accidents involving professional pilots in Australia in the last three years were very high compared with the start of the 1990s and had increased compared with those involving private pilots. The Executive Director of the ATSB therefore commissioned a research paper to analyse the facts contained in the ATSB database and to seek comment on the paper's content and findings. A media conference discussing the factual…

A media conference discussing the progress of the investigation into the circumstances surrounding the Lancair fatal accident on 5 April 2006 will be held today, Thursday 6 April 2006 Where: Carpark Hangar 109, Drover Road, Bankstown Aerodrome, NSW Time: 11:30 local time (Eastern Standard Time) Mr Andrew Roberton, the 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…

The ATSB has released a Preliminary Investigation Report into an 11 October 2004 Boeing 737 incident at Perth when the aircraft's tailskid struck the ground during the takeoff from runway 03. The tailskid strike resulted in minor damage to the tailskid shoe at the rear lower fuselage. The crew and passengers were not injured. The ATSB has classified this occurrence as a category 3 serious incident. The investigation is continuing and is analysing recorded weather information and data from the aircraft's flight data recorder. Any necessary safety action that arises from the investigation will…

The ATSB has released a second interim factual report on the Piper Cheyenne accident on 28 July 2004 in which the pilot and five passengers died. The ATSB has established that the aircraft diverged between 3.4 and 4 degrees left of the intended track between a point abeam Ulladulla and where it disappeared from radar. The ATSB is conducting further tests of the modes and functionality of the GPS receiver type that was used on the aircraft, to determine if the flight path can be replicated with a copy of the data used by the pilot. The damaged GPS data card has been sent to the Bureau d'…

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau is investigating a fatal aviation accident involving a Cessna 310R aircraft, VH-FIN, which occurred near Tamworth, New South Wales at about 1.30 pm local time, 7 March 2005. The ATSB will be conducting a media conference near the accident site at 1 pm today, 8 March. This will be the only onsite interview provided by the investigation team. All other interviews will be through the ATSB's central office, details below. The media are invited to meet the investigator in charge at the front gate of the Rose Hill property, 7 km west of Tamworth on the New…

A media conference discussing the progress of the investigation into the circumstances surrounding the Cessna 206 fatal accident on 2 January 2006 will be held today, Tuesday 3 January 2006 Where: 15 Mort Street, Canberra City ACT (ATSB headquarters) Time: 12:00 local time Mr Alan Stray, Deputy Director, Aviation Safety Investigation, will discuss factual material 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 and will be put in touch with an…

The 'Black Box' flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder from the fatal Metroliner aircraft accident near Lockhart River on Cape York Peninsula, Queensland are arriving at the Australian Transport Safety Bureau headquarters at 15 Mort St in Canberra at 7 pm today, Monday 9 May 2005. The ATSB will provide the opportunity for a photo shoot (only) of the recorders arrival. Channel 9 and The Australian Newspaper have agreed to film/photograph the recorders on a pool basis and make it available to all media outlets. Please note, due to space and security requirements this will be a strictly…

A media conference discussing the factual information contained in the report and the progress of the investigation into the circumstances surrounding the Piper Chieftain fatal accident on 2 December 2005 will be held on, Tuesday 31 January 2006. Where: Sydney Convention & Exhibition Centre, Darling Harbour SYDNEY (Rotor Tech 2006 - Hall 3 ATSB Booth No.2) Time: 15:00 (local time) Mr Alan Stray, Deputy Director, Aviation Safety Investigation will discuss the factual material contained in the report and progress of the investigation.