Light utility helicopters made up half the fleet of registered helicopters in Australia, yet were involved in 72 per cent of helicopter accidents between January 1985 and December 2003. This report compared the relative safety of four light utility helicopter models. These are the: Robinson R22, 47G (made variously by Bell Helicopter Company, Agusta SPA Costruzioni or Kawasaki Heavy Industries), 269 (made by Hughes Helicopters or Schweizer Aircraft Corporation) and Hiller UH-12E. These helicopters are primarily single engine, reciprocating engine aircraft and the demand for them in Australia…

The adequacy of MBZ procedures to ensure the safety of Instrument Flight Rules (IFR), Regular Public Transport (RPT) and charter aircraft has been questioned several times since their inception in 1991. The former Bureau of Air Safety Investigation (BASI) recommended in 1993 that, to enhance safety within MBZs (then called MTAFs), areas such as pilot education and training, along with stricter surveillance and enforcement of procedural compliance, be reviewed. BASI further recommended in 1997 that options for pilots to confirm the correct operation of communication equipment be examined. The…

The ATSB Annual Review 2003 documents ATSB's achievements and safety activities from 1 July 2002 to 30 June 2003 and outlines its business planning for 2003-2004 Executive Director's message During 2002-03, the ATSB assisted the Minister for Transport and Regional Services with new legislation to enable the Bureau to investigate rail accidents on the increasingly important interstate system. The Transport Safety Investigation Act 2003 (TSI Act) also updates and harmonises the Bureau's aviation and marine investigative powers. The Transport Safety Investigation Regulations 2003 were also…

This project investigated the use of weather radar displays in commercial aviation. Three studies are described. The first study used an expertise model of the use of weather radar displays to classify aircraft accident and incident reports. The three data sources used were the Federal Aviation Administration Accident/Incident Data System, the National Transportation Safety Board Accident and Incident Database, and the Aviation Safety Reporting System. Although generalisation of the outcomes is limited, the results provide some evidence to suggest that where the use of weather radar was…

The ATSB Annual Review documents ATSB's achievements and safety activities from 1 July 2003 to 30 June 2004 and outlines its business planning for 2004-2005. Executive Director's message The ATSB had a busy and productive year in 2003-04 in all modes. In its aviation activities,the ATSB released 63 investigation reports including important reports on fatal accidents at Hamilton Island, Bankstown, Moorabbin and Toowoomba and on a Saab 340 serious icing incident near Bathurst. The Bureau generated 46 air safety recommendations including those arising from the Hamilton Island investigation, on…

Alcohol is a widely used drug, and its abuse is a serious public health problem. Alcohol has many widespread effects on the body, and impairs almost all forms of cognitive function, such as information processing, decision-making, attention and reasoning. Visual and vestibular functions are also adversely affected. The performance of any demanding task, such as flying an aircraft, is thus impaired by the effects of alcohol. Many studies have shown a significant proportion of aircraft accidents associated with alcohol use. Alcohol increases the risk of spatial disorientation, hypoxia and poor…

Error Management Training - Defining best practice [Download complete report - PDF: 743KB]   Error Management Training- Interview study to identify error management practices in experienced training captains [Download complete report - PDF: 805KB]   Error Management Training - Simulator study to identify error management training in current practice [Download complete report - PDF: 1.18MB]

Cannabis is a commonly used recreational drug, which has widespread effects within the body. Smoking is the most common form of administration. The adverse effects of cannabis on behaviour, cognitive function and psychomotor performance are dose-dependent and related to task difficulty. Complex tasks such as driving or flying are particularly sensitive to the performance impairing effects of cannabis. Chronic cannabis use is associated with a number of adverse health effects, and there is evidence suggesting the development of tolerance to chronic use as well as a well-defined withdrawal…

The vast majority of Australian civil fatal aircraft accidents occur in general aviation (GA) operations. This study examined Australian civil GA fatal accidents for the period 1991 to 2000, and covers fatal accident numbers and rates by aircraft type and operational grouping, timing of accidents, injury levels, pilot demographics and fatal accident types. Between 1991 and 2000 inclusive, there were 215 fatal accidents and 413 associated fatalities. Over the ten-year period there were 1.2 GA fatal accidents per 100,000 hours flown. The annual fatal accident rate decreased from 1.6 fatal…

Night Vision Goggles (NVGs) are binocular devices that enhance unaided night vision for pilots. Typically, NVGs are mounted on a pilot's helmet. This position enables pilots to look through the goggles outside the cockpit or under the goggles at flight instruments. By enabling the pilot to see in the dark, NVGs have the potential to improve the safety of visual flight at night. In most conditions, night vision goggles provide pilots with a significant increase in the quality of visual information compared with unaided night vision. They allow the pilot to see the horizon, objects, terrain and…