Although several studies have reported the common threats and errors identified in line operations safety audits (LOSAs) of high-capacity regular public transport (RPT) operations (Klinect, Wilhelm & Helmreich, 1999; Veilette, 2005; Thomas, 2004), there is little information on the types of threats and errors faced by pilots in other parts of the aviation industry. This report catalogues the most common threats to operations, and errors made by pilots, in aerial work and low-capacity air transport operations, as perceived by flight instructors, check-and-training pilots, chief pilots and…

This report was commissioned by the Bureau of Air Safety Investigation (BASI) to investigate the system of Notices to Airmen (NOTAM) following statements from some airline flight crews that current NOTAM presentation is not optimised to meet their needs. Pilots had stated that: Some NOTAM are not clearly written, The NOTAM format can be difficult to decipher, There is too much irrelevant information provided.

MTAF procedures were introduced in Australia with the AMATS changes of 12 December 1991. The MTAF procedure applies at specified aerodromes. It depends on pilots making mandatory radio calls, hearing calls from other aircraft, assessing this traffic information for potential conflict, and responding appropriately with radio communication and avoiding action if necessary. The MTAF procedure is designed to alert aircraft to all other air traffic in a designated area surrounding a particular aerodrome. The procedure mandates certain radio broadcasts and responses in these areas, and the pilots…

In 1992 a study (RP/92/10) was performed to examine VCA occurrences. The report found that VCAs had increased sharply following the introduction of the AMATS system in late 1991. The aim of this report is to provide updated information on the VCA situation. As an update on the 1992 VCA report, the most recent six-month period, January to June 1994, will be examined.

In late 1992, the Bureau of Air Safety Investigation (BASI) noted a large increase in violations of controlled airspace (VCAs). Whereas in most of 1991, there had been around 25 such incidents per month, in December 1991 there were 42 of these incidents and throughout 1992 BASI received an increasing number of VCA notifications. The increase in VCAs was of particular concern as it may have reflected difficulties with the implementation of the Airspace Management and Air Traffic Services (AMATS) changes to Australian airspace. A VCA is a serious incident because of the risk of a collision…

The status of commercial passenger operations in turbine powered single engine aeroplanes is presently under review by the civil aviation regulatory authorities of several nations. In this information paper BASI offers no argument for or against the introduction of such operations. Present regulations on commercial passenger carriage were developed prior to the availability of the turboprop engines which are now in operation.

The Bureau of Air Safety Investigation recently conducted research into the rates of G onset and G levels experienced by a light aircraft pilot during normal aerobatics. The objective was to relate data obtained from the research to other data available from military authorities, in order to evaluate the possibility or otherwise of a light aircraft pilot sustaining G-induced loss of consciousness (G-LOC) during aerobatics.

This information paper reviews the Bureau's policy on testing for drugs and alcohol, attempts to assess the prevalence of drugs and alcohol in aviation accidents and incidents, and discusses the adequacy of the present policy. The policies of Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States are also outlined.

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau has commenced the publication of a safety bulletin for the helicopter industry. This follows an external review of the Bureau undertaken in 1999. The review contained a number of recommendations, from which the production of this bulletin has emerged. The bulletin will be published twice yearly. From time-to-time additional bulletins will be published in response to requests for information on specific subjects from the industry. If a particular problem becomes evident from the ATSB's monitoring of trends in various areas, this too will be included in…

The carriage of traffic collision avoidance system (TCAS) equipment is not mandatory in Australian aircraft. However, many Australian and foreign registered aircraft operating in Australian controlled airspace are equipped with TCAS because of their compliance with a US requirement when operating in American airspace. A total of 157 TCAS-related air safety occurrences were reported in Australian airspace during 1993 and 1994. The circumstances of these events, and the views of the pilots and air traffic controllers involved in the occurrences, were examined in detail. Early versions of TCAS…