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…

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 aim of this study was to provide information to the flying community about issues that have the potential to affect safety in the hope that increased knowledge and insight could lead to improved safety. The ATSB distributed the 'Aviation Industry Safety Survey' in November 2003 to 5,000 commercial pilots throughout Australia. Pilots were asked to respond to a series of questions regarding their flying experiences in the 12 months prior to receiving the survey. The survey consisted of two sections: Part A and Part B. Information about Part A has been reported in the ATSB Aviation Safety…

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…

Weather-related general aviation accidents remain one of the most significant causes for concern in aviation safety. Previous studies into the factors associated with weather-related general aviation occurrences have typically compared accident and non-accident cases. In contrast, this study does not concentrate on occurrence outcome. Instead, the emphasis is on the different behaviours that pilots exhibit in the face of adverse weather and, by inference, on the decision-making processes that underlie those behaviours. The work of this study is based on a set of 491 aviation accident and…

The twin-engine power loss accidents were analysed to identify the types of accidents that occurred. Ten of the 11 fatal accidents subsequent to a power loss in twin-engine aircraft were the result of an in-flight loss of control. In contrast, the majority of non-fatal accidents subsequent to a power loss were primarily the result of degraded aircraft performance and resulted in aircraft being forced landed. When a twin-engine aircraft sustains a loss of power, the resulting power output can produce a power condition that is either asymmetric or non-asymmetric. The twin-engine power loss…

This report presents data concerning Australian aviation activity, the aviation industry, aviation accidents and incidents and highlights broad trends and developments in aviation safety. The data are presented graphically in time series figures. Data on aviation accidents and incidents were collected from the ATSB's aviation database. Data concerning aviation activity, the aviation industry, accidents and specific incident types were collected from three main sources: the Bureau of Transport and Regional Economics, part of the Department of Transport and Regional Services, the Civil Aviation…

During 2004 the Neville Committee conducted an Inquiry into Train Illumination. The Committee tabled its report, Train Illumination: An inquiry into some measures proposed to improve train visibility and reduce level crossing accidents, on 24 June 2004. The report can be downloaded from the Neville Committee's website: Train Illumination: An inquiry into some measures proposed to improve train visibility and reduce level crossing accidents can be downloaded from the Neville Committee's website. The Government Response to the report, which was coordinated by the Australian Transport Safety…

The primary objective of any investigation into an air safety occurrence is the prevention of an accident. Sometimes an investigation will uncover a safety deficiency in the aviation system and recommendations are made to address the deficiency. At other times the details and circumstance of an accident or incident don't immediately uncover a safety deficiency or even provide immediate answers. However, the occurrence data is collected and stored in the ATSB database and may at some time in the future form part of a wider analysis of safety issues. A safety deficiency is defined in the…