The article by Martin Aubury, ‘Luck stops an air disaster waiting to happen’, published in several Fairfax publications on 11 July 2016 contains factual errors and misunderstandings. In the interests of ensuring truth and transparency, the ATSB considers it necessary to correct the record. In the article, Mr Aubury cites the ATSB’s on-going investigation into an in-flight pitch disconnect involving a Virgin Australia Regional Airlines (VARA) ATR 72 aircraft while descending into Sydney, NSW on 20 February 2014. Mr Aubury claims that it took the ATSB several years to publicly report its…

An article published in The Australian by Mr Ean Higgins on 12 August 2016 falsely accuses the ATSB of ‘secretly retracting’ information from a Joint Agency Coordination Centre operations update on 27 July. In recent weeks the ATSB has been very careful to accurately describe the Defence Science and Technology (DST) Group’s analysis of the accident aircraft’s rates of descent at the final satellite handshake (known as the 7th arc). This analysis concludes that the metadata associated with the final two satellite communications from the aircraft to the ground earth station indicates…

An article published in The Australian today by Byron Bailey in relation to the search for MH370 contains inaccurate information and false assertions. In the interests of providing a transparent and accurate account, the ATSB considers it necessary to correct the record. Firstly, Mr Bailey claims that the company contracted by the ATSB to conduct the search, Fugro, believes they are looking in the wrong place. In fact, Fugro has publicly denied this claim and issued a statement to say: Fugro wishes to make it very clear that we believe the search area to have been well…

An article, Inquiry into MH370 to probe ‘years of wasted effort’ by Byron Bailey which appeared in The Australian on 8 September 2016 contains inaccuracies that require correction and clarification. Firstly, the article says that “the Australian Transport Safety Bureau decided on an unresponsive pilot scenario…” The ATSB's suggested end-of-flight scenario only applies to the final segment of MH370’s flight when it was heading in a southerly direction into the Indian Ocean. This was for a period of about five-and-a-half hours. …

It has been reported by the ABC and news.com.au that the purpose of the First Principles Review meeting in Canberra on 2-4 November 2016 is for the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) to seek additional funding from the Australian Government to extend the search for MH370. This is not correct. The First Principles review meeting consists of experts from the Search Strategy Working Group including Australian Defence Scientists, Boeing, Thales, Inmarsat, the National Transportation Safety Board of the US and the Air Accident Investigation…

On 17 April 2017, The Australian published an article, “ATSB shuts down details on MH370 search” by Ean Higgins. That article contained misrepresentations. Mr Higgins stated that “(the) Australian Transport Safety Bureau has invoked draconian legislation in refusing to release material about its search for missing Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370, warning that any bureau employee who provides such information to the public or a court could face two years in jail.” The ATSB did not issue any such warning. The Transport Safety Investigation Act 2003 (TSI Act) applies to ATSB investigations and…

A story on ABC’s 7.30 program (7 March 2017) and an article on the ABC news website, “Air safety watchdog clearly failing”, contains inaccurate and misleading claims that require correction. Firstly, the reports quote Mr Neil Hansford as saying: "Until a case is resolved, there can be no remedial action taken by the relevant authorities, CASA (Civil Aviation Safety Authority) or the Department of Transport or even private airport operators." In fact, the ATSB does not wait for an investigation to be completed to bring safety matters to the attention of operators and authorities. When the ATSB…

I am pleased to present the Australian Transport Safety Bureau’s (ATSB) Corporate Plan, which covers the period 2022-23 to 2025-26. This Corporate Plan has been prepared consistent with paragraph 35(1)(b) of the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013 and the relevant provisions of the Transport Safety Investigation Act 2003 (the TSI Act), which establishes the ATSB. The Corporate Plan is also consistent with the Minister’s revised Statement of Expectations 2021–23 (SOE) for the ATSB, as notified under Section 12AE of the TSI Act. The SOE sets out clear…

Safety Advisory Notice To Beechcraft Baron operators Beechcraft Baron heater fuel supply line inspection The ATSB is encouraging Baron operators to inspect the heater fuel supply line and nearby wiring in the aircraft cockpit to reduce the risk of an in-flight fire. What happened At approximately 0835 on the morning of 16 April 2022, the pilot of a Beechcraft B58 Baron registered VH-NPT commenced an approach to Runway 12 at the East Kimberley Regional Airport near Kununurra. Upon selection of the landing gear to the down position the pilot reported multiple unusual…

The ATSB Annual Report 2021-22 outlines performance against the outcome and program structure in the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts' Portfolio Budget Statements 2021–22 I am pleased to be able to introduce this annual report on the ATSB activities for 2021–22, a year that continued to present challenges not just for the agency but for the transport sectors we serve due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic as well as challenging economic circumstances. I commenced my term as Chief Commissioner and Chief Executive…