The ATSB is committed to assisting its regional neighbours, both
through international agreements and through participation in
targeted government aid programs such as the Indonesian Transport
Safety Assistance Package (ITSAP) and cooperation with Papua New
Guinea consistent with the Memorandum of Understanding on
Cooperation in the Transport Sector.
The ATSB also works with international counterpart agencies and
with relevant multilateral organisations. The focus of this work is
in two areas,
• ensuring that safety lessons and operational
innovations are shared internationally; and,
• collaborating on improving the international
standards for accident investigation
Helping our neighbours
Australia's engagement with overseas counterparts is typical of
the way the international aviation community cooperates for the
common good. Lessons that will benefit safety are shared openly,
and the knowledge gained assists other countries with improved
passenger safety and better trained safety investigators.
Australia's reputation for high quality and rigorous
investigations makes it uniquely placed to assist aviation safety
in the Asia Pacific. Over the last 25 years Australian
investigators have assisted several of our regional neighbours
during complex aviation investigations.
In addition to onsite investigation support, the ATSB has provided
specialist services and training in areas such as technical
analysis and human factors. This support has been provided to
countries including Indonesia, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, the
Philippines, Taiwan, Malaysia, China and Singapore.
Indonesia Transport Safety Assistance
Package
On March 2007, a Garuda Indonesia Boeing 737 crashed while
attempting to land at Yogyakarta airport in central Java. The
accident claimed 21 lives, with others receiving serious injuries.
Five of those who lost their lives were Australians.
This tragic accident was the start of a new initiative in which
Australian transport safety professionals are working closely with
their Indonesian counterparts to enhance safety and build
additional capacity to meet the challenges facing Indonesia.
To this end, in May 2007, the Australian Government announced the
Indonesia Transport Safety Assistance Package (ITSAP), amounting to
nearly $24 million over three years.
On 31 January 2008, the Governments of Australia and the Republic
of Indonesia signed a landmark agreement to work together to
improve Indonesia's transport safety. Mr Albanese, the Australian
Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Services and Local
Government and the Indonesian Minister for Transportation, Jusman
Syafi'i Djamal, signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation
in the Transport Sector during a ceremony in Jakarta.
Under ITSAP, Australia has worked closely with the Government of
Indonesia to develop a package of measures to address areas
identified by Indonesia as its key transport safety
priorities.
The main elements of the ATSB's contribution to ITSAP are to
deliver training and support for investigators from the ASTB's
Indonesian counterpart agency, the National Transportation Safety
Committee (NTSC). This includes the ATSB providing staff dedicated
to various capacity building projects, funding ATSB training
courses in Indonesia and Australia, and opportunities for aviation,
marine, and rail investigators to work with their ATSB counterparts
for extended periods. Support is also being provided on individual
transport safety investigations.
This cooperation between the ATSB and the NTSC is one of the key
elements in ensuring lasting transportation safety for the people
of Indonesia and foreign travellers to Indonesia.
Continuation of ITSAP
In May 2010, the Australian Government announced the ITSAP program
would be extended for a further four years, with additional funding
of $14.5 million.
In announcing the additional funding, Minister Albanese said that
the extension of the ITSAP program would build on the progress
achieved to date, as well as help in the transfer of critical
knowledge, skills and systems relating to transport safety.
Together these investments will continue improving safety standards
within our region.
Australia and Indonesia will continue their close cooperation on
transport safety, with Australia helping to strengthen the capacity
of Indonesian authorities to achieve higher safety standards within
the aviation, maritime, and rail sectors.