The ATSB welcomes the announcement of the induction of aviation safety visionary Dr Rob Lee AO into the Australian Aviation Hall of Fame (AAHOF).
From 1989 until 1999, Dr Lee led the ATSB’s predecessor – the Bureau of Air Safety Investigation (BASI) – transforming it from a purely reactive investigative agency to an innovative multi-skilled organisation that concentrated equally on proactive accident prevention and safety enhancement.
Dr Lee’s expertise was in high demand across multiple national and international investigations, including into the Gulf Air A320 accident at Bahrain in August 2000, the Singapore Airlines B747 accident at Taipei in October 2000, and the mid-air collision between a B757 and a TU154M over Ueberlingen, Germany, in 2002.
He served as a member of the International Society of Air Safety Investigators, the European Association for Aviation Psychology (EAAP), and the Australasian Society of Aerospace Medicine. He was also Vice-President of the Australian Aviation Psychology Association.
Dr Lee was recognised with many distinguished honours nationally and internationally during his career. In the 2012 Queen’s Birthday Honours, Dr Lee was made an Officer in the General Division of the Order of Australia (AO): “For distinguished service to the aviation industry, to the development of air safety and accident investigation standards, and to national and international professional associations”.
Chief Commissioner Greg Hood said the announcement that Dr Lee was being honoured by being inducted into AAHOF was welcome news and well deserved.
“Dr Lee was a visionary, who made an enormous contribution to the safety of the aviation industry both here and overseas,” he said. “He was a pioneer in ensuring that human factors became a key part of international aviation safety investigations. Rob was advised of his induction before he passed away on 27 April 2018 and was greatly honoured. His passing was an enormous loss to the world; however he leaves an enormous legacy in integrated safety systems and human factors.”
For further information on the AAHOF and its inductees, visit aahof.com.au