ATSB Chief Commissioner Greg Hood has awarded outgoing Director of Defence Aviation and Air Force Safety (DDAAFS), Group Captain John Grime, with a certificate of appreciation for his contribution to improving aviation safety within the Australian Defence Force.
The presentation ceremony, held at the ATSB's head office in Canberra on 21 June 2018, also afforded an opportunity for Mr Hood to meet the incoming DDAAFS, Group Captain Nigel Ward, who has been promoted from the rank of Wing Commander for the position.
“The ATSB recognises and thanks Group Captain Grime for his service since 2016, and I wish him well in his new role heading up 92 Wing at RAAF Base Edinburgh,” Mr Hood said. “There has been a close relationship between Defence Aviation and Air Force Safety (DAAFS) and the Bureau for many years, with an ongoing memorandum of understanding supporting our co-operation. I am looking forward to continuing this relationship and working closely with Group Captain Ward.”
Last year, the ATSB seconded a DAAFS investigator resource for six months, which offered both organisations an immeasurable learning opportunity. During his secondment, Lieutenant Commander Darryl Whitehead was afforded the opportunity to deploy to a number of accidents including to a fatal Robinson R22 helicopter accident in Cloncurry, Queensland and to a double fatal Diamond DA40 accident in Jimboomba, west of Brisbane.
“There are numerous subtle differences between the two agencies, however we are united in the common goal to improve transport safety,” Mr Hood said. “Underneath the different uniforms, we are essentially all cut from the same cloth. We are committed to investigating accidents and analysing occurrence data with the sole aim of preventing recurrence.”