On Friday 17 November, the ATSB signed two new Memoranda of Understanding (MOU) with the Australian Federation of Air Pilots (AFAP) and the Australian and International Air Pilots Association (AIPA).
ATSB Chief Commissioner Greg Hood signed with AFAP President Captain Louise Pole and AIPA President First Officer Mark Sedgwick, respectively.
"The MOUs establish a framework that recognise our interests in working together to improve aviation safety," Mr Hood said. "The ATSB remains an independent body, but we recognise the value in ensuring we can tap into the highest levels of expertise to help us identify safety issues and get the message out there.”
Captain Pole acknowledged the initiative, saying "The ATSB plays an important leadership role as Australia’s national transport safety investigator. Our Safety and Technical Director Stuart Beveridge and Legal Counsel Joseph Wheeler along with myself and others at AFAP were delighted to have been involved in the drafting of this MoU. For 80 years the AFAP has been committed to improving aviation safety and we now look forward to the future opportunities that a more cooperative relationship will bring.”
First Officer Sedgwick for the AIPA said, “The AIPA has for some years had an MOU with the ATSB and we have strongly supported proposals to redevelop and expand an MOU between the ATSB and a wider range of industry participants. We remain committed to continuously improving aviation safety outcomes and our relationship with the ATSB is a vital component in achieving this. AIPA encourages all industry participants to work together to continually improve our already robust safety relationships. We congratulate Chief Commissioner Hood for taking this step and look forward to working with the ATSB."
The ATSB is signing a number of MOUs with industry associations to help with building relationships with organisations and people who share a common interest in improving transport safety. Industry associations can be great advocates for safety action where it is needed.