There was a significant underreporting by Virgin Australia Regional Airlines Pty Ltd ATR72 terrain awareness warning system-related occurrences.
The ATSB is satisfied that the safety action by VARA has increased its TAWS reporting rates to the industry standard for similar aircraft models flown by similar Australian operators.
In response to this occurrence, the flight operations section directed crew, through Memo FOG 1932.13, to submit occurrence reports for all terrain awareness warning system (TAWS) and ground proximity warning system (GPWS) occurrences. In addition, the processes for reporting GPWS (TAWS) events have been added to the flight operations policy and procedures manual and supporting internal processes have been developed to ensure all reports are reviewed by the safety department and passed to the ATSB as applicable. Safety department data since these actions shows that the reporting rate of these occurrences from Virgin Australia Regional Airlines Pty Ltd (VARA) to the ATSB has increased to the industry standard.
The ATSB notes VARA’s additional guidance to crew regarding the reporting of all GPWS (TAWS) occurrences and changes to its internal reporting procedures. The increased reporting rate from the airline indicates that these changes have addressed this issue.
The ATSB has been advised of the following proactive safety action in response to this occurrence.
VARA
VARA advised the ATSB that following this occurrence:
