Search operation for Malaysia Airlines aircraft Media briefing - 28 March 2014  Australian Maritime Safety Authority Emergency Response General Manager John Young.Australian Transport Safety Bureau Chief Commissioner Martin Dolan. We would like to update you on some credible information AMSA has received from the ATSB which will see the search area refocused today. The AMSA search for any sign of the missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 has been shifted to an area north following advice from the Australian Transport Safety Bureau. An international air crash…

Australia’s transport industries are some of the safest in the world but more can be done to improve safety, according to the ATSB’s annual report. Approved for tabling by the Deputy Prime Minister the Hon Warren Truss, the annual report highlights the ATSB’s top transport safety concerns across the aviation, maritime and rail industries. ATSB Chief Commissioner Martin Dolan said the safety concerns bring together the ATSB’s investigation findings and analysis of the safety occurrence data reported by industry. “We are urging industry to give heightened attention to the risk areas identified…

Transport safety investigators from the Asia Pacific region have converged on Canberra this week to learn about how human factors influence accidents. The 32 participants from five nations will attend lectures and participate in exercises conducted by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau and featuring leading experts in the science. Course convenor Dr Richard Batt, the ATSB’s Director International, said human factors were a predominant factor in accidents. “Research shows 80 to 90 per cent of accidents have a human factor involved,” Dr Batt said. “This can range from things like operator…

The ATSB today released a request for tender to acquire the services of a specialist company capable of conducting a deep-water search under ATSB direction for missing Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370. Engaged as a prime contractor, the company will provide the expertise, equipment and vessel(s) necessary to undertake an intensified underwater search for the missing Boeing 777 aircraft in the defined zone in the southern Indian Ocean. While the precise search zone is currently being established by an international search strategy working group, it is expected that the successful tenderer will…

The ATSB is urging pilots of single-engine aircraft to plan for partial power loss, following the release of a new educational video. Between 2000 and 2010, there were nine fatal accidents resulting in 20 people losing their lives as a result of a response to a partial power loss soon after take-off. Importantly, there were no fatal accidents where the engine initially completely failed. ATSB research manager Dr Stuart Godley says the high number of fatalities and serious injuries resulting from partial power loss should be of concern to pilots and flight instructors. “Historically, the…

The ATSB will today conduct an onsite media briefing on its investigation into the 14 October 2014 aircraft accident of a Van’s RV-6A, at Chelsea, Melbourne, Victoria. The Investigator-in-Charge will discuss factual information known to the ATSB at this time and will outline the investigation process. The ATSB has deployed three investigators, who have already begun work at the accident site. Over the next few days they will examine the wreckage site, interview witnesses and collect maintenance records. The investigators are seeking witness reports as well as video or imagery that might…

Onsite media briefing: The ATSB will conduct an onsite media briefing on its investigation into the 20 July 2014 aircraft accident near Burrumbuttock, NSW. The Investigator-in-Charge will discuss factual information known to the ATSB at this time and will outline the investigation process. The ATSB has deployed two investigators, who have already begun work at the accident site. Over the next few days they will examine the circumstances around the accident and gather information from the wreckage site, witnesses and aircraft maintenance records. The investigators are seeking witness reports…

In response to a request from the Ukrainian authorities, the Australian Transport Safety Bureau is deploying two of its investigators to Kiev to support an international investigation into the events surrounding the tragic crash of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17. The investigators, with backgrounds in aircraft operations and aeronautical engineering, will form part of a concerted international effort to determine the cause of the crash of MH17. The investigators are expected to arrive in Kiev on Tuesday 22 July.

The ATSB today released a report warning pilots on the dangers of flying visually at night following a number of fatal accidents that occurred in dark-night conditions. The report comes shortly after the release of the ATSB’s investigation into the fatal helicopter crash at Lake Eyre where the pilot likely became spatially disoriented during a visual flight at night. ATSB Chief Commissioner, Mr Martin Dolan, said accidents involving visual flight at night are becoming an increasing safety concern in Australian aviation. “Over the past 20 years, the ATSB has investigated 36 accidents as a…

The ATSB is highlighting the safety risks of flying around non-towered aerodromes as part of this week’s national Ausfly conference at Narromine, NSW. Narromine is expected to host hundreds of pilots who will fly in for Ausfly from all over Australia between 12 and 15 September. This is set to make Narromine Airport one of the busiest non-towered aerodromes in the country during that period. ATSB Chief Commissioner, Martin Dolan, said that safety around non-towered aerodromes is one of the ATSB’s top transport safety priorities. “The ATSB often receives reports from pilots that another…