Air safety workshop for crash prevention

Media Release

11 March 2009

Air safety workshop to focus on predicting and preventing crashes

The aviation industry has the ability to identify potentially catastrophic plane crashes and act before they happen, says international expert Dr Rob Lee, who is leading a pioneering safety management workshop for New Zealand.

“In virtually all aviation accidents, the key contributing systemic factors prior to the accident were known and in many cases well documented. However, little or nothing had been done to rectify these factors until after the accident occurred,” Dr Lee said.

New Zealand’s key aviation players, including airlines, airports and engineers, will address the issue at a symposium in Auckland’s Centra Hotel on March 20 and 21. It is the first in the South Pacific to prepare for the development of predictive and proactive safety management systems.

Dr Lee’s experience includes the directorship of the Bureau of Safety Investigation in Australia. He joins a panel of experts in safety culture, fatigue management, analysis and investigation, for the two-day programme.

The development of strong predictive and proactive systems for identifying and acting on warning signs is known in the industry as “the next great leap forward” in aviation safety.

The Civil Aviation Authority recently reported an 80% increase in accidents for the twelve months ending December 2008 on a per 100,000 hours flown basis. Thirty eight accidents were reported in the October to December quarter compared to 21 for the same time in 2007. Most of the increase in accidents is occurring in the sport and recreation area.

Aviation Industry Association Chief Executive Irene King said the symposium is significant for the New Zealand aviation industry in several ways:

• The industry must strive for continuous improvement to its safety record both on the ground and in the air.
• The industry has a will to move into voluntary compliance long before the NZ Civil Aviation Authority mandates the change - an across-industry first in this country.
• New Zealand’s regulatory framework is becoming dated.

``The industry must modernise and move away from the ‘silo approach’ to safety of past eras to integration and a better understanding of risk management and lead indicators,’’ Ms King said.

``Many of our best operators already follow safety management system principles. But all aviation participants need to be brought up to date with International Civil Aviation Organisation mandated changes.

``This includes addressing the gaps in our present practices like the identification of lead indicators - `red flags’ – that point to a potential degrading of safety standards. We also need to move to a `just culture’ in which individuals can feel comfortable reporting failures.

``Our aim is to take an industry, whose safety record in flying large numbers of the general public is already at the highest levels, another step further. We are always looking for continuous improvement and it is always better to invest in improving business systems.’’

While there are many who are contributing to the programme, Ms King particularly acknowledges the contribution of the Civil Aviation Authority, the Guild of Air Pilots and Air Navigators and NZ Safety Management Systems.

ENDS

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