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A balancing act: The Australian Transport Safety Bureau’s approach to accident investigations on airports
Journal of Airport Management,
13
(4),
354-360
(2019)
Abstract
This paper explains the role of the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) as Australia’s independent national transport safety investigator. It will explore how ATSB accident investigators at airports tread a fine line between preserving the accident site so that evidence can be gathered while allowing airport operations to recommence. It details how the ATSB works closely with all stakeholders involved in an accident to allow normal operations to resume as soon as practicable. And it explains how the ATSB seeks to educate stakeholders of the potential hazards at aircraft accidents. Finally, it concludes by noting that the ATSB will continue to be cognisant of the impacts investigations may have on the national and international aviation networks.
Keywords: ATSB; Aviation safety; Accident investigation; Accidents at airports; Accident hazards; Critical incident stress
The full article is available to subscribers to the journal.
Author's Biography
Greg Hood was appointed to the role of Chief Commissioner and Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) on 1st July, 2016. Greg began his career as an Air Traffic Controller in the Royal Australian Air Force in 1980, serving at locations throughout Australia and in the Middle East. In 1990, he moved to the Civil Aviation Authority, a predecessor to what is now Airservices Australia. Greg worked in many locations across the country and was also involved in the training of new controllers at the University of Tasmania, Launceston. In 2002, Greg was appointed to lead the management team in Melbourne, and then, in 2005, he led the team responsible for the provision of regional air traffic services, including the operation of regional control towers throughout Australia. Greg has also been integrally involved in the implementation of major air traffic management and technology projects, such as the Australian Advanced Air Traffic System known as TAAATS, the evolution of safety management systems and the introduction of user-preferred routes and flex-tracks. In 2007 Greg joined the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), where he held the positions of Group General Manager, Personnel, Licensing, Education and Training, and then Executive Manager, Operations. He returned to Airservices during 2013 to take on the role of General Manager, Demand and Capacity Management and was appointed as the Executive General Manager of the Air Traffic Control Group later the same year. Greg has a passion for the transport industry, in general, and transport safety, in particular. He is a glider and powered aircraft pilot.
