New Zealand has an excellent safety record internationally with its airlines but the performance of the General Aviation (GA) sector is only in the mid range.
We are working closely with the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and the Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) to reduce the accident rate in the GA sector by 25% over five years. The three organisations signed a Memorandum of Understanding last year to coordinate efforts in a five year campaign directed towards those involved in operating and servicing GA aircraft. The campaign is called Aircare - Double Check.
Individually, each organisation has implemented a series of its own safety initiatives that will continue, along with joint activities under the overall Aircare brand.
The aim of Aircare - Double Check is to ensure that every conceivable element of flying an aircraft is 'double checked' for risk from the work of ground staff, management, to cockpit decision-making.
Those targeted in Aircare - Double Check are smaller aircraft (nine seats or less, revenue earning passenger and freight, agriculture and private), helicopters, associated industry organisations such as aero clubs, pilot-training operations, other recreational aircraft (including micro lights and gliders) and parachutists. The underlying principles of the campaign - which is targeting all levels of experience and skill - are better risk assessment, accountability and care.
Over the past two years, AIA has undertaken activities to highlight the importance of risk assessment in the GA sector. We have identified the most prevalent causative sequences of accidents through analysis of accident and incident data. The CAA hosted national safety forums that indicated improvements in 'safety culture' were needed which should start at the entry level to flying and the GA service sector.
Aircare - Double Check encourages and cements a visible commitment to the common objective of a 25% reduction in GA accidents as well as aligning the various activities undertaken by the three organisations. We see the pooling of vital safety information, greater consultation within the GA sector and also cooperation with Australian, US, Canadian and British counterparts as key tactics to meeting the objective.
The biggest hurdle our project faces is getting the message out to everyone involved with an aircraft that their actions are vital to safety.
Accident investigations consistently show that there are multiple contributory causes. We encourage and expect everyone to adopt the 'double check' approach. Any risk that is not fully assessed for its consequences is unacceptable.
We believe that AIA's coordinated approach and umbrella branding will be a huge help in meeting the 25% reduction objective and an ever present reminder that 'double check' means just that.
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