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An ATSB survey of aerial firefighting pilots has found a significant gap between those who had experienced a safety incident and those who reported it.
Of 149 pilots surveyed as part of the safety watchdog’s ongoing aerial firefighting safety study, 91 respondents (61 per cent) said they had experienced an incident between 2017 and 2022, but only 52 (35 per cent) said they had reported it.
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According to ATSB director of transport safety Dr Stuart Godley, respondents were “most critical over a perceived lack of adequate response when incidents were reported to a tasking agency”.
“Respondents were largely positive on the topic of tasking, with the exception being just over half did not consider decision-makers directing aircraft had sufficient aviation training and experience,” said.
“Sentiment was also majority positive about communication within Australia’s aerial firefighting operations. But more negative sentiment was recorded on questions relating to reporting culture, and safety culture.”
In the report, the ATSB said the adoption of traffic management technology had most improved safety between 2017 and 2022, and “fire agency personnel aviation knowledge and experience” had most worsened it.
“Fire agency personnel aviation knowledge and experience was also what respondents most considered needed to be changed to improve safety,” the report read.
“Respondents considered the top 5 biggest threats to aerial firefighting safety to be adverse weather conditions/environment, midair collision, poor communication, pilot inexperience/lack of airmanship/poor training/lack of currency and fire agency safety culture.”
The survey data has been reported as Part B of the ATSB’s safety study, which the bureau said “asked for opinions and experiences covering four key focus areas: tasking, communication, reporting culture and safety culture”.
“Part A, released earlier this year, was an analysis of interviews conducted by the ATSB with 11 Australian fire agency representatives, and 9 aircraft operators involved in firefighting operations,” the ATSB said.
“Part C of the study will expand upon prior ATSB analysis to identify key trends in occurrence data from aerial firefighting operations.”
According to the ATSB, the Part B report notes “several safety actions have already been taken, or are underway, as the safety study progresses”.
“The New South Wales Rural Fire Service has reported several initiatives since the time of the pilot survey, including the development and implementation of an Aviation Safety Management System,” it said.
“Further, the NAFC’s Strategic Committee has committed to facilitate several safety actions, including aiding the development of nationally consistent standards, and strategies that identify and manage risk in aerial firefighting.
“NAFC has also established the national fire and emergency Aviation Safety Group to reflect a stronger focus on aviation safety.”
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