[Peetwo]

Update: Hoody's bureau for top-cover investigations.  

Just saying.

...Cairns is a whole different ball of wax. ATC need a thank you for spotting the error, a big one. Intersection departures need written ‘approval’ and dedicated RTOW data. There’s lots of vertical dirt, rocks and trees and stuff at Cairns, even with all the donkeys working hard, with the wrong data, all  the OCH clearances are compromised , going OEI off compromised take off data is potentially lethal and there is not too much margin for error when high ambient temperatures are associated with 'heavy' aircraft. It is possible to lob onto the wrong intersection; rare, but doable. Interesting to see what ATSB will come up with as ‘causal’, whatever it is someone was very lucky ATC spotted it before the aircraft rolled, very lucky indeed (legally and operationally). Bravo ATCO.

1. Planetalking has now picked up on the above ATSB Desktop (Short Investigation)... :

Air Traffic vigilance prevents Tigerair stuff up at Cairns

One way to keep FNQ lovely and tidy is for airlines to ensure their flights have ALL of Cairns' runway available for take-off

Ben Sandilands


Another beautiful day at Cairns Airport and its ‘adequate’ runway

But for the timely intervention of an AirServices Australia officer in the tower at Cairns airport on January 21, a Tigerair Australia A320 bound for Brisbane would have attempted to take off from the wrong starting point on its 2580 metres long runway.

The flight would, according to pilots, most likely have taken off using only 2100 metres of the runway, provided nothing went wrong, such as an engine failure, or perhaps the mistaken use of less powerful but more economical thrust settings, it which case things could have gone badly wrong for everyone in the 180 seat jet.

Those are the thoughts of airline professionals who hold positions demanding complete attention to the requirements of safe airline operations, and who are aware of the pressure for quick turnarounds or punctuality.

The notification of the incident as worthy of investigation by the ATSB can be read here on its website, or a better illustrated report, and a short discussion of the incident, can be found on the Aviation Herald website, which is an invaluable free resource for those interested in no nonsense air safety reporting and which asks for a donation toward its running costs.

The ATSB expects to report its findings by May, a very short turnaround for a vital agency that is also under resourced.

2. Hoody on the case of the lost drone -

Loss of control involving remotely piloted aircraft Pulse Aerospace Vapor 55
Incorrect reference data can have potentially serious consequences in remotely piloted and manned aircraft.



On 27 September 2016, a Pulse Aerospace Vapor 55 remotely piloted aircraft (RPA), was operating a test flight at Lighthouse Beach, Ballina, New South Wales.

The RPA tracked according to manual inputs from the pilot for about seven minutes, after which time (when at 124 ft altitude) the data-link signal was lost. After 30 seconds without signal, the RPA entered the ‘home’ flight mode, and began tracking to the incorrectly programmed home position at an altitude of 154 ft.

The RPA did not respond to control inputs made by the pilot, and the pilot subsequently lost sight of the RPA which was travelling out to sea. The RPA was not found despite an extensive search.

The south-eastern point used to georeference the image on the ground control station map was selected to a northern hemisphere latitude, which resulted in incorrect waypoints and home position for the mission.

The RPA data-link signal to the ground control station was lost, so it began tracking to the incorrectly programmed home position, which was in the Coral Sea Islands about 1,200 km north of the start position.

Safety message

Australian Transport Safety Bureau Chief Commissioner Greg Hood says incorrect reference data can have potentially serious consequences in remotely piloted and manned aircraft. “RPAS operators should expect data loss events and prepare for these appropriately,” Mr Hood said.

“It is imperative that remotely piloted aircraft systems incorporate means of minimising the opportunity for errors to occur and also for detecting and correcting errors that do occur.

“The careful application of operational controls and procedures, underpinned by robust risk assessment, will become increasingly important as relevant technologies develop further and new remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS) applications continue to emerge.”

Mr Hood says the ATSB SafetyWatch highlights the broad safety concerns that come out of our investigation findings and from the occurrence data reported to us by industry. One of the safety concerns relates to data input errors.
Read the investigation report AO-2016-128
 



Last update 06 February 2017 

I am not doubting the integrity and importance of the Chief Commissioner Hood delivered 'safety message'. However I find it passing strange that Hoody a) put such priority on this 'safety message' as to have it delivered via a formal media release ... ; and b) why Hoody felt the need to deliver this something, nothing investigation himself...  

Perhaps with the upcoming drone inquiry he wants the ATSB to be seen to be more proactive on addressing developing UAV/RPA safety issues? Or perhaps he is a bit sensitive about the fact the CASA did not consult/request the transport safety bureau to conduct drone safety research to support the safety case for last year's CASR Part 101 amendments...

Question no.: 204

Program: n/a

Division/Agency: Australian Transport Safety Bureau

Topic: Drone regulation changes

Proof Hansard Page: Written

Senator Xenophon, Nick asked:

Noting the current consideration with respect to Drone regulation changes, what data did ATSB provide CASA with respect to Drones incidents and accidents?

a) Was this data provided to the Minister?

b) Was this data provided to any MPs in the recent briefing to MPs and Senators on the Drone regulations?

Answer:

The ATSB did not provide CASA with any data regarding drone incidents and accidents.

a) n/a

b) n/a

     
3. Finally I noted another presser from the ATSB released last Friday:

Chief Pilots land in Canberra

Chief Pilots from around Australia converged on the ATSB’s office in Canberra today to take part in the national Chief Pilots’ forum.

The Group of Chief Pilots from the majority of Australia’s high capacity carriers meet on a regular basis to discuss safety-related issues. (High capacity aircraft are those certificated as having a maximum seating capacity exceeding 38 seats or a maximum payload exceeding 4200 kilograms.)

The forum encourages the ongoing, effective relationship with industry stakeholders and regulators. The primary aim of the forum is to enhance aviation safety.

Each airline Chief Pilot usually hosts the forum at their corporate office. While today’s forum is hosted by Virgin Australia Regional Airlines, the group will meet at the ATSB to discuss transport safety notifications and occurrence reporting as well as aviation regulatory matters.

ATSB Chief Commissioner Greg Hood will also provide an overview of how the national transport safety investigator is evolving to meet a host of new challenges within the aviation industry.

Program participants will have an opportunity to tour the ATSB’s technical facilities where investigators analyse Cockpit Voice Recorder and Flight Data Recorder readouts for occurrences in Australia and overseas. Australia is one of few countries in the Asia-Pacific region to possess these types of labs.


 



Last update 03 February 2017 

 Easily a couple hundred years of aviation flying experience in that lot, great initiative...

"..Each airline Chief Pilot usually hosts the forum at their corporate office. While today’s forum is hosted by Virgin Australia Regional Airlines, the group will meet at the ATSB to discuss transport safety notifications and occurrence reporting as well as aviation regulatory matters.."

Hmm...Q/ Wonder if Hoody provided an update on the rapidly approaching 3 year VARA ATR Birdstrike/pitch disconnect accident investigation?  (Reference: World's best practice in CYA Aviation Accident Investigation)



MTF...P2

Ps Q/ Do you think Hoody has a few issues with prioritising investigations and micro-managing??