Recommendation Date
Recipient Name
CAA
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Inquiries into this and previous incidents involving air traffic controllers have relied on radar and radiotelephone recordings, and the statements made by the air traffic controllers. However, verbal communications between controllers in the same work space is critical and integral element of the process for controlling aircraft but are currently not recorded. Without controller-station local area recordings, investigations will not always be able to identify all the contributing factors to an incident or accident and therefore valuable learnings might be lost.
The Commission believes this is a safety issue that the Director needs to address by initiating discussions with industry with a view to mandating the installation of air traffic controller station local-area recordings and providing the appropriate level of protection for such recordings as intended by ICAO for the purposes of assisting any future safety investigations.
The Commission believes this is a safety issue that the Director needs to address by initiating discussions with industry with a view to mandating the installation of air traffic controller station local-area recordings and providing the appropriate level of protection for such recordings as intended by ICAO for the purposes of assisting any future safety investigations.
Reply Text
I appreciate the thrust of the Commission's recommendation. As previously advised, I am prepared to engage with civil aviation participants (in particular the Airways Corporation) with a view to encouraging voluntary introduction of air-traffic controller station local area recording.
As you may be aware, mandating installation of local area recording systems is likely to require Civil Aviation Rule and legislative development/changes. In either case, a well developed safety case will be necessary to progress the work. While I appreciate that the Commission is seeking that I initiate discussions with industry to help facilitate a safety case being developed, the Commission may also be well positioned to assist in the development of a safety case that would eventually lead to Civil Aviation Rule or legislative change. I would welcome any assistance the Commission can lend on this front, and would invite your officers to engage with my staff to help clarify the requirements of a safety case.
As you may be aware, mandating installation of local area recording systems is likely to require Civil Aviation Rule and legislative development/changes. In either case, a well developed safety case will be necessary to progress the work. While I appreciate that the Commission is seeking that I initiate discussions with industry to help facilitate a safety case being developed, the Commission may also be well positioned to assist in the development of a safety case that would eventually lead to Civil Aviation Rule or legislative change. I would welcome any assistance the Commission can lend on this front, and would invite your officers to engage with my staff to help clarify the requirements of a safety case.
Related Investigation(s)