IN CONFIDENCE
TRANSPORT INDUSTRY SAFETY
SURVEY
AVIATION
IN CONFIDENCE
Survey anonymity and confidentiality arrangements
 All responses will be entered into a database and analysis will only be
conducted with pooled responses. Individual responses gathered in this survey
will remain confidential.

The tear off sheet will only be used to award the incentive prize and forward a
copy of the survey results if requested. When returning it, please place the tear
off section in the small envelope and enclose it with the survey in the large
envelope. The two will be separated when the completed survey has been
received by the ATSB.
IN CONFIDENCE
Survey Completion Notes
Purpose
 ATSB
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) is Australia’s prime agency for the independent
investigation of civil aviation accidents, incidents and safety deficiencies. The ATSB makes a
significant contribution to the safety of the Australian aviation industry through its function to
openly report on civil aviation safety matters, free of any conflict of interest and without 'fear or
favour'. More information about the ATSB can be found from our web site www.atsb.gov.au.
 Aims
This project aims to assess safety climate within Australian aviation through a survey of pilot
attitudes to safety and perceptions of current safety concerns. The long term objective is to obtain
comparable information from all parts of the Australian aviation industry and other commercial
transport modes such as rail and marine.
Incentive Prize
 As an added incentive the ATSB is offering a prize. The prize is a Leatherman WAVE
valued at $200.

If you would like to go in the prize draw please fill out your name and contact details on the
form provided at the back of the survey, detach it from this page, enclose it in the small
envelope provided. Place it in the return envelope with your completed survey.
Further Information
 If you would like further information about this project please call Bronwyn Evans on the
free call number 1800 621 372 or write to PO Box 967 Civic Square ACT 2608.
The survey should take 20 to 30 minutes to complete.
Please send us your completed survey form within 10 days.
IN CONFIDENCE
PART A
Instructions
In response to each of the following questions, please circle the number which best matches your
answer. Please respond with your perceptions of safety at the present time.
For example if you strongly agree with the statement “Pilots are nice people”, circle 5, and if you
disagree with the statement ‘pilots are not nice people” circle 1.
Pilots are nice people.
Pilots are not nice people.
Strongly
Disagree
Disagree
Unsure
Agree
Strongly
Agree
1
1
2
2
3
3
4
4
5
5
In general to what extent do you agree or disagree that at the company your work for
as a pilot:
1. Suggestions to improve safety are
encouraged.
2. Pilots are kept informed about safety issues
that directly affect them.
3. Pilots are consulted about safety issues.
4. Pilots are able to openly discuss safety
problems with supervisors or management.
5. Pilots are given sufficient feedback regarding
safety incidents involving company aircraft.
6. Pilots are kept informed about changes that
may affect safety.
7. Safety rules and procedures are easy for
pilots to use during normal operations.
8. Safety rules and procedures are easy to
understand.
9. Safety rules and procedures are as complete
and comprehensive as they need to be.
10. Emergency operating procedures give
sufficient guidance on how to deal with
emergencies.
11. Safety rules are sensible and there is never a
need to ignore them in order to complete
work tasks.
12. There is rarely any need to short cut safety
procedures, even when work demands are
high.
Strongly
Disagree
Disagree
Unsure
Agree
Strongly
Agree
1
2
3
4
5
1
2
3
4
5
1
2
3
4
5
1
2
3
4
5
1
2
3
4
5
1
2
3
4
5
1
2
3
4
5
1
2
3
4
5
1
2
3
4
5
1
2
3
4
5
1
2
3
4
5
1
2
3
4
5
IN CONFIDENCE
13. Company work demands on pilots are
realistic.
14. Safety is considered to enhance rather than
limit productivity.
15. Work demands allow for safety standards to
be met even when rushed
16. Safety is considered more important than
keeping to the schedule.
17. Pilots are never pressured to keep flying if
they have a safety concern.
18. Training provides adequate skills and
experience to carry out normal duties safely.
19. Adequate training is received for emergency
operations.
20. Training enables pilots to identify and solve
problems safely.
21. Adequate training is received when new
equipment is introduced.
22. Adequate training is received when new
procedures are introduced
23. Training is carried out by people with
appropriate experience and skills.
24. Adequate training is received at regular
intervals to refresh and update knowledge.
25. Aircraft are maintained to a safe standard.
26. Systems and components are replaced or
updated when necessary.
27. There is adequate time is allocated to
perform maintenance.
28. There is adequate money allocated to
perform maintenance.
29. Aircraft are appropriately equipped for the
type of operations conducted
30. Reported faults that impact safety are
rectified promptly.
31. Management respond quickly with
appropriate remedies when safety problems
are identified.
32. Management allocate sufficient resources to
safety.
33. Management regard safety to be an important
part of company operations.
34. Management are genuinely interested in
safety issues.
35. Management have a good understanding of
operational issues that impact flight safety.
36. Management look for underlying factors that
contribute to safety incidents rather than
blaming the people involved.
1
2
3
4
5
1
2
3
4
5
1
2
3
4
5
1
2
3
4
5
1
2
3
4
5
1
2
3
4
5
1
2
3
4
5
1
2
3
4
5
1
2
3
4
5
1
2
3
4
5
1
2
3
4
5
1
2
3
4
5
1
2
3
4
5
1
2
3
4
5
1
2
3
4
5
1
2
3
4
5
1
2
3
4
5
1
2
3
4
5
1
2
3
4
5
1
2
3
4
5
1
2
3
4
5
1
2
3
4
5
1
2
3
4
5
When thinking about your sector of the aviation industry, to what extent do you agree or disagree that:
37. There are good profits in aviation
38. Business confidence is high
39. Costs are not a major problem
40. There is room for more competitors in
aviation
41. The economic outlook for aviation is good
42. There is enough money around for safety
programs in aviation
43. Pilots have good job security
44. CASA are genuine about promoting safety.
45. Safety regulations are easy to understand
46. CASA are in touch with what is happening in
the industry
47. CASA is a good source of safety information
48. Safety regulations are sensible and there is
never any need to ‘work around’ them
49. Safety regulations help to increase safety
50. CASA responds appropriately to remedy
problems with safety regulations
51. CASA listens to pilot interest groups and
professional associations about safety issues
52. Pilot interest groups and professional
associations are able to positively influence
safety in aviation
53. Pilot interest groups and professional
associations are a good source of safety
information
54. Pilots rely on pilot interest groups
professional associations to raise safety
issues
55. The industry listens to pilot interest groups
about safety
56. CASA listens to pilot interest groups and
professional associations about safety issues
57. I encourage other pilots to work safely.
58. I use the appropriate checklists.
59. I very rarely take short cuts even if there are
time pressures.
60. I make sure I am up to date with current
safety issues.
61. I comply with safety rules and procedures.
62. I report all incidents and near misses that I
am aware of.
63. I report all technical faults and mechanical
defects that I am aware of.
Strongly
Disagree
Disagree
Unsure
Agree
Strongly
Agree
1
1
1
1
2
2
2
2
3
3
3
3
4
4
4
4
5
5
5
5
1
1
2
2
3
3
4
4
5
5
1
1
1
1
2
2
2
2
3
3
3
3
4
4
4
4
5
5
5
5
1
1
2
2
3
3
4
4
5
5
1
1
2
2
3
3
4
4
5
5
1
2
3
4
5
1
2
3
4
5
1
2
3
4
5
1
2
3
4
5
1
2
3
4
5
1
2
3
4
5
1
1
1
2
2
2
3
3
3
4
4
4
5
5
5
1
2
3
4
5
1
1
2
2
3
3
4
4
5
5
1
2
3
4
5
PART B
This part of the survey asks for your experiences as a pilot over the last 12 months. Please remember that
individual responses will remain confidential and will only be analysed in large groups.
1. How often have you personally seen the following negatively affect flight safety in the last 12
months?
a) Lack of pilot skill, knowledge or
experience.
b) Fatigue.
c) Alcohol, drugs or prescribed
medication abuse.
d) Medical conditions.
e) Personal stress.
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
f)
g)
3.
All the
Time
Frequently
Sometimes
Rarely
Never
No Personal
Experience
1
2
3
4
5
0
1
2
3
4
5
0
1
2
3
4
5
0
1
1
2
2
3
3
4
4
5
5
0
0
2. How often have you personally encountered safety deficiencies in the following areas in Australia
in the last 12 months?
Air Traffic Services.
1
2
3
4
5
0
Meteorological information.
1
2
3
4
5
0
Aircraft maintenance.
1
2
3
4
5
0
Aircraft weight and balance
1
2
3
4
5
0
Runways and runway facilities
1
2
3
4
5
0
(lights, signs etc.)
Aircraft Airworthiness
1
2
3
4
5
0
Aircraft to aircraft communications
1
2
3
4
5
0
Have you ever been involved as a pilot in any of the following types of flight safety incident?
Please indicate if you have ever been involved in any of the following and if you reported it by placing a
tick in the appropriate column.
a) Runway Incursion
Never
Once More
than once
b) Violation of Controlled Airspace
Never
Once More
than once
c) Near collision with terrain, water or obstacle (in flight)
Never
Once More
than once
d) Near collision with other aircraft (in flight)
Never
Once More
than once
e) Low fuel situation or other fuel related problem
Never
Once More
than once
f) Loss of aircraft control or near loss of aircraft control
Never
Once More
than once
g) Unstable approach
Never
Once More
than once
h) Failure to comply with air traffic control instructions or
Never
Once More
clearances.
than once
i) Engine failure
Never
Once More
than once
j) Loss of critical component
Never
Once More
than once
k) Aircraft accident (causing damage to aircraft)
Never
Once More
Please specify………………………….
than once
4.
Please state what you consider to be the three (3) biggest safety hazards or problems affecting flight safety.
1.
2.
3.
5.
Everyone makes mistakes at some time or other. Most errors have little impact on safety, but others are
significant. To help us to understand the common errors that occur in normal flying operations, please be as
honest as possible about your personal experiences. During the last 12 months what was the most serious
(or riskiest) error you made or saw? Please also briefly describe what you think were the main factors
contributing to this error and how the situation was recovered.
Error:
Factors that contributed to the error:
Factors that helped recover the situation:
6. In general how safe do you think flying
operations at your company have been in the
last 12 months?
7. How has the overall level of safety at your
company changed over the last 12 months?
Very
Unsafe
Unsafe
Don’t
Know
Safe
Very Safe
1
2
3
4
5
Very Much
Deteriorated
Deteriorated
Improved
Very Much
Improved
1
2
Unchanged
3
4
5
8.
Please list and briefly describe any other safety issues that you think the ATSB should be aware of.
9.
Do you have any suggestions about how the ATSB could improve aviation safety.
PART C
The following information will assist in interpreting the data gathered in the survey.
Could you please complete the following.
1. What is your age ?
………years
2. Approximately how long have you been a pilot?
…………years
3. Approximately how many hours of flying did you do, in the last 12 months?
………. hours
4. Approximately how long have worked as a pilot with your present employer or the company you
operate?
……years
5. What type of flying activity do you do most of the time.

Regular Public Transport.

Charter – passenger
 Charter – other
 Aerial work – emergency or medical services
 Aerial work – agriculture
 Aerial work – surveying or spotting
 Aerial work – training
 Aerial work – other Please specify …………………..
 Business
6. What type of flying operation do you do most of the time?




Single pilot – VFR
Single pilot – IFR
Two (or more) pilots –VFR
Two (or more) pilots – IFR
7. What type of aircraft do you fly most of the time?
Wing
Fixed
Rotary
Engine
Single
Piston
Multi
Turbo prop
Jet
Less than 10
passenger seats
10 –34 passenger
seats
More than 34 passenger
seats.
Capacity
8. On what basis are you employed by the company?
Hours
Full Time
Part Time
Casual
Other (Please Specify)…….
9. Approximately how many full time pilots are employed in the company that you work for or
operate?

1-4

5-10

11-20

21-50

more than 50
10. Approximately how many part time and/or casual pilots are employed in the company that you
work for or operate?

1-4

more than 4
11. Other than being a pilot, do you have managerial responsibilities? 
 Yes - major activity
 Yes - minor activity
No

12. Please answer yes or no to the following questions about the company you work for or operate.
Have there been major changes to the company’s operation or
 Yes
No
aircraft used in the last 12 months?.
Have there been major changes to management personnel in the
 Yes
No
last 12 months?.
Has there been a high turnover of pilots in the last 12 months?.

Yes
No
Is the company in good financial shape?

Yes
No
13. Please estimate how long this survey took you to complete ……..minutes
Thank you for your time in completing this survey.
Please place this form in the large pre-paid envelope provided and post.
Remember to include the tear off section in the small envelope if you would like to go in the prize
draw and/or be sent a summary of survey results.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Please put me in the draw to win a Leatherman WAVE.
 Please send me a summary of the survey results.
Name:
Address:
Postcode:
Phone:
Please detach this slip, place it in the small envelope provided and return it with your
completed survey.