The nation’s transport safety investigator, the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) turns 20 years old this month.
Chief Commissioner at the ATSB, Greg Hood said the organisation was formed on 1 July 1999 with the amalgamation of the Bureau of Air Safety Investigation, the Marine Accident Investigation Unit and non-regulatory elements of the Federal Office of Road Safety. It also took on a new rail safety investigation capability.
“The Bureau’s remit was to undertake independent ‘no blame’ investigations into transport safety accidents and incidents to prevent future accidents, and to conduct transport safety research, data analysis and education,” Mr Hood said.
“The ATSB is renowned internationally for its independence, technical capabilities and quality of its transport safety investigations across the aviation, rail and marine modes of transport.”
He said he took pride in the ATSB’s world-class technical and research capabilities, but most importantly, in the qualities and capabilities of its people.
“Today the ATSB employs a workforce of just over 100, based in the Agency’s central office in Canberra plus offices in Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney,” Mr Hood said.
Looking ahead, Mr Hood said the ATSB was preparing and positioning for the changing face of transport in Australia, especially with the rising use of remotely piloted aircraft and ever-increasing automation.
The ATSB marked its anniversary with a function at its Canberra office on Monday evening hosting the Assistant Minister to the Deputy Prime Minister, Andrew Gee to the event as well as the Secretary of the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Cities and Regional Development, Steven Kennedy; Chief Executive of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority and Director of Aviation Safety, Shane Carmody; Chief Executive of the Australian Maritime Safety Authority, Mick Kinley; Director of the Defence Flight Safety Bureau, Group Captain Nigel Ward; and former Chief Commissioner of the ATSB, Martin Dolan.
