Aviation Safety, Security and Accident/Incident Investigation
Safety management and investigation
Annex 19 and CAR Section 1 Series C establish the State Safety Programme (SSP) and require operators to run a Safety Management System (SMS) with four pillars: policy and objectives, risk management, assurance, and promotion. Know the just culture concept and the difference between safety and security.
Annex 13 and the Aircraft (Investigation of Accidents and Incidents) Rules 2017 govern investigation. Know the definitions: an accident involves death or serious injury, substantial damage, or the aircraft being missing/inaccessible; an incident is an occurrence that affects or could affect safety. Know the roles of the AAIB (investigation), DGCA (regulatory action), and the State of Occurrence, Registry, Operator and Design/Manufacture. Know notification obligations and the rule that the investigation's sole objective is prevention, not apportioning blame.
Security
Know Annex 17 and the BCAS role; the screening and access control requirements; and the NCASP framework.
Traps and worked example
Traps: calling a serious incident an accident; assuming the investigation apportions liability (it does not); and confusing the State of Registry with the State of the Operator.
Rule of thumb: If there is death/serious injury or substantial damage - accident. If it could have been - incident. Either way, notify and preserve evidence.
Worked example: "An aircraft suffers an engine failure in flight and lands safely with no damage or injury. Accident or incident?" It is a serious incident (not an accident), because there was no death, serious injury or substantial damage - but it must be notified and investigated.