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Performance

Performance > Safety

Performance criterion - Safety

While the aviation industry operates in an environment of significant growth, unprecedented change and complexity, we remain focused on maintaining and enhancing the safety of our operations.

KPI results2016-17
Result		2017-182018-19
Target		2018-19
Result
Significant Attributable Safety Occurrences - Air Navigation Services (ANS)
Any loss of separation or runway incursion where the Risk Assessment Tool score is Category A. 		0000
Significant Attributable Safety Occurrences - Aviation Rescue Fire Fighting Services (ARFFS)
Any aircraft incident on a runway in which the response did not meet the regulated response time of three minutes.		0000
Lost time injury frequency rate (LTIFR)
A lost time injury is an occurrence that resulted in time lost from work of one‑day shift or more, permanent disability or fatality. The rate measures the number of lost time injuries per million hours worked.		5.64.62.54.0

Analysis

We achieved our target of no significant attributable safety occurrences recorded for our air navigation and aviation rescue and firefighting services.

Our LTIFR decreased by 13 per cent for this period. Although this is higher than our 2018-19 target we are continuing to deliver a downward trend year on year.

Our performance against these indicators demonstrate our ongoing commitment to being safe and secure.

Achievements

Our major achievements for the year included:

  • successfully trialling of a new, advanced satellite navigation system aimed at improving safety and efficiency at regional and rural airports. The trial demonstrated that Satellite Based Augmentation System (SBAS) technology is suitable for the needs of Australia’s non-metropolitan airports, using avionics that is already prevalent in regional and general aviation aircraft
  • putting into operation an Instrument Landing System (ILS) at Gold Coast Airport. This provides vertical and horizontal guidance to pilots when landing in low visibility weather conditions, reducing flight delays and diversions
  • a first for Australia, officially commissioning the Internal Access Vehicle (IAV) in Melbourne. This specialised operational vehicle uses world-leading technology that enables aircraft passengers to be evacuated rapidly while providing safe access for emergency crews
  • showcasing Australia’s world-leading safety record at the inaugural FlySafe 2019 Aviation Safety Forum. Airservices worked
    alongside the Australian Transport Safety Bureau and Civil Aviation Safety Authority for this initiative, which was conducted as part of the Avalon Airshow in Victoria.

Case Study

ARFFS Internal Access Vehicle

Enhancing safety through investment in innovative vehicles and equipment

In an Australian first, the ARFFS team at Melbourne Airport have introduced a vehicle that enables firefighters to gain access to heights and facilitate mass evacuations quickly and safely.

The ARFFS emergency stairs can deliver a platform to even the tallest of commercial passenger planes in under 50 seconds, providing safe access for firefighters in emergencies and enabling passengers to evacuate without the need for individual ladders and emergency slides.

In aviation emergencies, and potentially structural fires, the stairs would respond alongside ARFFS ultra large fire vehicles, which would mobilise to control any fire threat and make access safer, extending a steady base for heights up to 8.5 metres.

The internal access vehicle has been specially adapted for Australian conditions after consultation between Airservices and the manufacturer Rosenbauer.

Operated by a single firefighter, the emergency stairs can be controlled from either the cab of the vehicle, or from the rescue platform itself, guided by three cameras: one forward-looking infra-red, one reversing and a camera on the rescue platform to assist with docking.

The vehicle features four stabilising jacks so it can be used on uneven ground. It is also equipped with eight firefighting outlets, including four underbody nozzles, three regulated delivery outlets and a connected 60-metre hose reel.

We are reviewing the success of the new internal access vehicle in Melbourne before introducing them at other major airports.