We discussed the lack of visible incident reports and how crucial they are for:
- spotting trends
- finding out what caused problems
- making changes to prevent them.
With new technologies and advanced parachuting, collecting this data is even more crucial for improving safety.
What can parachuting operators do?
Reporting
You should meet the TSI reporting requirements by using the occurrence notification form. You should also make sure you meet the Australian Parachuting Federations reporting requirements by reporting all non TSI incidents.
Safety management system
To help meet the reporting requirements, we recommend and encourage parachuting operators to implement a safety management system to achieve best practices and keep both operators and parachutists safe.
Some further general benefits of implementing an SMS can include:
- A reduction in the direct cost of incidents, aircraft and component damage, aircraft recovery and lost time injuries.
- A reduction in indirect costs such as insurance, legal action, business reputation.
- A reduction in some operating costs, by exposing inefficiencies in existing processes and systems. Integration with other internal or external management systems may also save on additional costs.
We have also developed a free Safety Management System (SMS) kit for aviation.
To help you develop an SMS suitable for your needs, the kit contains: