PDF: 1050 KB - Bureau of Infrastructure, Transport and Regional ...

Chapter 2 The Major TrendsThis chapter compares the number of accidents and fatalities for 2003/04with statistics in previous reports, then reviews some of the trends in aviationaccidents between 1996 and 2004.THE NUMBER OF ACCIDENTSBTRE has used 2003/04 data supplied by the Australian Transport SafetyBureau (ATSB) 8 .For comparison with table S.1 in BTE (1998), the following table is provided.TABLE 2.1: ACCIDENTS AND INJURIES OVER TIMEPeople with injuries classed asYear Accidents Fatalities Serious Minor*1988 (R98) 328 70 44 551993 (R98) 320 37 57 641996 (R98) 247 51 35 861996 (ATSB, 2004) 245 51 34 892003/2004 (ATSB, 2004) 153 37 32 735Note: The statistics marked (R98) are reproduced from BTE (1998), page xi. That analysis covered ‘aviation accidents thatoccurred in Australia during 1996’ (BTE (1998) page 1). The statistics marked (ATSB, 2004) are from the present analysis by BTREof data supplied by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau from September 2004. The latter cover Australian registered aircraft onlyand relate to accidents that occurred both inside and outside of Australian Territory; * minor injuries include injuries from ‘Incidents’.The data for 1996 in BTE (1998) (3rd row of numbers in above table) are slightly different from that obtained from ATSB in 2004 (4throw of numbers). The differences are inconsequential.Source: BTE (1998) and ATSB unpublished data, 2004, 2005. The data provided by ATSB for this report are preliminary. Thisreflects that, over time, adjustments become necessary as a consequence of further investigations and the outcomes of variouscourt proceedings.The number of accidents and the number of fatalities are major contributorsto overall cost. Accidents decreased from 245 in 1996 to 153 in 2003/04,a reduction of over one third (37.6 per cent). There were 51 fatalities in1996 and 37 in 2003/04 (27.5 per cent reduction).The number of minor injuries from incidents varies considerably from yearto year. Between July 1995 and June 2004, the number per annum variedbetween 11 and 80—it was 18 in 2003/04. Some occur in regularpassenger transport—unforeseen turbulence is often the cause—8 Accidents are defined in detail on page 1.