Advanced Technology Aircraft Safety Survey Report - Australian ...

ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY AIRCRAFT SAFETY SURVEY REPORT
56
ATC and situational awareness
Fourteen per cent of respondents reported that they relied on ATC to provide terrain
clearance (see fig. B4.3).
Analysis revealed a statistically significant difference between the opinions of captains and
first officers. First officers were more likely to rely on ATC to provide adequate terrain
clearance than captains.
FIGURE B4.3
I rely on Air Traffic Control to provide adequate terrain clearance
100%
90%
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
__ - ~
50 79%
Strongly Agree Agree Neutral Disagree Strongly uisagree No Response
Table B4.3 shows the distribution of pilot rank by aircraft manufacturer of those aircrew who
rely on ATC for adequate terrain clearance.
Table B4.3
'I rely on ATC to provide adequate terrain clearance.'
Airbus
Boeing
Cadain First officer
15 (1 1%)
68 (1 2%) '
9 (16%)
76 ( 19%)
Terrain awareness
Fourteen per cent of respondents reported having been surprised to find their aircraft closer
to terrain than they had thought (see fig. B4.4). Such events clearly reflect a lack of situational
awareness.