ABSTRACT
The accident rate in Aerial Agriculture has been unacceptably high in Australia for several years. Insurance records show there have been at least sixty-one (61) serious accidents since 2002 that resulted in direct costs of over $A12 million. Thirty-three (33) of those occurred in the 18 months to June 2005 and cost over $A9 million. This chapter analysed the common factors leading to these accidents based on information reported to the insurers by the airframe owners at the time of the events. It also addressed common factors relating to human performance and safety management practices based on interviews with insurers case management personnel. Some of these factors related to what has often been referred to as ‘basic airmanship,’ but in fact revealed underlying failures in safety management, training and operational surveillance. This analysis also provided warning signals for other arms of industry where the operational imperatives may be perceived to dictate actions contrary to accepted risk control practices. Some recommendations for effective intervention are also offered.
