Melbourne, Australia, November 25, 2009 — Flight Safety Foundation announced today the creation of the Australian Helicopter Advisory Group (AHAG). The AHAG is a subsidiary of Foundation’s Australian Advisory Board and its mission is to pursue the continuous improvement of helicopter safety and the prevention of accidents. Terry Summers of Rotor-Lift Aviation will serve as the chair of this group.
“This is the first time in 40 years of active flying in the Australian helicopter industry that I have felt so positive about a flight safety initiative. With the key guiding principles of being impartial, independent and non-parochial, the AHAG will, I believe, go a long way towards galvanizing the industry and improving helicopter safety,” Summers said.
Flight Safety Foundation is pleased to be launching the AHAG at a time when the Australian helicopter industry does not have a functioning representative body looking after its interests from a safety perspective.
The AHAG, which aims to “pursue the continuous improvement of helicopter safety and the prevention of accidents” will identify current and emerging safety issues and work with the industry to address these issues and provide an independent voice for the industry that is focused on safety.
“Flight Safety Foundation has been the home to many working groups examining specific areas of concern throughout its more than 60 years in existence,” said William R. Voss, FSF President and CEO. “Although the AHAG will be working exclusively with the challenges facing the Australian helicopter industry, we’re optimistic that their findings will have relevance in many other countries. FSF is the perfect vehicle to spread this information to a wide, international audience.”
The creation of this working group has been greeted with enthusiasm from Australian industry authorities. “The ATSB (Australian Transport Safety Bureau) is pleased to support any process that seeks to enhance the safety of rotary operations in Australia” said Chief Commissioner Martin Dolan.
The Australian Advisory Board (AAB) is one of several advisory bodies for the Flight Safety Foundation. It is made up of more than 20 individuals representing every facet of the Australian aviation industry. The AAB met in early October in order to identify the priorities it will study. For a complete list of the members of the AAB, please go to the FSF webpage. The Foundation’s Melbourne office provides the technical support for the AAB with the assistance of the Foundation’s home office.
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Flight Safety Foundation is an independent, non-profit, international organization engaged in research, auditing, education, advocacy and publishing to improve aviation safety. The Foundation’s mission is to pursue the continuous improvement of global aviation safety and the prevention of accidents. www.flightsafetstg.wpenginepowered.com
Contact: Emily McGee, Director of Communications, 1-703-739-6700, ext. 126; mcgee@webdeva.flightsafety.org
