The report examined 167 pilots from both the aerial work sector (training, emergency services, agriculture, surveying or spotting) as well as low capacity air transport operations (regular passenger transport and charter flights).
75 per cent of respondents flew in single-pilot opearations, while the primary role of 66 per cent of respondents was that of a training instructor.
Examining threats (events, conditions or errors made by people othe than the pilot that increase operational complexity), the report found that in both categories departure/arrival threats were the most common, with adverse weather proving the most common specific threat for both.
Communication issues from ATC and pilots in other aircraft including language difficulties and instructions from the tower also featured prominently in both categories, while traffic congestion and operational pressue were also identified as common threats.
Looking at individual internal threats, the ATSB survey found similar results for both aerial work and low capacity air transport operations, with the most commonly seen threat being a lack of pilot skill, knowledge or experience, followed by fatigue.
The ATSB says the threats reported in this survey should be seen as a starting point for pilots to anticipate the type of threats they may encounter and plan countermeasures as a pre-flight routine.
In regards to errors (actions or inactions by the flight crew leading to deviations from organisational intentions or expectations), the report found for both categories procedural errors (crews trying to follow procedures but executing them incorrectly) were the main bane, while intentional non-compliance errors (crews knowingly violating company policies or regulations) were the next most common.
For aerial work pilots the most common specific error types found were procedural checklist errors such as performing the wrong checklist or missing a checklist item, followed by radio errors such as selecting the wrong frequency, which were particularly common within flying training.
Low capacity air transport pilots said communication errors between crew and ATC or other aircraft, such as omitting call signs to ATC, were the most cited error type.
Non-compliance to standard operating procedures was also the most commonly encountered error in this category.
Managing errors is a three-pronged approach says the ATSB, with pilots needing to be aware of error avoidance, error detection, and error recovery strategies.
Post-flight briefings are highly recommeneded by the Bureau, even following uneventful flights, to assess the effectiveness of the management of the threats and errors identified.
Read the full ATSB report at www.atsb.gov.au/publications/2006/ar2006156.aspx.