Confidential Aviation Incident Reporting (CAIR) was established by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) in 1988. This program serves as a valuable addition to their mandatory reporting system known as the Air Safety Incident Report (ASIR). The focus of CAIR is primarily on systems, procedures, and equipment, rather than targeting individuals involved in incidents. Its main goal is to collect data that might otherwise go unreported under a mandatory system.
The CAIR program encompasses various groups, including flight crews, maintenance workers, passengers, and air traffic service officers. It is designed to capture information about all incidents, regardless of how minor they may seem. While confidentiality is a priority, it is important to note that reports must not be anonymous or contain unverifiable details.
The ATSB publishes findings and gathers feedback through a supplement in the ‘Flight Safety Australia’ magazine. There are plans to make selected CAIR reports available on the Internet for broader access. CAIR covers every aspect of civil aviation in Australia, contributing significantly to overall air safety.
Air safety investigations conducted by the ATSB are independent of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), which is the regulatory body, and AirServices Australia, the air traffic service provider. However, it’s worth mentioning that the ATSB does not have the authority to enforce its recommendations.
