Stick it..
..said:
According to the ATSB Annual Plan for 2013-2014, the 'weasel words' are still being used to evade the obligations under paragraph 5.1 of Annex 13 to investigate ....... accidents.
Maybe the Ozfucation of Annex 13 is all about recouping the taxpayer funds spent (some would say wasted) on previous big bureau investigations, like Whyalla (over $15 million) & Lockhart ( over $20 million). To follow on...maybe the hiring of bean counter Beaker was put in place to save for the next big 'event horizon'??
But back to the Annex 13 and the bureau notified differences, from 2008 ICAO audit report...
"...Australia meets its Article 26 obligations. However, Australia has also lodged a difference with ICAO in relation to standard 5.1 and recommended practice 5.1.1 of Annex 13 as Australia considers it impractical to investigate all accidents and serious incidents within resources available..."
Which led to this, in our massively expanded
version of AIP GEN 1.7, para 5.1 ND (NB: copied from SUP H18/14 , same as for H12/11):
However, most disturbingly, the Annex 13 differences did not stop at para 5.1 and it would appear that the 'weasel words' have continued unabated in the latest version of GEN 1.7 (SUP H18/14)...
Quick compare for IOS consumption...
Chapter 5 (2014) addition:
Chapter 6 (2011) deletion:
Chapter 7 & 8 comparison...
SUP H12/11:
SUP H18/14:
So it can be seen that Beaker (& his minions) have got the hang of this ICAO ozfucation thingy..
..and all in the name of saving us millions???
While on the subject of NDs to Annex 13 and in light of this comment from the bureau in reply to CE-3/02 of the 2004 audit....
"...However, the ATSB is not aware of many, if any, ICAO states that do not face a budget constraint that impacts the number and extent of accident and serious incident investigations..."
...I thought it might be prudent to do a quick compare with some other ICAO states, starting with the current benchmark in our region i.e. Singapore which, surprisingly, also has a ND for para 5.1:
Singapore
ANNEX 13 Aircraft Accident and Incident Investigation, 10th edition
Chapter 5 (Amendment 13)
5.1.2 ICAO requires States to investigate serious incident involving aircraft of a maximum certificated take-off (MCT) mass of over 2250kg. With effect from 2 August 2010, Singapore requires all serious incidents to be investigated, regardless of the aircraft’s MCT mass.
Gotta love the Singas...
And here's a couple more for comparison with a link to NZed:
Hong Kong
13. ANNEX 13 - AIRCRAFT ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION (9th edition, Amendment 13)
Nil
Canada
Annex 13, Aircraft Accident and Incident Investigation
Nil
NZ Annex 13 differences
Yep SIUYA weasel words indeed...MTF Sarcs...