Civil Aviation Authority and Predecessors: Safety Data and Analysis Unit and Predecessors:...

DR 42

1943-1988

This series contains registered files of the Safety Data and Analysis Unit (series 9/66) and other file series probably originating from the Safety and General Group and the Accidents Investigation Branch. Includes reports and computer print-outs relating to follow-up action to accidents / occurrence reports. Also contains some files, which were unregistered but thought to have originated in the Unit.

Former reference where applicable. Otherwise arranged chronologically.

For further records of the Safety and General Group see BT 248

For case files see: AVIA 102

For registered policy files of the Accidents Investigation Branch and successors see: AVIA 101

9/66 file series

Public Record(s)

English

• Board of Trade, Aviation Department, Safety and General Division, 1967-1970
• Civil Aviation Authority, Safety Data and Analysis Unit, 1981-1991
• Ministry of Aviation, Safety and General Division, 1959-1967
• Ministry of Civil Aviation, Safety and General Group, 1945-1953
• Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation, Civil Aviation Department, Safety and General Group, 1953-1959

57 files and volumes

Open unless otherwise stated

Civil Aviation Authority , from 2000

and National Air Traffic Services Ltd , from 2000

Topics

Air transport

Computing

Transferred to National Air Traffic Services Ltd in 1996.

1972-1987

Series is accruing

Policy and selected case files have been preserved.

The Safety Data and Analysis Unit operated from 1981 to 1991 when its functions were transferred to the Safety Data Department. The Safety Data and Analysis Unit had inherited many of its functions from Safety and General Group started in 1945. It also inherited some responsibilities from the Accidents Investigation Branch, which was created in 1918 as part of the Royal Flying Corps. Civil aviation accidents were initially investigated by the Accidents Investigation Branch. The main purpose was to establish the cause of an accident.

The function of the Safety Data and Analysis Unit was to collect, analyse and disseminate flight safety information. It received reports from many different sources, such as the aviation industry, operators, manufacturers, and over-haulers, as well as safety organisations and some foreign and private aviation owners.

The objectives of the Unit were to use the reports to keep the Civil Aviation Authority advised of actual and potential hazards to flight safety; to pass on information to the wide network of those who supply reports; to assess safety implications; and to ensure that appropriate action was taken. Information obtained from reports was eventually computerised and was available for answering on-the-spot enquiries from the industry and to enable more elaborate studies and analyses.

The Safety Data and Analysis Unit was initially created to administer the Mandatory Occurrences Reporting Scheme introduced on the 1st January 1976; a formal means of ensuring that its objectives were met. The Unit continued to maintain close liaison with the Accidents Investigation Branch (and successors) of the Department of Transport. This ensured that any necessary follow-up action after an accident could be considered and taken before the publication of the Chief Inspector of Accidents official report.

Currently, the Mandatory Occurrence Reporting Scheme is operated by the Safety Data Department of the Civil Aviation Authority Safety Regulation Group at Gatwick (the direct successor of the Safety Data and Analysis Unit, which was renamed in 1991).