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• August 9, 2016 Create Date
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Risks Associated with Aerial Campaign Management; Lessons from a Case Study of Aerial Locust Control

In 2004, there were two wirestrike accidents in New South Wales involving
helicopters undertaking locust control operations. The first accident occurred
in October 2004 near Forbes and resulted in minor injuries to one occupant
and extensive damage to the helicopter. The second accident occurred in
November 2004 near Dunedoo and resulted in the death of two occupants. A
third occupant was seriously injured and there was extensive damage to the
helicopter. A third accident, near Mudgee in November 2004, involved a
helicopter that was being used for locust control, although the helicopter was
not involved in locust control activities at the time of the accident.

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) began formal investigations
into all three accidents and a research investigation into the practices used by
Government organisations to contract aerial operators for locust control in
order to identify issues that may enhance future aviation safety.

Locust control operations are presented as a case study, but it is intended that
organisations managing other aerial operations with similarities to locust
control, such as aerial fire control, other pest management operations, and
emergency service operations, may also find the concepts presented in this
analysis useful. These types of operations, collectively referred to in the
report as ‘aerial campaigns’, are characterised by:

- a significant community need for the operation, possibly urgent;

- requiring the coordination of significant numbers of resources and
organisations;

- a degree of irregularity or unpredictability as to when the operation
Will be required and the size the operation;

- requiring aerial operations with a relatively high hazard level; and

- a regularly changing operational environment throughout the course
of the campaign.

These characteristics potentially increase risk to the organisation and its staff.
Locust control organisations are closely involved in aerial operations and can
therefore influence the level of risk of the operations.

Many complex organisations operating in a hazardous environment, such as
major public air transport companies, recognise the influence they have on
safety. While they may subcontract many safety-critical aspects of their
operations, these organisations still maintain an interest in the safety of these
operations and proactively manage safety beyond What is required by
regulation. Similar methods can be effective for mitigating risk in aerial
campaigns.