Transportation Safety Board (TSB)

As light aircraft & ultralight pilots, we may not initially think there's much we can learn from theTransportation Safety Board (TSB). We may think of this organization as involved more with larger, commercial aircraft than the kind of aircraft we fly. However, nothing could be further from the truth.

The TSB is an independent agency that advances transportation safety by investigating occurrences in the marine, pipeline, rail and air modes of transportation by:

• conducting independent investigations, including public inquiries when necessary, into selected transportation occurrences in order to make findings as to their causes and contributing factors;
• identifying safety deficiencies, as evidenced by transportation occurrences;
• making recommendations designed to eliminate or reduce any such safety deficiencies; and
• reporting publicly on our investigations and on the findings in relation thereto.

In making its findings as to the causes and contributing factors of a transportation occurrence, it is not the function of the TSB to assign fault or determine civil or criminal liability. Their role is to make aviation and all modes of transportation safer. The TSB reports and findings contain a wealth of information aimed directly at the sort of flying we undertake.

There are lessons to be learned here  from their work that could easily make the difference between life and death some day.

SmartPilot.ca offers relevant, up-to-date aviation highlights from the TSB and direct links to their site.