SAFA Skysailor Magazine

41 WINTER 2025 | June-July-August SKY SAILOR This is used as a guide. For 99% of the reports received, I am usually directed to the last box at upper right. If folk are acting in good faith and not setting out to do the wrong thing, we do not go about a blame and punish exercise – we learn from it. We do monitor AIRS reports for trends in the data, to identify, among other things, if there are weaknesses in our training courses, problems with sites or equip- ment, or if there is a pattern of behaviour we need to talk about. However, we do not use reports to penalise pilots, unless you are in the other 1%. As for the other 1% of reports, these usually involve someone conducting a flight operation for which they do not hold the appropriate authorisation, or they are not financial members of SAFA. When we receive a report that falls under the 1% scenario and we can identify the pilot, we will usually offer a path back to compliance. If that offer of remediation is not taken up, then there is a path we must follow, and that path is described in the ‘Enforcement and Disciplinary Procedures Manual’. For non-members of SAFA – whether they have never been a member or have not renewed member- ship – this will involve being referred to CASA for investigation, a requirement for us described within CASR Part 149. Once this happens, the matter is out of SAFA’s hands, and will become serious. To reiterate: AIRS is not used to punish pilots who make an honest mistake and hurt themselves or others. However, if there is non-compliance, willful reckless- ness or dangerous behaviour, then yes, there are consequences. We want you to report what has happened, so we can all learn from what occurred. Please also remember that if you witness something, it is important that you report – the other pilot may not. They may be injured and not in a position to do so, or they might be thinking that the big, bad folks in the office are going to growl at them, which as I keep repeating, is not the case. We can handle receiving multiple reports of the same event, but we can’t do any- thing if we never hear about it. That’s all for this time folks. Fly safe.