CHIRP So there I was… F


ew people like admitting to mistakes and even fewer like to admit them openly – unless it’s in the comfortable environs of


the bar where talk tends to be looser and where you can pick up some pretty good tips on how to avoid making the same error as someone else. The trouble is the bar audience is usually small so these snippets don’t necessarily get a wide audience, however useful they might be. This is where CHIRP steps in to spread the word by providing an anonymous outlet for all those ‘there but for the grace of God…’ stories. CHIRP stands for the Confidential Human Factors Incident Reporting Programme and was started by the RAF Institute of Aviation Medicine in 1982. It evolved into its current civilian form in 1997 with the establishment of the CHIRP Charitable Trust. In essence, it wants to receive reports in which pilots made errors, or very nearly did, to identify hazards, learn lessons and prevent others making the same mistakes. And it’s not just pilots it’s keen to hear from, either. The Trust wants to hear from air traffic controllers, engineers and maintenance staff, cabin crew, ground handling and security staff and display pilots and organisers, too. Its structure, with a Board of Trustees


to provide oversight and direction to the CHIRP staff, also ensures operational independence from its sponsors. In 2003 a Maritime Programme was


introduced and today the Trust manages an independent, voluntary confidential reporting programme for both industries to improve the safety of the public and people employed within, or associated with, aviation and maritime operations There are international obligations and


regulations to underpin the CHIRP Aviation Programme. ICAO Annex 19 requires that Member States put in place a voluntary, non-punitive incident reporting system to complement a mandatory incident reporting scheme. Also, EU Regulation No 376/2014


requires Member States to safeguard the


confidentiality of reporters; it notes the importance of independence and the promotion of a Just Culture. Finally, CAP 1180 – the UK’s State Safety Programme notes that CHIRP is a voluntary reporting scheme as required by ICAO. So how does CHIRP fit into UK safety


reporting? It doesn’t compete with the AAIB, the CAA’s reporting scheme or company schemes and it routinely encourages reporters to use these other open channels. But it does aim to act as a safety net


for those reports that wouldn’t otherwise be written, perhaps because people are unwilling to use schemes that would identify them to management, unions or club officials. Reasons might include fear of retribution, pride, embarrassment, reporting seen as just red tape or not having produced any tangible benefit in the past, etc. Reports can be made online, via


email, Freepost or Freephone. People who submit issues are contacted to discuss the incident and how it will be handled. This will usually include an assessment of the disidentified report by one of the Trust’s Advisory Boards comprising pilots, controllers and engineers. Depending on the Board members’


advice, disidentified reports may be passed to the organisation(s) best able


to investigate or comment. Once the assessments and investigations are complete, CHIRP writes back explaining what actions have been taken and the outcome. Provided the person agrees, the


disidentified report is also be published in one of the Feedback newsletters –those blue A4 sheets you’ll find lying around in any clubhouse – to highlight the lessons identified and pass them on to others. Feedback is also emailed free to 30,000-plus licenced pilots, controllers, and engineers; it’s sent in hard copy to the other reporting groups and is available from the CHIRP website and via smartphone and tablet App. It provides an opportunity to brief


the readership about procedures, opportunities, limitations that they might not otherwise know about. If you want to be added to the distribution list simply email mail@chirp.co.uk Alternatively you can download it from the website or via the CHIRP App Chief Executive Ian Dugmore (pictured


top left) says: “We are indebted to pilots who share their experiences - and sometimes swallow their pride by admitting mistakes – all in the cause of promoting safety.” For more, go to chirp.co.uk; you can also follow on Twitter @Chirp_Aviation


Autumn/Winter 2016 CLUED UP 21


What do you really know about CHIRP – and no, it’s not just for the birds...


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