REPCON – Aviation Confidential Reporting Scheme

What is REPCON?

REPCON is a voluntary and confidential reporting scheme allowing anyone with an aviation safety concern to report it confidentially to the ATSB( Australian Transport Safety Bureau). The scheme’s primary element is protecting the reporter’s identity and any individual referred to in the report.

Who can make a report?

Anyone can confidentially report a safety concern to the ATSB, including members of the travelling public and people involved in aviation.

Some examples of who has made a REPCON report in the past include:

• An employee or contractor of an aviation transport operator who reported a matter under the operator’s Safety Management System (SMS) but does not believe it will be properly dealt with.
• A person who has not reported under the SMS because they believe they will suffer retribution. (When submitting a report, please ensure that you cannot be identified within your organisation by not copying any other person into the report).

What may be reported?

These are examples of safety concerns related to aircraft operations that can be reported under REPCON:

The list is not exhaustive:

a) Any incident or situation that affects, or could affect, the safety of flight operations.

b) Any procedure, practice, or condition that a reasonable person would see as dangerous or could become dangerous if not fixed, such as:

• Poor training, behaviour, or attitude by airline, airport, or air traffic control staff.
• Employees who are not adequately qualified or experienced enough.
• Schedules or rosters that cause fatigue among staff.
• Skipping safety procedures due to pressure to meet operational or commercial goals.
• Airport facilities that are not up to standard for safe operations.
• Unsafe handling of passengers, baggage, or cargo.
• Inadequate information about traffic or weather conditions.

c) Any other issue that could affect the safety of flight operations, even if it doesn’t fall under mandatory reporting rules.

The key to making a significant impact with a REPCON report is to provide a clear, detailed, and objective account of the incident, using strong, safety-focused language that highlights the urgency and potential risks. The use of impactful keywords and phrases can help ensure that the severity of the incident is understood and that appropriate actions are taken to address it.

What should NOT be reported to RECON?

Under REPCON (the Australian Transport Safety Bureau’s confidential reporting scheme), certain types of incidents and issues cannot be reported.

Personal grievances are not intended for REPCON, such as complaints about individual employment conditions, salary disputes, or personal conflicts unrelated to safety or operational integrity.

Issues purely related to industrial relations, such as union disputes, contract negotiations, or employment conditions that do not directly impact safety, cannot be reported under REPCON.

Disciplinary issues are also excluded unless they directly affect safety in a broader operational context.

Events already reportable through mandatory systems for accident investigations required by law should go through those official channels, as REPCON is designed for additional, confidential reporting rather than replacing mandatory reporting systems.

Malicious or vexatious reports—those not made in good faith and intended to harm others or disrupt operations without valid safety concerns—are not accepted under REPCON.

As previously stated – REPCON is focused explicitly on transport safety and potential hazards that might not be captured in official reports, providing a confidential way to improve the aviation system beyond standard reporting frameworks.

 Step by Step Instructions for Reporting into REPCON

1. Access the REPCON Reporting System:

•     Go to the REPCON website: [REPCON Aviation Confidential Reporting Scheme – https://www.atsb.gov.au/voluntary
•     Click on “Submit a report” to start the process.

2. Choose the Type of Report:

•  Select “Aviation” as the sector for your report.
•  Choose the relevant category that best describes the safety incident (e.g., “Fatigue,” “Operational Safety,” “Workplace Safety”).

3. Provide Incident Details:

• Date and Time: Accurately record the date and time when the incident occurred.
• Flight Details: Include flight number, route, and type of aircraft.
• Location: Specify where the incident happened (e.g., on the ground, during takeoff, midflight, during landing).
• Description of the Incident: Write a detailed account of what happened, ensuring to include all relevant information:

Example of how to structure your description of the incident using what, how and why:

      What: Clearly describe the nature of the incident (e.g., “A severe case of passenger aggression directed at crew during meal service”).

      How: Explain how the incident unfolded (e.g., “The passenger became irate after being informed that their preferred meal option was unavailable”).

      Why: If known, provide details on why the incident occurred (e.g., “The incident escalated due to inadequate de escalation training, lack of catering on board and a lack of immediate support from the ground staff when we landed”).

4. Key Words and Phrases for Impact:

1. Safety Critical: Use this phrase to highlight incidents that could affect the safety of the flight (e.g., “This is a safety critical issue that could have led to a more serious outcome”).
2.  Risk to Flight Safety: Emphasise the potential impact on flight safety (e.g., “This situation posed a significant risk to flight safety due to…”).
3. Fatigue-induced error: When reporting fatigue-related incidents, use this phrase to underscore the cause (e.g., “The error occurred due to fatigue-induced impairment…”).
4. Potential for Recurrence: Indicate the likelihood of the incident reoccurring if not addressed (e.g., “There is a high potential for recurrence under similar circumstances”).
5. Immediate Action Required: Signal the urgency of the issue (e.g., “Immediate action is required to prevent similar incidents in the future”).
6. Operational Hazard: Identify procedural or operational hazards (e.g., “This event highlights an operational hazard that needs to be addressed”).
7. Compromised Safety Procedures: Point out where safety procedures were not followed or were ineffective (e.g., “Safety procedures were compromised when…”).
8. Underreported Issue: Stress if the issue may be underreported across the industry (e.g., “This incident reflects an underreported issue that may be widespread”).
9. Insufficient Training: Note if a lack of training contributed to the incident (e.g., “The incident was exacerbated by insufficient training in dealing with…”).

5. Include Contributory Factors:

1. Environmental Factors: Describe any external factors that may have contributed (e.g., weather conditions, cabin environment).
2. Human Factors: Mention any human errors or misjudgments (e.g., “Crew were operating under severe fatigue due to…”).
3. Organisational Factors: Include any systemic issues (e.g., “A lack of adequate staffing levels contributed to the delayed response…”).

6. Propose Potential Solutions:

• Recommendations: Suggest changes or improvements that could prevent similar incidents in the future (e.g., “It is recommended that additional training in conflict resolution be provided to all crew”).
• Safety Enhancements: Mention any specific measures that could enhance safety (e.g., “Installing additional safety barriers could prevent future occurrences of…”).
• Request for Review: Ask for a review of certain policies or procedures (e.g., “A review of crew rest periods is needed to address fatigue-related risks”).

Ensure that no personally identifiable information (PII) is included unless necessary and within the guidelines.

OR

You can choose to report anonymously or request that your identity be kept confidential.

8. Submit the Report:

• Review the report carefully to ensure all details are accurate and comprehensive.
• Submit the report via the REPCON system and note any reference number provided for future follow-up.

PLEASE FORWARD OR COPY AND PASTE THE REPORT DETAILS TO FAAA AT [email protected] FOR OUR RECORDS AND FOLLOW UP