Balloon tragedy, MH370 inspire 'Watch List'

Alexis Still and Chrisjan Jordaan jumped to escape flames but died in the Carterton balloon tragedy. Photo / Geoff Walker

Tragedies such as the Carterton balloon crash and the missing Malaysian Airlines flight have influenced the creation of a "Watch List" designed to highlight safety concerns across the air, sea and rail sectors.

The Transport Accident Investigation Commission (TAIC) released the first issue of its safety monitoring publication today, called The Watch List.

The Watch List focused on what the commission considered high priority safety issues in the aviation, maritime and rail transport sectors.

Chief Commissioner John Marshall said TAIC had highlighted three areas of concern in its first publication and then its own recommendations as to how to improve on these concerns.

"We want to highlight where transport systems need to change so that safety is improved," he said.

"Our concern is that these recommendations have not yet been implemented and we think they are very important."

Mr Marshall said among these three areas of concern, the commission was concerned with the number of people in "safety-critical roles" being impaired as a result of taking drugs or alcohol.

Mr Marshall said the commission had reiterated its calls for something to be done about the issue, after it was revealed the pilot of the hot air balloon in Carterton, which crashed in 2012 killing all 11 on board, had cannabis in his system.

He said this was a "frequent" issue across aviation, maritime and rail sectors.

"We recommend the transport sector put in place arrangements that would help prevent people from operating aircraft, vessels or rail vehicles if they are substance impaired."

Solutions included setting maximum limits for alcohol, and ensure operators undergo random drug testing.

"We think there should be random testing, of both alcohol and drugs, in safety critical roles.

"It is simply wrong that the commission, regulators or police cannot require blood tests of people who survive the occurrences we deal with."

Mr Marshall said the commission would also like to see more operators of aircrafts, ships and boats use available tracking and locating technologies.

This could be as simple as carrying personal locator beacons, he said.

This would reduce the risk of things going, help locate lost aircrafts and vessels after they went missing and ultimately improve peoples chance of survival after a crash," Mr Marshall said.

"It is an issue that has been high in the public's awareness as a result of the missing Malaysian Airlines flight."

Mr Marshall said they also wanted to see all recreational skippers demonstrate an understanding of safe boating through measures such as a licensing system.

"New Zealand's maritime rules place no obligations on recreational skippers to demonstrate that they understand and practise safe boating behaviour before getting on the water."

Items on the watch list would be reviewed annually and once the commission was satisfied an issue had been dealt with properly, the issue would be "retired", Mr Marshall said.