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Johannesburg - A new centralised safety reporting system aimed at reducing aircraft accidents was announced by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) on Wednesday.
"The new system is a proactive procedure which enables anyone to report aviation safety risks - on the ground or in the air, whether perceived or real - that could prevent an aircraft accident," said director of civil aviation, Colin Jordaan.
The reporting system also afforded whistleblowers confidentiality, Jordaan said.
He said it was introduced in order to meet requirements around safety management, stated in the standards and recommended practices of the International Civil Aviation Organisation.
However, incidents should still be reported to the CAA's accident and incident investigation division.
The centralised safety reporting system accommodates three types of reporting. These are voluntary, mandatory and confidential.
The CAA said it was optimistic that hazards can be identified well in advance, thereby preventing any potential loss of life, injury or damage to property.
Louise Stols, general manager of risk and compliance at the CAA, said ensuring aviation safety was a daunting task, especially when the public and role players in the aviation industry were not proactive in reporting unsafe behaviour and events that could lead to an accident.
With the introduction of the centralised system the alerting the CAA to risky acts, omissions and events had been made easier.
