A balancing act: The Australian Transport Safety Bureau's approach to accident investigations on airports.

This paper explains the role of the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) as Australia's independent national transport safety investigator. It will explore how ATSB accident investigators at airports tread a fine line between preserving the accident site so that evidence can be gathered while allowing airport operations to recommence. It details how the ATSB works closely with all stakeholders involved in an accident to allow normal operations to resume as soon as practicable. And it explains how the ATSB seeks to educate stakeholders of the potential hazards at aircraft accidents. Finally, it concludes by noting that the ATSB will continue to be cognisant of the impacts investigations may have on the national and international aviation networks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]