Catalogue description Civil Aviation Authority and Predecessors: Safety Data and Analysis Unit and Predecessors: Registered Files (9/66 and other series)

Former reference where applicable. Otherwise arranged chronologically.

The Safety Data and Analysis Unit operated from 1981 to 1991 when its functions were transferred to the Safety Data Department. The Safety Data and Analysis Unit had inherited many of its functions from Safety and General Group started in 1945. It also inherited some responsibilities from the Accidents Investigation Branch, which was created in 1918 as part of the Royal Flying Corps. Civil aviation accidents were initially investigated by the Accidents Investigation Branch. The main purpose was to establish the cause of an accident.

The function of the Safety Data and Analysis Unit was to collect, analyse and disseminate flight safety information. It received reports from many different sources, such as the aviation industry, operators, manufacturers, and over-haulers, as well as safety organisations and some foreign and private aviation owners.

The objectives of the Unit were to use the reports to keep the Civil Aviation Authority advised of actual and potential hazards to flight safety; to pass on information to the wide network of those who supply reports; to assess safety implications; and to ensure that appropriate action was taken. Information obtained from reports was eventually computerised and was available for answering on-the-spot enquiries from the industry and to enable more elaborate studies and analyses.

The Safety Data and Analysis Unit was initially created to administer the Mandatory Occurrences Reporting Scheme introduced on the 1st January 1976; a formal means of ensuring that its objectives were met. The Unit continued to maintain close liaison with the Accidents Investigation Branch (and successors) of the Department of Transport. This ensured that any necessary follow-up action after an accident could be considered and taken before the publication of the Chief Inspector of Accidents official report.

Currently, the Mandatory Occurrence Reporting Scheme is operated by the Safety Data Department of the Civil Aviation Authority Safety Regulation Group at Gatwick (the direct successor of the Safety Data and Analysis Unit, which was renamed in 1991).