METHOD
A questionnaire was distributed by mail to ∼5200 aircraft maintenance
personnel, comprising all holders of maintenance licenses issued by
the Civil Aviation Safety Authority of Australia, and ∼300 unlicensed
mechanics employed by major airlines in Australia. In addition to questions
concerning the work of aviation maintenance technicians, the questionnaire
contained a section in which respondents were given the
opportunity to report a maintenance incident. The wording was as
follows: “Safety incidents happen in all professions, including aircraft
maintenance. Such incidents can help us to identify areas where improvements
can be made. We are interested in your experience of safety