First Priority: Safety Ltd

Specialising in Safety Management Systems

Bryan Stott is the principal behind First Priority: Safety (Ltd). He has tertiary qualifications, industry, investigation and safety management training, as well as more than 35 years' experience in the aviation industry. This experience includes piloting a variety of military and civil aircraft and managing the operations of some of those aircraft.

Bryan has also conducted more than 1500 aircraft accident/incident investigations and managed safety systems with organisations including the Bureau of Air Safety Investigation (BASI), Qantas, the NSW Rail regulator and Cathay Pacific Airways.

Finally, Bryan is a Visiting Fellow at the Safety and Accident Investigation Centre of Cranfield University, UK and has developed and delivered course material for units of aviation safety management courses at Cranfield University and the University of NSW in Sydney.

Wheels-up landing
Major achievements in the industry include:
  • Managed a three-year BASI investigation, which indirectly resulted in design changes in an international business aircraft type, revised training regulations and a consequent reduction in the global accident rate for the aircraft type due to icing encounters at high altitudes;
  • Managed the BASI investigation of an accident to an Ansett B747. The report made recommendations concerning the carrier's operations and training as well as to surveillance activities of the regulator;
  • Managed the investigation of an accident to an Ansett BAe146 aircraft that identified significant operational deficiencies of the engines on the aircraft when operating in icing conditions. The operational profile of the aircraft was reviewed by the regulator and limitations were applied to assure safety margins;
  • Conducted and managed more than 100 aircraft accident investigations across the spectrum of aviation in Australia;
  • Participated in the on-scene Emergency and Survivability Group investigation of a major accident involving a B747 at Guam in 1997, whilst seconded to the NTSB;
  • Over a 13 year period in the BASI Western Australia Field Office, established extensive professional associations with airlines, general aviation operators, sporting aviation (gliding, parachuting, ultralight) and legal representatives (police, coroners, lawyers) that resulted in a reputation of being capable, credible, independent, candid and sincere;
  • Managed the internal investigation and led the Qantas advisor team to the Accredited Representative during the investigation of an accident to a Qantas B744 in Bangkok in 1999. The analysis and subsequent internal report resulted in extensive systemic actions to address wide-ranging issues and system deficiencies;
  • Managed the internal investigation activities during three accidents to Qantas aircraft during 1999 and 2000;
  • Acted as the Human Factors and Train Operations Group leader for the NSW Department of Transport official investigation into the circumstances of a fatal rail accident near Waterfall.
Waterfall NSW Rail Accident
Bryan Stott's career experience in the aviation industry includes:
First Priority: Safety Ltd
Specialising in Aviation Safety Management Systems
2005 - Present
Cranfield University (UK) Safety and Accident Investigation Centre
Visiting Fellow and Short Course developer and presenter
2004 - Present
Cathay Pacific Airways
Air Safety Investigator
2003 - 2005
Department of Transport - NSW
Human Factors and Train Operations Group Leader
2003
Safety Management and Investigation Services Pty Ltd
Aviation Safety Consultant
2001 - Present
Landing Accident
   
University of NSW
Distance learning course and Short Course developer and presenter
2001 - Present
Qantas
Manager Safety Audit and Investigations
1998 - 2001
Bureau of Air Safety Investigation
Investigator / Manager Safety Analysis / Acting Deputy Director
1984 - 1998
Commercial Aviation
Pilot / Manager / Chief Pilot
1981 - 1984
Royal Australian Air Force
RAAF Academy / Squadron Pilot
1970 - 1981