Reporting Schemes

The Belize Department of Civil Aviation (BDCA) through the State Safety Programme (SSP) and the Accident/Incident Investigation Unit have established the reporting scheme to ensure and maintain high standards of aviation safety in Belize. This scheme allows individuals to report any safety concerns or incidents they may have witnessed or experienced while working in the aviation sector. The objective of all reporting schemes is to contribute to the improvement of aviation safety by ensuring that relevant information on safety is reported, collected, stored, protected and disseminated. By encouraging transparency and accountability, the reporting scheme helps to prevent accidents and promote a safety culture within the industry.

Mandatory Occurrence Reporting Scheme (MORS Form)

MORS is required for an accident or serious incident as defined by ICAO. These reports will be investigated by the Accident/Incident Investigator

  1. a person is fatally or seriously injured as a result of:
    1. being in the aircraft, or
    2. direct contact with any part of the aircraft, including parts which have become detached from the aircraft, or
    3. direct exposure to jet blast,
    4. except when the injuries are from natural causes, self-inflicted or inflicted by other persons, or when the injuries are to stowaways hiding outside the areas normally available to the passengers and crew; or
  2. the aircraft sustains damage or structural failure which:
    1. adversely affects the structural strength, performance or flight characteristics of the aircraft, and
    2. would normally require major repair or replacement of the affected component, except for engine failure or damage, when the damage is limited to the engine, its cowlings or accessories; or for damage limited to propellers, wing tips, antennas, tires, brakes, fairings, small dents or puncture holes in the aircraft skin; or
  3. The aircraft is missing or is completely inaccessible.

Mandatory Bird Strike Reports

Any aircraft commander flying in Belize airspace who believes his aircraft has collided with one or more birds must report this as well as a MORS if there is damage sustained by the aircraft per ICAO definitions. See above for clarification. Bird Strike form and MORS form.

Wake Turbulence Encounters

The Wake Turbulence Encounter form has been incorporated into the MORS form.

Airprox

Pilots reporting Airprox will automatically be reported to the BDCA MORS form. Air Traffic Controllers submitting reports will also be automatically reported to MORS form.

Voluntary Reporting and Confidential Scheme (VRCS Form)

This reporting system is available to the aviation industry members and the passengers to report unsafe acts or hazards. This is a confidential reporting system that encourages the reporters name but does not require it. The report may not be fully investigated if it is anonymous.

Do not use this form for malicious intent. This form will continue to allow anonymous reporting as long as it is being used responsibly. If the BDCA or the SSP Team notice the reporting scheme being used for anything other than honest reporting of safety issues and/or hazards, the team will discontinue allowing it to be anonymous and investigate any charges brought to their attention.

What should not be reported are the following; any accidents or incidents covered by MORS, illegal activities, complaints, illicit acts, occupational health industrial issues, workplace conflicts, or airport security.

What should be reported are events which have had or may have had an impact on safety and have not resulted in an accident or serious incident.

This report can be used for administrative protection provided it meets certain requirements:

  1. The employee's action or lack of action was inadvertent.
  2. The employee's action or lack of action did not involve a criminal offense, accident, or action which discloses a lack of qualifications or competency.
  3. The employee shows proof that within 10 days after the occurrence, he/she completed and submitted, electronically or by mail, a VRCS report. The employee has the ability to save the form and bring it up using their email. This email address does not get transmitted unless the employee fills out the contact information.