Professor Graham Braithwaite

Graham Braithwaite

Head, Department of Air Transport, Professor of Safety and Accident Investigation, Director, Safety and Accident Investigation Centre
Location: Building 115
E: g.r.braithwaite@cranfield.ac.uk
T: +44 (0) 1234 754252
Department of Air Transport


Current activities

Graham is Course Director for the world-renowned Aircraft Accident Investigation; Fundamentals of Accident Investigation; and Accident Investigation for Aviation Management continuing professional development courses. His research interests are in accident and incident investigation, human factors, safety management and the influence of culture on safety.

Background

Graham joined Cranfield in 2003 as Director of the Safety and Accident Investigation Centre and became Head of the Department of Air Transport in 2006. Graham holds a BSc (Hons) in Transport Management and Planning and a PhD in Aviation Safety Management from Loughborough University. He is a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society and Member of the International Society of Air Safety Investigators.

Professor Braithwaite has led the development and delivery of investigation, human factors and safety management courses for a range of external clients including the European Aviation Safety Agency, Australian Transport Safety Bureau, Hong Kong Civil Aviation Department, British Midland Airways, SAS, Qantas Airways, Rail Accident Investigation Branch and the Omani Royal Flight. He has also consulted extensively in safety and human factors matters for organisations such as Airservices Australia (ATC teams and supervision; provision of Aviation Rescue and Firefighting), Halcrow (human factors issues of driver vigilance systems), Regional Express (safety health survey), Risk and Reliability Associates (human factors issues of railway worksite signalling), Qantas Airways (design standards for engineering & maintenance task cards), Airplan (third party risk around aerodromes) and the UK CAA (human factors issues for CPDLC datalink).

Graham has also been called upon by various media organisations including the BBC TV and radio, Sky News, ITN, Associated Press to provide expertise on matters of aviation safety. He has also provided testimony to the House of Commons Transport Select Committee review of the CAA and since 2007 has served as a member of the Advisory Board to the Singapore Aviation Academy.

Selected publications

  1. Mitchell, S. J. LeM and Braithwaite, G. R. (2007) A Systematic Approach to Accident Cost Analysis. Paper presented to the International Helicopter Safety Symposium, Montreal, Canada.
  2. Braithwaite, G. R. (2006) The Challenges of Investigating Human Error. Paper presented to the Inaugural Gulf Flight Safety Committee Conference, Dubai, UAE.
  3. Young, M., Shorrock, S., Faulkner, J. P. E., and Braithwaite, G. R. (2005) The (R)Evolution of Human Factors in Transport Safety Investigation. ISASI Forum – The Journal of the International Society of Air Safety Investigators. 28 (3) July-September.
  4. Braithwaite, G. R. (2004) Re-Inventing (With Wheels, Wings And Sails) - A New Look At Transport Accident Investigator Training. Paper Presented at International Society Of Air Safety Investigators Annual Conference. Gold Coast, Australia.
  5. Braithwaite, G. R. and Mountford, N. (2003) Organisational Human Factors - Digging For Gold Rather Than Trying To Hang The CEO. Paper Presented To The Rail Safety And Maintenance Conference, Sydney, Australia.
  6. Braithwaite, G. R. (2001) Attitude or Latitude? Australian Aviation Safety. (310 pages) Ashgate Publishing, Aldershot.
  7. Braithwaite, G. R. (2001) Aviation Rescue and Firefighting in Australia – Is it protecting the Customer? Journal of Air Transport Management. 7 (2). 111-118
  8. Braithwaite, G. R. (2000) Pilots Attribute Australia’s Aviation Safety Record to Good Training, Favourable Weather, Low Traffic Density. Flight Safety Digest. Flight Safety Foundation, Arlington, Virginia. March. 1-19.
  9. Braithwaite, G. R,  Faulkner, J. P. E. and Caves, R., E. (1998) Australian Aviation Safety - Observations from the Lucky Country.  Journal of Air Transport Management (January 1998) 4 (1), 55-62.
  10. Braithwaite, G. R. and Caves, R. E. (1997) Airline Safety - Some Lessons from Australia. The Aeronautical Journal, Issue 1001 (January 1997).