Occurrence investigator (OI) course and OI refresher course
Source: gov.uk (2025-08-19)

This Military Aviation Authority Centre of Air Safety Training course enables delegates to carry out effective occurrence safety investigations.

Course aim

Provide role-specific training for personnel undertaking OI to enable delegates to:
- effectively gather and organise data (from various sources) and establish the facts surrounding an event; be able to state / identify what happened
- successfully analyse why facts led to the occurrence; be able to articulate how it happened
- effectively develop workable recommendations to prevent further occurrences; be able to construct recommendations that mitigate / prevent future occurrences
- create a clear record of what happened, why it happened and how it can be prevented; utilising the air safety information management system (ASIMS) reporting tool
Training is a blend of taught sessions, facilitated discussions and group exercises and is aimed at individuals who will undertake occurrence safety investigations (OSI). The course is not required by those investigating, or managing, local investigation (as defined in RA 1410: occurrence reporting and management).

UK military personnel will be awarded the OI joint personnel administration (JPA) training record following successful completion of the course.

Units and duty holder organisations can directly purchase this and other safety management system training courses. MOD users can visit the safety training for error prevention (STEP) Defnet page for further information.

Applicability

For personnel undertaking the role of OI for an OSI. Please note that occurrence review group (ORG) members who want an awareness of the OI training should not apply for this course. Awareness of the OI training is provided by the updated ORG course (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/defence-aviation-occurrence-review-group-org-course/occurrence-review-group).

The Refresher course has been withdrawn pending development work.

Contracted staff and overseas students who wish to attend an Air Safety Course will need to apply through their STEP point of contact.

Prerequisite

Personnel should have human factors and error management foundation level training as a minimum before attending the course. Understanding can be gained from accessing local awareness training at your unit / organisation delivered by human factors qualified facilitators or instructors.

Before attending OI training, successful applicants must complete the following pre-reading:
- RA 1410: occurrence reporting and management (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/regulatory-article-ra-1410-occurrence-reporting)
Duration

4 days

Location

A limited number of courses will be delivered at CoAST, Defence Academy, Eisenhower, Shrivenham but to satisfy overall requirements, this course can also be delivered locally. Please contact your local STEP point of contact or email for more information email xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx) for more details

Application form

Course application form (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/maa-course-application-forms)

Before applying for this course, please read the course overview. If you are eligible to apply, complete the application form and return it to xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx) with the course title as the subject title.

The closing date for applications is 10 weeks prior to the course start date and applications received after this date will not be accepted.

Once received, applications will be added to the waitlist and scrutinised approximately 9 weeks before the course. All candidates will be notified of the outcome with successful candidates receiving joining instructions approximately 6 weeks prior to the course.

Course dates

CoAST located course dates (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/maa-course-date-information). For STEP courses at other locations, please contact your STEP point of contact.