The correlation between professionalism and safety in the world of aviation
There is a big difference between being a professional pilot – someone who flies for a living – and professionalism. Getting a paycheck every month satisfies the first one. To achieve the latter we have to consistently conduct ourselves with the utmost level of integrity, discipline, and high standards. Such conduct includes, among many other things, always doing the right thing…even when no one is looking.
Professionalism demands that we walk the walk and talk the talk. From something as basic as how we wear the uniform to the manner in which we communicate with and treat others. And it does not stop there. Even when not on duty we are always representing ourselves, the company we work for, our colleagues, and the aviation industry as a whole. Our actions and behavior, whether good or bad, can have significantly lasting repercussions on the industry’s safety record. Professionalism is an attitude, not a paycheck, and we have to earn that accolade every day, regardless of whether we are on duty or not, in uniform or not, active on social media or not.
I firmly believe there is a direct correlation between professionalism and safety. Safety, often defined as the optimum minimization of risk, does not just happen by accident. Its definition implies that action on our part is necessary in order to achieve it. Therefore, it could be argued that safety is also an attitude that influences behavior...and not just any kind of behavior but one that is constructive in nature, focused in its determination and results-driven. It is that attitude what prompts us to respect and follow the rules, to learn and adhere to standard operating procedures (SOPs), to understand and operate the aircraft within its Airplane Flight Manual (AFM) limitations and procedures, to embrace and apply Crew Resource Management (CRM) as a core operating philosophy, etc. The list is long but you get the picture. That attitude and resultant behavior, in conjunction with a company’s adoption and implementation of an effective safety culture, are some of the reasons why aviation’s safety record, as high as it already is, will continue to improve.
Ideally, every professional pilot – entrusted as we are with the lives of passengers and fellow crew members – conducts himself or herself with the utmost sense of professionalism. After all, that is what our colleagues, passengers, family members, friends, and the regulators expect from us…and rightfully so. Just as importantly, it is also what we ought to demand of ourselves and others.
Remember, being a professional pilot basically means that we possess the required qualifications as well as the necessary experience level to legally and competently fly an aircraft. That is why we get paid the “big bucks.” Those qualifications and that experience level are certainly vital elements in the safety equation but they alone are not enough. To complete the winning formula we must also strive to earn the professionalism accolade each and every day.
In conclusion, professionalism is the kind of attitude we must possess – and actively promote – if we are to continue making a difference in our industry’s safety record. Earning that kind of accolade is the most valuable “paycheck” we can receive as professional pilots.
Let’s earn it
Captain Global Express/5000/6000
4 年Great text Captain, if you don’t mind I’ll share it.
G650/G550 Senior Captain/ Aviation Standards and Training Program Manager
4 年I completely agree, Ivan. Professional behaviors = safe acts. In my opinion, "Professionalism" is the most important component in safety. Well done Ivan!
Regional Jet Pilot / Flight Safety Advocate / Endlessly Curious about Human Factors
4 年Excellent presentation by National Transportation Safety Board Chairman Robert L. Sumwalt to University of North Dakota UND Aerospace Students on the subject of Professionalism https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=aVv1yt2rABQ
Regional Jet Pilot / Flight Safety Advocate / Endlessly Curious about Human Factors
4 年I found this article about Duty of Care Pilot Duty of Care and the Role of the Human Factors Expert by Vickie Norton MEA Forensic July 2014 "[V]aried explanations and definitions of duty and degree of care exist; for the purposes of this discussion, however, there are only a few that matter. First, the (FARs specify) that a person may not operate an aircraft in a careless or reckless manner so as to endanger the life or property of another. Second, a pilot has a duty to remain vigilant throughout the flight, and a duty to observe, recognize, and avoid dangerous conditions which confront him/her. Finally, with specific regard to the airline, a common carrier by air must exercise the highest degree of care consistent with the practical operation of its plane for the safety of its passengers. Practical Operation. Perhaps it was unforeseeable at the time, but in this modern era of highly-advanced, automated aircraft capable of virtually every maneuver except automatic takeoffs, a definition of “practical operation” lends itself to various interpretations...." https://www.meaforensic.com/pilot-duty-of-care-and-the-role-of-the-human-factors-expert/
Aviation Operations Consultant, Auditor & Safety Advisor
4 年Very nice article, Ivan. Unfortunately, as always, the ones who should bring something home from these wise words are also absent from any discussion involving safety. This is why I am convinced that the problem should be taken by the root during the hiring process. Profiling the right candidate by seeking attributes which go beyond just good stick and rudder skills but also the soft skills you were mentioning. A sound selection process is at the foundation of any organization's safety culture.