(September 2011) Most general aviation pilots operate by themselves. While they may experience internal or external pressures, the pilot basically determines how the flight will be conducted in total isolation from any other inputs or organizational pressures. Pilots who fly for a company, airline or other organization, on the other hand, typically operate within a culture that works with their own personality to strongly influence how they respond to challenging conditions. Years ago the U.S. Navy discovered how important this organizational culture is in influencing a unit’s safety record. While most squadrons tried to instill a safety culture, there were also squadrons that would develop a culture of “bending the rules.” Those squadrons had a significantly higher accident and fatality rate.
Every organization exists to achieve certain goals, such as serving the customer, operating within a budget and perhaps making a profit. While these are admirable goals, they can often be in direct conflict with operating safely. Management has to walk a fine line between getting the job done in a cost-effective and efficient manner while also, at the same time, ensuring that the operation is conducted safely and nobody is hurt or killed.
