SAFA Skysailor Magazine

28 SKY SAILOR September | October 2023 A Just Culture and AIRS Reports by Iain Clarke – SAFA Safety Management Officer Greetings fellow pilots. Back in November 2020, I wrote about Just Culture and how it applies to SAFA members. Things are changing, particularly as we move towards operating under CASR Part 149 as an Approved Self-Administering Organisation. So, let’s refresh our understanding of Just Culture and AIRS reports. One of the core principles around which our Safety Management System is built, is that SAFA operates in a Just Culture. This means we encourage everyone to report accidents, incidents, or hazards they observe. In fact, in the Operations Manual (V20211006) you’ll find it listed as a requirement to report accidents or incidents (see 2.1.1.1(f)). We view these reports as an opportunity to learn from what has occurred to try to make improvements in safety. It does not mean we whack anyone around the head for any honest mistakes made. However, it does mean we will take action if there is a conscious breach of regula- tions or operational procedures, or if there is intentional dangerous, reck- less, or negligent behaviour. We apply Just Culture principles when assessing AIRS reports or com- plaints received. The following diagram (Reason, 1997) illustrates the approach that SAFA takes. Start at the box at upper left and work your way through it. This is really used as a guide. For 99% of the reports that come in, I am usually directed to the last box at the upper-right. If folk are acting in good faith and not setting out to do the wrong thing, then we do not blame and/or punish – we learn from it. We do monitor AIRS reports for trends in the data, to identify, among other things, if there are weaknesses in our training courses, if there are problems with sites or equipment, or if there is a pattern of behaviour we need to talk about. But we do not use reports to penal- ise pilots – unless they are in the other 1%. For the other 1% of reports, these usually involve someone conducting a flight operation for which they do not hold the appropriate qualification or endorsement, or they are not financial members of SAFA. An example of the