Accident investigations have identified a poor safety culture as a factor that increases the probability and severity of accidents.  

It is also recognized that enabling a strong organizational safety culture requires continual application of all employees at every level, but especially commitment from top executives, as leadership thoughts and actions cascade down the organization and impact the actions of all employees.  

This is why providing greater visibility to the importance of Safety Leadership and Culture in a safety-critical industry such as aviation is a priority. 

The IATA Safety Talks feature industry leaders across geographies and cultures who share their unique perspectives and highlight the key role of Safety Leadership and Safety Culture in delivering a safer, more efficient and resilient business. 

IATA Safety Talks

“Now, more than ever, it is the time where CEOs need to involve themselves in aviation safety and its details. The organization will not do it if you don’t do it. And you have to be first. Be an example of what the most important function of a CEO is, which is to become the safety officer of the company.” 

Watch our latest video with Enrique Beltranena, CEO of Volaris, Member of IATA Board of Governors.

Mark Searle

Director Safety, International Air Transport Association (IATA)

Shinichi Inoue

President and CEO, All Nippon Airways, Member of IATA Board of Governors.

Detlef Kayser

Member of the Executive Board, Fleet and Technology, Deutsche Lufthansa 

 

Patrick Ky

Executive Director of the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA)

 

Eamonn Brennan

Director General, Eurocontrol 

Danny Ho

Chief Executive Vice President, EVA Airways 

 

Hassan Shahidi

President and CEO, Flight Safety Foundation 

Yuji Akasaka

President and CEO, Japan Airlines, Member of IATA Board of Governors.

Enrique Beltranena

CEO Volaris, Member of IATA Board of Governors

Anko Van Der Werff

President and CEO, SAS

IATA Safety Leadership Charter

The Safety Leadership Charter has been developed in consultation with IATA members, and the wider aviation community, to support industry executives in evolving a positive safety culture within their organizations.

The Charter is geared toward strengthening organizational safety culture through highlighting this critical element as a driver for continuous improvement in safety performance, by proposing commitment to key leadership principles and supporting practical actions. 

Guiding Principles:

  1. Lead obligation to safety through words and actions.
  2. Foster safety awareness with employees, the leadership team, and the board.
  3. Guide the integration of safety into business strategies, processes, and performance measures.
  4. Create the internal capacity to proactively manage safety and collectively achieve organizational safety goals.
  5. Create an atmosphere of trust, where employees are encouraged and confident to report safety-related information.
  6. Establish a working environment in which clear expectations of acceptable and unacceptable behaviors are communicated and understood.
  7. Create an environment where all employees feel responsibility for safety.
  8. Regularly assess and improve organizational Safety Culture.

 

For more information about the IATA Safety Leadership Charter and how to get involved, please contact our team.