The Impact of a Legally Defined Just Culture on Voluntary Reporting of Safety Information

Abstract

Abstract. The aim of the present study was to examine commercial pilots’ reporting behavior and confidence in their airlines’ just culture. In pursuit of this aim, 539 European-based pilots participated in the study by answering an online questionnaire. The results are compared with an earlier study comprising Australian-based pilots. The results reveal that 84% and 57% of the European and Australian pilots, respectively, trust their airlines’ just culture. When comparing reporting behaviors, it was found that 53% of the Australian pilots and 33% of the European pilots stated they had failed to report, or had under-reported, safety information in their airlines’ safety management system. A distinct difference with the aviation regulatory backdrop that the two pilot groups operate within is the legal legitimization of just culture in European law. It is unknown whether this difference influences confidence in just culture or has an effect on reporting behavior.