SAFA Skysailor Magazine

18 SKY SAILOR November | December 2020 Greetings fellow pilots Do you know: •• Why you need to be a member of SAFA? •• What the consequences are for flying while not a current financial member of SAFA? •• What happens if you consciously do the wrong thing? •• What a ‘Just Culture’ is? Read on… One of the core principles around which our Safety Man- agement System is built, is that we, SAFA, operate in a ‘Just Culture’. This means that we encourage people to report accidents, incidents, or hazards they observe. In fact, in the Operations Manual you will find it is a requirement to report accidents or incidents (Section 2.1.1.1(e)). We view these reports as an opportunity to learn from what has occurred and try to make an improvement in safety. It does not mean that we whack people around the head for honest mistakes they have made. However, it does mean that we do take action if there is a conscious breach of regulations or operational procedures, of if there has been intentional dangerous, reckless, or negligent behaviour involved. We apply Just Culture principles when assessing AIRS reports or complaints received. The below 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. If folk are acting in good faith and not setting out to do the wrong thing, then we do not turn this into a blame and punish exercise – we learn from it. So, we are looking at a restorative justice process rather than a retributive justice outcome. This past year has seen some unprecedented challenges to our activities. We started off with a diabolical bushfire situation in several parts of the country, closing Flight Training schools and operations in affected locations. There were also changes to airspace that members were able to operate in during the fire-fighting campaigns. Then Covid took off. The latter caused some levels of government to introduce travel and site restrictions. Some clubs and Regional Associations responded by suspending operations until the picture became clearer or restrictions were lifted. Unfortunately, I have to report that while the bulk of our members have respected the measures, a few individuals seem to believe that directives issued by clubs, site-owners and councils do not apply to them, or that they are exempt A Just Culture and the Disciplinary Process by Iain Clarke – SAFA Safety Management Officer