Madam, - Currently we are hearing a lot about organisational culture, whether in the banks, the military or wherever. Corporate culture is something we can all recognise when we see it at work. The problem arises when we try to specify its precise nature or definitively identify its impact. It is nonetheless relevant.
After untoward incidents blame is typically apportioned to front-line employees closest to the events in question, though we do learn why they felt constrained to act as they did. In fact, their ex poste justifications invariably offer important clues about workplace realities.
The Irish Airline Pilots' Association (IALPA) increasingly receives information on aspects of aviation corporate culture that we believe have an obvious relevance to flight safety. Given the contemporary reality of Irish aviation, and libel law, IALPA is forced to remain silent.
Unfortunately, when the special virtues of Irish airlines are being extolled at international conferences we hear nothing of parallel concerns about the evolution of Irish inspection and safety reporting systems. At present, there is no means available to IALPA, nor to any Irish professional pilot, by which legitimate concerns in this area can be securely brought to the attention of appropriate agencies. This is unacceptable for an industry in which open reporting systems are fundamental to flight safety.
The IALPA supports calls for the creation of an Irish "whistleblower's charter". The IALPA also calls upon the Irish Aviation Authority to establish an appropriate confidential safety reporting system at the earliest possible opportunity. Surely we would have the worst of all possible worlds if information which could be available to IALPA came to light only as part of an inquiry in the aftermath of some future tragedy? - Yours, etc.,
Capt EVAN CULLEN, President, IALPA, Irish Airline Pilots' Association, Corbalis Park, Dubin Airport.