The Vital Role of the Responsible Executive

The Cornerstone of Operational Safety

In the world of aviation, operational safety is not just a set of procedures or regulations, it is a culture that must be deeply rooted at all levels of an organization. However, for this culture to flourish, it must start at the very top: senior management, specifically, the Chief Executive Officer.

The Chief Executive Officer is not just a title , he or she is the heart and soul of operational safety in any aviation company. This individual is responsible for establishing, driving and maintaining a safety culture that permeates the entire organization. He or she is the guardian of safety values and the catalyst that drives all employees to adopt and prioritize the Safety Management System (SMS).

We know that the Responsible Executive is constantly faced with the dilemma between the two "2P's": "Production vs. Protection". This challenge is not solved by simply asking you to choose between one or the other. It is our responsibility to provide you with the necessary tools so that you can make informed and balanced decisions that ensure both operational efficiency and safety.

Do you know what those tools are?

As SMS managers or directors , our work may be impeccable, but if we fail to change the "chip" of the senior management and provide them with what they really need to facilitate decision-making, all our efforts may be in vain. The Responsible Executive has the power to strengthen or weaken the entire security management with a single word, a single gesture or a single decision. Therefore, it is vital that this role is understood in all its magnitude and valued as the pillar on which a true security culture is built.

The key is to involve the High Command

Imagine you are the captain of a ship, and your officers and crew are fully committed to the best navigation practices. However, if the ship's owner does not share the same vision or understand the importance of safety, he may decide to take unnecessary risks that compromise the entire crew. The same is true in an aviation company. If the top brass is not aligned with SMS principles, it can bring the entire collective effort down in an instant.

It is therefore imperative that SMS managers focus from the outset on educating and sensitizing senior management on the crucial importance of their role in operational safety. This approach must be positive, not only to gain their support, but to turn them into active advocates for safety within the organization.

Tips for maintaining a positive safety culture

1. Visible and Constant Commitment: The Responsible Executive must be a role model. His commitment to safety must be evident in every decision he makes and in every message he transmits. This includes investing in adequate resources, participating in safety meetings and staying informed about SMS challenges and advances.

2. Clear and Open Communication: Senior management should foster a culture where communication about safety issues is clear, open and two-way. Employees should feel that they can voice their concerns without fear of retaliation, and that these concerns will be taken seriously by senior management.

3. Employee Empowerment: A Responsible Executive who values safety must empower his or her employees, giving them the tools and authority to make decisions that prioritize safety in their daily work. This empowerment fosters a culture of shared responsibility.

4. Continuous Evaluation and Improvement: Safety culture is not static. Senior management must be committed to ongoing evaluation of the SMS and be willing to make improvements when necessary. This includes reviewing procedures, learning from incidents, and staying abreast of best practices in the industry.

Creating and maintaining a strong safety culture starts at the top. The Responsible Executive is the cornerstone on which this culture is built. As SMS managers, it is our duty to ensure that senior management not only understands their critical role, but is committed to leading by example. Only with strong, determined leadership from the top can we ensure that safety is truly at the heart of our operations.

SMS culture is not imposed, it is inspired. And that inspiration must come from leadership, which, with its vision and commitment, ensures that every member of the organization feels and experiences security as an unquestionable priority.

If you want to learn how this is done or directly strengthen the Responsible Executive, you only have to enter our next event, where we provide the necessary tools that a company requires to create this culture.

Register here

Written by: Edwin Barreto

Instagram: @inge.edwin.barreto