Actions trump words

In the political machinations of the recent ‘silly season’, the issue of who has the best ideas and has implemented them seemed to be lost. Improve the actions – a lot of which do not require Senate approval as they are administrative – and perhaps the fire under leadership would not have as much oxygen.

Eighteen months into a term and aviators are still waiting for action on the Forsyth review – and mostly actions that could and should have occurred about a week into government.

Of course it takes time to get underway, but with such a clear mandate, good policy, an independent review, strong industry support and a very positive new CASA CEO and board members, the field is set for rapid and positive action.

The same principle applies to individuals leading aviation companies at every level – what youtolerate will dominate. If you sit on your hands instead of taking wellresearched and well-directed action, perhaps you are not a leader after all.

If things are going wrong in your company and you are paralysed for whatever reason, don’t be surprised if those watching – staff, colleagues, regulators – have already written you off as impotent.

From a pilot’s perspective the challenge is also about actions. How you fly is what you are.

Forget about the tag of ‘professional’ if you don’t back it up with actions on every flight, every day. If you think the job ends when you get out of the aircraft then you are only seeing part of what it takes to really live up to the title. Do you have a system for keeping eyerything current and ready for employers – licences, medical, proficiency checks, Spraysafe? Or are you relying on others to make you look good. Guess what they are thinking. . .

In aerial application, there is a saying about ‘fly to the job, do the job, fly home’ – anything else is amateur hour.

Tony Kern’s book Darker Shades of Blue – The Rogue Pilot identifies rogue behaviour in more places that you might expect and importantly couples its existence to the lack of action by superiors tolerating the behaviour because of productivity or other dividends to the organisation.

Very quickly, one ‘rogue’ pilot can create a ‘rogue’ organisation,

Very quickly, one ‘rogue’ pilot can create a ‘rogue’ organisation.

simply because the person in charge of setting and enforcing standards does not act.

AAAA safety training courses make use of the analogy of a safety cocktail – where expectations, powerfulness, opportunities and lack of planning – can combine to provide silent company signals that shortcuts will be tolerated, procedures can be ignored, additional risks can be taken and rules can be ignored.

One small lack of action by a chief pilot or other leader can quickly create a toxic safety environment.

Conversely, small actions can start a chain of events that reinforce the real primacy of safety. Link enough actions together and a clear safety culture emerges. With a bit of knowledge and a lot of commitment, the climb commences frompathological and reactive towards proactive and generative culture.

The challenge rests with us all – are we just talking, or will we honour our vision with our actions?

‘ANZAC’ Convention 2015

AAAA and the NZAAA have united to hold the first trans-Tasman aerial application convention in many years at Queenstown, New Zealand over June 29 (training day) and 30 and July 1 (plenary and trade display).

This is a great opportunity to enjoy all of the usual education, top speakers and camaraderie of the AAAA Convention but in a stunning location and with our Kiwi friends and colleagues.

Accommodation bookings, a draft program and delegate registration are available from the AAAA website – www.aerialag.com.au.