Ethics in Aviation

According to Merriam-Webster, the definition of ethics is ": a set of moral principles : a theory or system of moral values". Ethics and morals play an extremely important role in any aviation profession. Whether it be manufacturing, plans and scheduling, maintaining, air traffic control, or even the pilots themselves. In a career field as unforgiving as flight itself, it is important to adhere to safety precautions and follow appropriate guidelines. Even if that means putting in a little extra work here and there. Some attributes to avoid in order to properly hold oneself accountable would be laziness, selfishness, and arrogance. For some, accepting that they are not perfect is challenging, and must be consciously addressed by those individuals.

In A Model of "Applied Ethics" in Aviation Safety: The Aviation Safety Reporting System, the author details how people often want to "dodge the consequences of their advertent or inadvertent actions". The psychology behind this is simple; nobody wants to take the blame for anything bad. Those pursuing a career in aviation need to have a firm grasp on what it means to not only take responsibility and report any kind of mishap or irregularity, but also to follow their appropriate job guides and checklists. Assuming you know everything is a huge mistake when it comes to a field with advanced technologies like avionics or turbine engines. In order to be a professional and successful airman, it is paramount that one must closely follow a code of ethics and morals to ensure safety of flight, and total completion of objective.

Stanford, & Homan, W. (1999). A Model of “Applied Ethics” in Aviation Safety: The Aviation Safety Reporting System. Journal of Aviation/aerospace Education and Research, 9(1), 39–44. https://doi.org/10.15394/JAAER.1999.1235

 Merriam-Webster. (2019). Definition of ETHIC. Merriam-Webster.com. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ethic