We can, and must, do better in gliding safety – particularly our attitudes to gliding safety. Let’s dig into this issue.
Drew McKinnie
Safety Manager
Let me call a spade a shovel. We can, and must, do better in gliding safety – particularly our attitudes to gliding safety. Let’s dig into this issue.
SOAR Reports
First, raising SOAR reports cannot be seen as a punishment. That is contrary to our safety policies and building the desired positive safety culture. I have heard of reportable incidents not being reported, of some members seeing SOAR reports as a negative on themselves or their club. Yet all pilots and members are fallible, environmental factors can change, decisions be taken, circumstances combine to generate a potential problem, a new risk exposure, near miss, or mishap.
Our SOAR reporting system must be seen as a positive, preventive tool that enables improvements or changes to reduce the future probability of risks being realised.
MOSP5 SMS contains our Safety Policy Commitment, which emphasises Culture and Reporting aspects.
Culture
We wish to cultivate and embed a Positive Safety Culture in gliding activities, encouraging free and open reporting within a Just Culture, with open discussion of safety feedback to members and clubs. We encourage members to seek improvements and support high standards of airmanship, airworthiness, training, airborne and ground operations, personal behaviour and positive example. We strive to communicate and share our best insights.
Reporting
This means all members supporting a safety occurrence reporting and analysis system that monitors trends and actions, and provides safety awareness feedback and education to members. This in turn drives improved operational and airworthiness safety systems and processes, informed by occurrence investigations and member feedback. We acknowledge that occurrences may be driven by pilot and member errors, or design, maintenance and technology failures, sometimes exacerbated by external, systemic, organisational and cultural factors.
We all stuff up. I stuffed up recently, and raised a SOAR report on myself, even though there were no adverse consequences. It enabled conversations in our club about what we can do to preserve safety margins, allowing for optimism bias, execution errors plus mission focus on reducing turnaround times. Sharing those insights is important.
Most pilots are aware that blame (for non-violations) is contrary to just culture. Yet any suppression of reporting diminishes generative safety, the learning and questioning culture aspects of a positive safety culture. MOSP5 SMS Figure 12 refers.
Blamestorming is a natural emotionally-driven response to mishaps. How often do we hear the flippant attribution of blame, “ah yes, that was pilot error”, shortly followed by “I would never do that!” This response is often unhelpful, particularly when we need to dig deeper into what the latent Issues were that contributed to that occurrence.
For example, consider a launch accident arising from a cross-wind or quartering tailwind operation? What sequence of decisions, operational supervision choices, led to continued operations when the wind changed? What pressure was on the pilot to accept a launch in such conditions? What consideration was given to pilot currency on type in squirrely conditons?
As another example, consider a ground towing accident when someone towed a glider into an obstacle. What judgement errors led to that occurring? What distractions were present? What changes had occurred in that area? What false cues were there, like wheel tracks, lines on taxiways, incorrect drawings on towing pathways? What prior training was provided? Why was supervision not present in the towing area or towing vehicle?
In both cases, contributing latent issues outside the cockpit or car may well have set up the conditions for the accident occurring – or recurring in future! So it’s vital that safety conversations in clubs allow for objective, dispassionate review of these latent issues, affecting club culture and organisation, normalised deviance, shortfalls and omissions, no matter who was responsible. It’s what we do to prevent recurrence that matters!
For inexperienced members who have never raised SOAR reports before, positive training value can be derived from an instructor or senior member assisting them in drafting their own report, filling in holes or gaps, describing contributing factors – and considerable damage can be done by censoring reports! That’s where CFI comments are important, in clarifying the account and commenting on remedial actions taken.
We are working on ways to improve member and CFI feedback on SOAR reports. I commend the recent efforts by EMO, RMOs and CFIs to address the backlog of investigations and improve feedback in this magazine, through webinars and occurrence summaries.
Gaps and shortcomings in approving and recording Certificates, Endorsements and Qualifications have been noted as risks to flying organisations. The consequences of flawed decisions outside CASA-approved and ASAO-approved criteria can be serious! Heaven forbid these problems are ever aired in a coronial environment.
I ask all members and instructors to be particularly attentive to ensuring that when members are awarded GPC or glider towing certificates, or pass annual or biennial flight reviews, or gain new endorsements such as self-launching gliders or low level finishes or coaching or instructing, that they scan copies of relevant documents and upload them to JustGo promptly. Make sure you have all required signatures in your flying and maintenance logbooks, for your own and your club’s protection! The integrity of our systems governing pilot authorisations is important to you as individuals, as well as to our organisations.
If you do not have required logbook signatures and approved current credentials for a particular operation or activity, then you must not perform them.
SAFETY PLEDGE
In March at Avalon 2025, CASA released their Aviation Safety Pledge education program.
https://www.casa.gov.au/index.php/resources-and-education/aviation-safety-pledge
Gliding Australia has signed up to the program to demonstrate its commitment to ongoing safety and leadership in the avenue of aviation safety, promoting a safety culture and joining with others to promote aviation safety in general.
A copy of our pledge, slightly amended to read from the first person plural and to align with GA values, is at the end of this article. A Word version is available for clubs to amend with their name to display in briefing rooms and distribute as they see fit. Email
Let us all, as clubs and individuals, either publicly or privately, pledge to uphold aviation safety by being responsible operators, continuously learning and getting better at what we do, being a part of a strong safety culture and displaying a high level of airmanship.
While I did not attend the Avalon event, many great gliding folks did, providing brilliant gliding promotion and simulator stands for our collective benefit. Thank you.
Aviation Safety Pledge
CASA initiative, 2025
Gliding Australia commits to the following actions -
Our safety actions
1. Always prioritise pre-flight preparation
We will diligently encourage checking weather, NOTAMs, and the aircraft's condition before every flight, ensuring the pilot is fully prepared for safe operations.
2. Adhere strictly to flight regulations and airmanship standards
We will follow all airspace rules, flight procedures, regulations, and maintain the highest standards of airmanship, understanding that these are designed to keep everyone safe.
3. Continuously improve skills and knowledge
We will regularly engage in safety training and keep our pilots’ knowledge up to date, knowing that ongoing learning is critical to their success as safe pilots.
4. Respect the skies and our peers
We will be considerate of other pilots, air traffic control and all aviation professionals, fostering a safety-first culture in the aviation community.
5. Speak up for safety
We will actively promote safe practices and encourage the reporting of unsafe conditions or behaviour, knowing that we all share responsibility for the safety of our skies.
6. Stay alert and focused
We commit to promoting flying only when the pilot is physically and mentally fit, avoiding fatigue or distractions that could compromise safety.
7. Foster a culture of safety and continuous learning
We will guide our peers, mentees or students in developing safe flying habits, exemplary airmanship, critical decision-making and a commitment to continuous learning throughout their aviation journey.
Why we are making this pledge
By publicly pledging, we acknowledge that:
l Safety is not just our responsibility – it’s an expectation. Every member of the aviation community looks to us to uphold these commitments.
l Public commitment matters. By making our pledge public, we demonstrate to ourselves and others our resolve to prioritise safety in all aspects of our flying.
l Together, we set the standard. By joining other pilots in making this pledge, we help reinforce a culture of safety, exemplary airmanship and professionalism that benefits all of us.
