A case study on the culture of Operational Safety Management in Brazilian Air Operators

Abstract

The objective of this article was to demonstrate the effectiveness of the Brazilian civil aviation Operational Safety Management System (SGSO) in air operations procedures; flight safety management; quality management; air traffic control; Maintenance Workshops (OM); technical control of aeronautical maintenance (CTM); ground operations procedures; air operators; airport areas; training of ground and flight professionals; Brazilian aeronautical legislation; international legislation; Brazilian Civil Aviation Regulations (RBAC); international treaty of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). This article contributed to the understanding of the perception of the SGSO by professionals regarding the Operational Safety procedures in their daily work activities. In methodological terms, bibliographic research and case study were used in multiple states of Brazil, quantitative and qualitative questionnaires were applied using the method of Social Representations to professionals involved in Brazilian civil aviation. Among the professionals who responded to the aforementioned survey, there are: Operational Safety Managers (GSO); airline pilots and co-pilots; flight instructors from Civil Aviation Instruction Centers (CIAC); executive aviation pilots and co-pilots; agricultural aviation pilots; general aviation pilots; airline flight attendants; air traffic controllers; aeronautical maintenance mechanics in the areas of Power plant (GMP), Avionics (AVI) and Airframe (CEL); airline airport agents; Protection agents against acts of unlawful interference by civil aviation. The problem of this research revolves around the identification of the level of understanding of safety culture by aviation professionals regarding Operational Safety. The results demonstrate discrepancies in the interpretation of what operational security is.