The High Ground
At play is the longterm competition between the management safety organization (Vice-President of Safety, XYZ Airlines) and the pilot union's traditional role as safety watchdog. At some airlines, it becomes apparent to the line pilots that neither talk to each other very much, each publish periodic safety booklets and letters that appear to have no coordination in content or emphasis. Given the choice, most would probably favor full disclosure in the interest of safety, but the competition between the two elements for moral preeminence (management vs pilot association) can be a distraction. (Note to Both; publishing some joint blather in the Flight Operations Manual is viewed with suspicion by most flight crews as nice words with no specific meaning. Pilots strongly prefer independant reporting to third party for confidentiality.) "Do I confess here, or at the church across the street?"