TGW Safety and Compliance Culture
TGW made very simple, wilful, deliberate and conscious decisions to not comply with the regulator. Essentially it was an ongoing and outright act of non-compliance and violation led, supported, condoned, encouraged, mandated, and enforced from the top team accountable and responsible, the nominated persons: the CEO/MD, and directors of flight ops, maintenance and training etc. TGW have had ample warning, opportunities and time to plan for, to change, to implement, to show and demonstrate to CASA an acceptable means of compliance. There was no ambush or surprise here, and yes CASA have been particularly patient and understanding, having tried to nudge and prod, to persuade, to encourage, convince and warn TGW to change attitude and behaviour and improve systems and processes. Mostly to no avail, too little and too late, and now an uncertain future, albeit a safer one whilst grounded at the moment, for TGW drivers, staff and passengers. This TGW non-compliance has resulted in the more harsh, big stick approach and draconian coercive suspension/grounding powers available to CASA. Instead of compliance, TGW decided to object, refuse, delay, ignore, deny, procrastinate, delay, postpone, and demonstrate their contempt for the regulations and the regulator. TGW are being duly rewarded for their actions and Australian aviation is safer as a result.
No one seems to be able to answer why TGW knowingly and deliberately choose the route of non-compliance, wilful violation, contempt for regulations and regulator and gross negligence? I am not convinced by the LCC “race to the bottom” argument. No person(s) and no financial situation actually force you to be unsafe.
This “Violations are OK Culture” led and promoted from the top very easily infiltrates and permeates throughout to the lower echelons. SOPs adherence is hardly going to be emphasized, promoted and enforced amongst the troops when a “she’ll be right”, “don’t worry, I know best” and “we do it our way and not the CASA way” approach is demonstrated by those nominated to command the operation and other senior and middle and pilot and maintenance management. For example Davis in his public comments to date remains in complete denial and has refused to accept the regulator’s view and instructions. Rix has simply been silent.
Normally we as the bus drivers at the sharp and “active” end expect and demand that our management and pilot management team who are ever so much more influential at the “latent” level do lead us by example when it comes to safety and compliance. Yes, we all make errors and mistakes, which of course we gladly and confidentially immediately report in a “just culture” environment. And from which genuine errors, mistakes and lapses as from any incident/accident we try to learn the lessons as quickly as possible, and we hopefully speedily re-focus our attention and do not repeat. Yes, sometimes with an associated little “discipline”, maybe with the assistance of some gentle remedial instruction and guidance, and re-training and checking to the required standard if necessary (or “immediate” proficiency checks for the complete pilot corps in TGW’s case). But who amongst our corps of aviation safety professionals makes a practice of indulging in deliberate and wilful violations?
This “violations are ok culture” has no place in a safety critical and highly regulated industry like commercial aviation. Notwithstanding the dramatic effect this week on our TGW aviation colleagues and passengers, CASA is to be commended and applauded for this decision. The ultimate result of this risk assessment last week is that you cannot crash if your A320 on ground and secured and parked up against the fence. Yes CASA should apply the same level of interest in TGW’s competitors and other commercial operators. I certainly hope and pray that TGW can respond, change and comply quickly, to improve the systems and processes, to revisit its business model and to resume stronger, more resilient, safer and lower risk operations asap. If necessary remove all the cowboys and cowgirls from of the cowboy outfit if the big stick approach to attitude adjustment fails. Parent Tiger Airways Holdings and its main investers such as SIA, if they are seriously in for the long haul, must provide the required resources and management impetus, direction and competence to turn this around. Agreed, CASA is not without fault here, and can itself learn that for the future, a much improved screening and assessment process pre AOC issue and a more thorough process of approving and monitoring those accountable and responsible nominated persons and “unapproving” them if necessary will also help to avoid this type of occurrence in the future. A much needed wake up call for all of us, the regulator and all Australian commercial aviation. Only then out of something bad will something good come. Our paying punters and freight aft of the cockpit door deserve nothing less.
Safety is no accident, and if you can’t be safe, then be bloody careful!