So, This week I am going to write about where I plan to end up in the aviation industry. At this point in time, my end career goal is to be a Human Resourced Manager at Delta Airlines. The basics of this job include, working out of Atlanta, assisting with managing benefits, hiring and disciplinary proceedings for Delta employees. There are definitely safety/liability concerns with this job particularly from the hiring and disciplinary standpoint. If there are errors made by pilots or other employees that go without proper handling or situations are reported to the HR department, the airline is now liable.
Professionalism is critical in the aviation industry and helps prevent dangerous situations. To me professionalism is taking an interest in their chosen field and treating their chosen career in a business like fashion. This includes acting in accordance with the company policies and legal regulations and having respect for the position. Looking like a professional, being punctual and using professional language all play a role in respecting the position.
After watching the documentary Flying Cheap, It was suggested that a lack of professionalism was a big factor in the cause of this accident. While there are several ways a lack of professionalism was shown, I have chosen to address two. Part of respecting the job is making sure you are fit for work. Being under the weather and exhausted when you show up for with is not professional. In fact it went to far as she was recorded discussing her fatigue on the CVR! The second example is the story where the captain was discussing call in fatigued. The manager came on the phone when he was calling in fatigued pressuring him to take the flight anyway, he even offered to change the paperwork to shorten the duty day so he could legally go home that night. Part of professionalism is abiding by the regulations. Clearly this is a violation.
As professionalism is so important in this industry, It is my goal to go above and beyond the requirements of my job to ensure that I am an asset to my employer and the industry. Two ways I plan to do this are by reading aviation news every week to stay current with the ever changing industry and by attending conferences to meet and network with others within the industry.
I enjoyed how you tied you're professionalism definition into your analysis on the Colgan accident while outlining 2 faults of the company and its employees but within two separate fields (management and pilot). Ensuring you are an asset to the employer- I could not have said it better myself.
ReplyDeleteThe Colgan accident is a very sad turn of events, in away the whole situation is an example of how not to be professional. I liked your own definition of professionalism "go above and beyond" and sad to say I believe some people in aviation are very content and don't realize how fortunate we are to be in this industry!
ReplyDeleteIt was very fitting that you included "making sure you are fit for work" into your definition of professionalism. I believe this is one of the key elements, and something that was lacking in both the Buffalo accident and often in Colgan's operations in general. I also like how you say "going above and beyond the requirements". Often times minimum requirements aren't actually all that safe or effective.
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