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Seven Principles of Aviation Safety Leadership

In a groundbreaking announcement, the Flight Safety Foundation unveiled its "Seven Essential Principles of Aviation Safety Leadership" on October 16, 2025. This comprehensive framework aims to empower aviation organizations to integrate safety into their governance, culture, and strategic operations. The principles were crafted based on decades of research and operational experiences, reflecting the notion that while aviation enjoys a commendable safety record, it is nonetheless fragile and requires perpetual diligence.

Dr. Hassan Shahidi, the Foundation’s president and CEO, emphasized that safety isn't merely about systems; it emerges from daily values, decisions, and behaviors at every tier of an organization. He stated, "These seven principles translate leadership into action. When executives truly commit to safety, weaving it into strategic planning and nurturing a culture of trust and accountability, organizations enhance their resilience against accidents."

The Seven Essential Principles

The principles focus on key actions leaders must undertake:
1. Commit to Safety: Leaders need to consistently showcase their dedication to safety across all organizational levels.
2. Cultivate a Just Culture: Building a positive work environment based on trust and transparency is crucial.
3. Clarify Accountability: Defining roles and ensuring strong governance frameworks keeps everyone aligned with safety objectives.
4. Integrate Safety into Strategy: Safety should be woven into the corporate strategy to ensure it is a priority at all decision-making levels.
5. Promote Proactive Risk Management: Organizations must anticipate risks and react to prevent accidents before they occur.
6. Drive Continuous Learning and Improvement: A commitment to ongoing education and learning fosters a robust safety culture.
7. Empower and Engage Staff: Communication and involvement across all levels of staff are essential to cultivating a safety-first approach.

The Foundation will present these principles at the forthcoming 78th International Aviation Safety Summit (IASS) in Lisbon, Portugal, from November 4-6, 2025. The summit will be an essential platform featuring leadership dialogues, illustrative case studies, and actionable insights to facilitate immediate application of the principles in diverse organizations.

A Global Campaign for Safety Leadership

To accelerate the adoption of these principles, the Foundation will launch an extensive global campaign aimed at the entire aviation community. Activities will include webinars, workshops, and polls designed to uncover effective practices, identify gaps, and establish common benchmarks for safety leadership.

"Our aim is to make safety leadership visible, measurable, and replicable," Dr. Shahidi remarked. By aligning governance, strategy, and daily decisions with these principles, the Foundation believes it can bolster safety cultures, enhance accountability, and effectively lower risks throughout the aviation ecosystem.

About the Flight Safety Foundation

The Flight Safety Foundation is an international, nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing aviation safety through research, education, and communication. Its mission is to connect, influence, and steer global initiatives aimed at enhancing aviation safety, fostering a safer flying experience for everyone involved.

For further details or to register for IASS 2025, visit the Flight Safety Foundation's official website.