Aviation Safety: An Analysis Of Potential Constraints in Written Communication Processes Of Aviation Industry

Abstract

Written communication, unlike verbal communication, has one part of the communication loop missing; the receiver does not have the privilege of clarifying his doubts face to face with the sender. This may result in the sender and receiver taking out a different meaning from a common communication. Such a situation could emerge among a diversified workforce. The objectives of this paper are to highlight key constraints in written communication which can affect aviation safety, written communication processes employed in the aviation industry and simultaneously explore the training potential in order to standardize the written communication processes. The methods applied to this research were qualitative in nature. Results of this study reflect a preference towards reading a digital document rather than a hard copy of the same. Local/native languages have an effect on the English language. Owing to the differences in educational level, cultural background, the experience and exposure of the professionals, a document could be read and understood differently by different individuals. The style of the documents, such as clarity, simplicity, tone and brevity, can affect the reader’s ability to understand the information. Document layout, fonts, colour coding, are critical issues in timely and effective comprehension of information. Handwritten notes followed by schematic diagrams emerged as the most difficult documents to read and understand. The findings led to the following notable recommendations: frequent training of aviation staff under the guidance of some international body following a global and uniformed standard; development of standardized terminologies for recurring tasks and responsibilities; periodic assessment of written records carried out by different staff members.