Korean Air, in collaboration with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport (MOLIT), Korea Aerospace University, and 10 domestic airlines, have pledged to enhance aviation safety culture and establish a proactive safety management paradigm at the “2024 Aviation Safety Culture Forum.”
The forum, hosted by Korea Aerospace University and sponsored by MOLIT, Korean Air, Jeju Air, T’way Air, Jin Air, Delta Air Lines, Airbus and Boeing, was held on September 25 in Incheon. Under the theme “Fostering a Safety Culture for Aviation Safety,” the event aimed to strengthen collaboration between the aviation industry, academia, and government, with a focus on improving aviation safety culture and laying the groundwork for fairness within the industry.
Approximately 230 participants attended, including representatives from Korean Air, 10 other domestic airlines, Delta Air Lines and Hawaiian Airlines, Airbus, Boeing, domestic and international aviation authorities, and academic institutions. During the event, Korean Air President Keehong Woo, along with the CEOs of the 10 other domestic airlines, signed the “Aviation Safety Culture Leadership Charter.”
The charter outlines five key resolutions:
1. Prioritizing aviation safety in management to ensure the highest levels of safety for customers
2. Fostering a positive safety culture through strong leadership commitment
3. Continuously improving safety culture by ensuring fair and just treatment of aviation workers and clarifying acceptable versus unacceptable behaviors
4. Creating a trust-based environment that promotes the free exchange of safety information without fear of retribution, while encouraging the development of essential safety skills and knowledge
5. Cultivating a flexible safety culture that adapts to changing conditions and encourages the sharing and dissemination of safety information
The afternoon sessions featured presentations from MOLIT and Korea Aerospace University, covering topics such as Korea’s safety and reporting culture, safety management systems, and mechanisms for aviation safety and culture. Airlines also shared best practices in aviation safety culture and discussed practical ways to drive continuous improvement.
“The government remains committed to strengthening aviation safety and will continue to actively support policies that create an even safer aviation environment in the future,” said a representative from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport.
“We are dedicated to building a proactive safety management approach rooted in a strong safety culture partnership,” said a representative from Korean Air. “Our goal is to establish a solid foundation that will position us as a leader in safety within the global aviation industry.