Aviation Safety Consultants form a niche yet crucial group in the expansive aviation industry, often playing a key role in mitigating risks and enhancing flight safety. As Qantas Founder Sir Wilmot Hudson Fysh once iterated, "Aviation itself is not inherently dangerous. But to an even greater degree than the sea, it is terribly unforgiving of any carelessness, incapacity, or neglect." A sentiment that underpins the importance of safety consultants in this field. However, various misconceptions persist regarding the role and significance of these experts. Here, we aim to debunk 10 of the most common myths, providing a comprehensive and nuanced view of the industry.

• Myth: Consultants Only Work on Large-Scale Projects

  Fact: Consultants work on projects of all scopes and scales. From annual safety audits of small regional carriers to risk assessments of large international airports, their expertise spans a wide array. The Pareto Principle, or 80-20 rule, suggests that 20% of causes often result in 80% of results - a principle familiar to aviation safety consultants who understand the importance of meticulous attention to detail in their work, regardless of the project size.

• Myth: Consultants are Unnecessary When Internal Safety Teams Exist

  Fact: Consultants bring an external perspective, unbiased by internal organisational culture. They work to identify safety blind spots and provide an independent risk assessment. This is analogous to the Hawthorne Effect in social sciences, where the behavior of study participants changes due to the awareness of being observed.

• Myth: Consultants Are Too Expensive

  Fact: The potential cost of not employing a consultant - in terms of accidents, regulatory fines and reputational damage - far outweighs their fees. The economic principle of opportunity cost is fitting here; the real cost of something is what you give up to get it. Here, the opportunity cost of not hiring a consultant could be the potential safety of the operation.

• Myth: The Role of Consultants is Limited to Risk Assessments

  Fact: Consultants often act as trainers, advisors and negotiators, educating aviation staff about safety protocols, advising management on best practices, and negotiating with aviation authorities on behalf of their clients.

• Myth: Consultants Create an Excessive Preoccupation with Safety

  Fact: While safety is certainly a priority, consultants also understand the need for operational efficiency. They strike a balance between safety and operational practicality, akin to the Nash equilibrium in game theory, where the optimal outcome of a game is one where no player can benefit by changing strategies while the other players keep theirs unchanged.

• Myth: Consultants Only Work in Response to Accidents

  Fact: Consultants are proactive rather than reactive. They work towards accident prevention by identifying potential hazards before they become a problem, a practice reminiscent of predictive modelling used in statistical analysis.

• Myth: Consultants Simply Implement Generic Safety Policies

  Fact: Consultants tailor their services to suit the specific needs and challenges of each client. They consider factors like geographic location, aircraft types, local regulations and company culture – a practice that aligns with the concept of contingency theory in organisational studies.

• Myth: Only Large Companies Can Afford Safety Consultants

  Fact: Many consultants offer scalable services, designed to serve small-scale operators without the hefty price tag. This demonstrates the economic principle of economies of scale, where the cost of providing a service decreases as the scale of operation increases.

• Myth: Consultants Impose Excessive Changes

  Fact: Consultants recommend changes based on their risk assessments and the client's unique needs. Similar to the scientific method, they form hypotheses, conduct experiments (assessments), analyse data and derive conclusions (recommendations).

• Myth: Consultants’ Work is Solely Ground-Based

  Fact: Safety consultants do conduct ground-based assessments but also work in the air, evaluating in-flight operations, cabin safety, and crew resource management. This illustrates Newton’s third law of motion – for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. In this case, understanding ground operations have direct implications for improving air operations and vice versa.

Aviation safety consulting is an art and science, blending technical knowledge with the ability to address human and organisational factors affecting safety. As we debunk the myths surrounding this industry, we realise the pivotal role of these consultants in shaping a safer, more efficient aviation industry. As we peer into the future, the growing complexity of air travel systems will only underscore their relevance and indispensability.