A new study by Taiwanese researcher Meng-Yuan Liao, and scheduled for official publication this November, examines the effects of Eastern and Western societies on the perceptions of commercial aviation safety by international pilots. The research applied the concepts of the James Reason and Alan Hobbs’ safety culture model using a just culture, a reporting culture, and a learning culture as its premise.

The study showed cultural differences do strongly influence the pilots’ trust and satisfaction with the implementation of the safety models. Western pilots were more satisfied with those aspects of the safety culture model than Chinese pilots. Pilots in the East support leadership that builds trust, includes a high power distance and allows them to maintain harmony with their colleagues in a reporting culture. Because sharing information and knowledge might generate negative responses from their colleagues, Chinese pilots were more hesitant than were Western pilot colleagues to do so.

Finally, managers’ work histories, communication skills, good examples, team reporting, and incentive programs were suggested as vital for ensuring the success of the safety culture. The study focuses on five main topics: trust, guanxi (relationships) vs. equity and equality, power distances, harmony among people, and sharing information and knowledge.