By Samuel Allen, C.M., ACE
Airport Operations Manager and AOA Safety Consultant
In the highly regulated and safety-critical environment of aviation, human factors remain a persistent and leading contributor to incidents. Among these, attitudes of resignation pose another subtle yet serious threat to safe and efficient airport operations.
FAA’s definition of resignation
The FAA describes resignation, the final of their five defined hazardous attitudes in the Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge, as: “Pilots who think ‘what’s the use?’ do not see themselves as being able to make a great deal of difference in what happens to them. When things go well, the pilot is apt to think that it is good luck. When things go badly, the pilot may feel that someone is out to get them or attribute it to bad luck. The pilot will leave the action to others, for better or worse. Sometimes, such pilots will even go along with unreasonable requests just to be a ‘nice guy’.”
How does this example apply outside of the flight deck?
Individuals operating within the airport environment could feel as if their daily actions have very little contribution to safety and the overall successful operation of the airport.
From someone who operates in this environment daily, this cannot be further from the true reality, and that comes down to this: “better lucky than good” is a fine adage, but on the airfield luck doesn’t last very long.
An attitude of resignation can develop amongst any group no matter the profession. Ground personnel, air traffic control staff, or maintenance crews can all fall victim to feeling that their actions have little impact on overall safety outcomes.
What happens when AOA ground crews become emotionally resigned
Over time, such thinking erodes situational awareness, reduces compliance with procedures and/or regulations, and weakens the reporting culture essential for identifying hazards.
Employees may overlook abnormalities, delay corrective actions, or fail to challenge unsafe practices, assuming that incidents are unavoidable.
Airports are complex systems requiring constant coordination, communication, and accountability. A single lapse, whether during runway/taxiway inspections, baggage handling, or aircraft servicing, can escalate into operational disruptions at best or large-scale incidents at worst. When resignation replaces responsibility, the aviation system’s safety barriers begin to fail.
Preventing emotional resignation
Mitigating this risk, as with many of the previously discussed hazardous attitudes, requires strong leadership, continuous training, and the maintenance of an organizational culture that empowers and supports the individual. Reinforcing the value of one’s contribution and recognizing proactive behavior are crucial for long-term morale and avoidance of a resigned attitude toward day-to-day work.
Aviation safety in general, and airport safety in particular, depends on the individual contributions from those involved, especially the mindset of those who operate within it.
About the author and article series: Written for Alder by Airport Operations Consultant Samuel Allen, C.M., ACE, this special blog series focuses on hazardous behavioral attitudes that deter safety on the AOA. From overly confident macho men and women to the flaggers who seem to have no fear, Sam defines the most common characteristics of hazardous attitudes in aviation construction work. He also shares powerful insights about why these potentially dangerous behaviors persist in environments intended to build safety—and what we AOA leaders can do about it.