Aviation is a highly specialized industry that demands technical expertise and precision. However, technical skills alone are not enough to ensure success in this field. Soft skills also play a critical role in the aviation industry.
Whether you ask pilots, flight attendants, ground crew, managers, or any other employee in the aviation sector what they would like to see improved in themselves or what they regret not having, something which stumbles their career growth, the chances are that the words "COMMUNICATION, TEAMWORK & LEADERSHIP" will appear near the top of the list.
Communication: In aviation, communication is the fuel that drives success.According to market estimates, there are more than 11.6 million people directly employed worldwide in the aviation Industry. All of them need to communicate with one audience or another on daily basis, including customers, passengers, professionals, and many others while doing their jobs, whether they work on the technical, business, or regulatory side.
The problem with the subject of communication is that it is intangible and subjective, so if there are 100 people with whom you are speaking, there are likely to be 100 different definitions or interpretations of what your communication means. Let's understand the power of communication with a historical event, a black day in Aviation history.
“In Jan-1990, an Avianca flight on its way to JFK airport was almost out of fuel in dreadful weather. Understanding the severity of the situation, the flight captain asked the first officer to tell air traffic control that they were in an emergency. But the first officer interpreted the captain's words wrongly and only said to ATC that they were running out of fuel. Which resulted in air traffic control didn't know how serious the situation was, and the plane crashed nine minutes later. Sadly, 73 people died, including the pilot and co-pilot. One reason for this was that the pilot didn't use the word "emergency" when talking to air traffic control.”
In Aviation, employees are not only taught how to communicate effectively but are also given specific messages to convey and taught how to deliver them, whether it's technical information, commercial details, or even mundane workplace events. There's a specific language and jargon to learn, and employees need to know how to communicate both face-to-face and remotely. Essentially, it's not just about knowing what to say, but also about how to say it.
In the aviation industry, communication is a life-or-death matter. Whether working as a flight crew, cabin crew, or air traffic controller, it is critical to convey instructions accurately and precisely within the word limit.
Teamwork: There are no individuals in Aviation! Everyone is a team!The aviation industry places a significant emphasis on teamwork as it is essential for the safe and efficient functioning of flights. Pilots, flight attendants, ground crew, and air traffic controllers must work together seamlessly to ensure that every aspect of the flight is executed flawlessly. Without effective collaboration, even minor errors could have grave consequences in this industry.
Leadership: Building a Culture of ExcellenceIn Aviation, the responsibility to motivate and inspire teams to deliver exceptional results in a fast-paced environment is essential. Effective communication on the clarity of the mission, vision, values, and goals is essential, ensuring that everyone is aligned and working towards the same objectives. Leaders should empower team members to innovate and bring new ideas to the table, allowing for creativity and experimentation. This creates a culture of continuous improvement and drives better outcomes for the organization. Effective leadership in aviation management requires clear communication and the ability to motivate and inspire teams to achieve exceptional results in high-pressure environments.
GMR Aero Academy: Building Soft Skills for a Brighter Aviation CareerGMR Aero Academy was established in 2009 intending to provide professional training and enhance the knowledge and skills of Aviation Personnel and from then it helped many to reach the pinnacle of their Aviation career.
Apart from hard skills (technical), GMR Aero Academy helps build soft skills as well through their tailored behavioral programs including leadership for middle managers program, communication and presentation skill program, management skills, and team building program. And especially for communication, they offer British Council programs including courses on interpersonal communication skills, better emails, and business writing essentials.
THE IMPORTANCE OF SOFT SKILLS IN AERO ACADEMY: COMMUNICATION, TEAMWORK, AND LEADERSHIP