Reporting Culture — Are You Measuring It Right?
- Margrét Hrefna Pétursdóttir
- Jul 2
- 2 min read
Here’s a truth often missed in aviation safety:
More reports don’t mean more problems. They mean more clarity.
Following my recent post on LinkedIn, on MOR vs VOR, many of you asked a practical follow-up:
“How do you actually measure reporting culture?”
What to measure
A 70/30 split in favor of Voluntary Occurrence Reports (VOR) is a good start.
To truly understand how engaged your organization is with safety reporting, you need better questions, not just better metrics.
What I Monitor as a Safety Manager
Here are the core indicators I look for when evaluating the health of a reporting culture:
1. Is reporting volume increasing?
This is often a positive sign. It shows people are engaged and willing to share safety insights.
2. Is the average risk score rising too?
That could signal that more serious safety issues are emerging, not just more reports.
3. Are you tracking reports per flight hour or flight sector?
This matters. Operational tempo varies seasonally for most airlines, especially in ACMI contracts, wet leases, and charter ops. Normalizing by flight activity gives context.
4. How often is the data reviewed?
Minimum: Monthly. Could be weekly during high-tempo or high-risk operations
Why? Because subtle trends might be the only early signal you get. A well-timed safety campaign or briefing could make all the difference.

⚠️ Fewer Reports ≠ Safer Operation
Be careful not to celebrate a drop in reporting too quickly.
A decline might not mean improvement. It might mean silence, and silence hides hazards.
Need Help Defining or Reviewing Your Safety KPIs?
Whether you’re launching a new Safety Performance Indicator or auditing your current SPI strategy, Glacier Aviation Consulting can help:
✔️ Clearly
✔️ Practically
✔️ With real-world operational experience
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