Skip to main content

LUP Student Papers

LUND UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES

The Normalisation of Deception: Exploring Reporting Behaviours in Atypical Aviation Pilot Employment

Montgomery, Morgan Cameron LU (2025) FLMU16 20242
Division of Risk Management and Societal Safety
Abstract
This study examines how atypical employment conditions influence safety reporting behaviours among commercial European pilots, focusing on the cognitive and systemic factors that shape reporting practices within Safety Management Systems (SMS). Using narrative inquiry, the research identifies how precarious/atypical employment arrangements foster workplace anxiety, misattributed as fear. This misattribution drives defensive behaviours, such as productive lying, where pilots manipulate reports to align with organisational expectations while protecting their job security.
The findings highlight systemic issues, including punitive organisational cultures, linguistic barriers, and continuous professional evaluations, which normalise deceptive... (More)
This study examines how atypical employment conditions influence safety reporting behaviours among commercial European pilots, focusing on the cognitive and systemic factors that shape reporting practices within Safety Management Systems (SMS). Using narrative inquiry, the research identifies how precarious/atypical employment arrangements foster workplace anxiety, misattributed as fear. This misattribution drives defensive behaviours, such as productive lying, where pilots manipulate reports to align with organisational expectations while protecting their job security.
The findings highlight systemic issues, including punitive organisational cultures, linguistic barriers, and continuous professional evaluations, which normalise deceptive practices and compromise SMS's efficacy. Conversely, pilots in supportive environments with secure employment generally demonstrate transparent reporting when prioritising psychological safety.
The study finds that simplifying SMS frameworks, promoting supportive organisations, and aligning employment practices with human-centred design can help mitigate these challenges. Addressing systemic and individual psychological mechanisms, this research offers actionable insights to enhance safety reporting and organisational learning in aviation and other safety-critical industries. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Montgomery, Morgan Cameron LU
supervisor
organization
course
FLMU16 20242
year
type
H1 - Master's Degree (One Year)
subject
keywords
Pilots, reporting, SMS, atypical employment, productive lying, deception, aviation, FLMU06
language
English
id
9213103
date added to LUP
2025-09-25 13:29:44
date last changed
2025-10-08 08:49:45
@misc{9213103,
  abstract     = {{This study examines how atypical employment conditions influence safety reporting behaviours among commercial European pilots, focusing on the cognitive and systemic factors that shape reporting practices within Safety Management Systems (SMS). Using narrative inquiry, the research identifies how precarious/atypical employment arrangements foster workplace anxiety, misattributed as fear. This misattribution drives defensive behaviours, such as productive lying, where pilots manipulate reports to align with organisational expectations while protecting their job security.
The findings highlight systemic issues, including punitive organisational cultures, linguistic barriers, and continuous professional evaluations, which normalise deceptive practices and compromise SMS's efficacy. Conversely, pilots in supportive environments with secure employment generally demonstrate transparent reporting when prioritising psychological safety. 
The study finds that simplifying SMS frameworks, promoting supportive organisations, and aligning employment practices with human-centred design can help mitigate these challenges. Addressing systemic and individual psychological mechanisms, this research offers actionable insights to enhance safety reporting and organisational learning in aviation and other safety-critical industries.}},
  author       = {{Montgomery, Morgan Cameron}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{The Normalisation of Deception: Exploring Reporting Behaviours in Atypical Aviation Pilot Employment}},
  year         = {{2025}},
}