A Whitepaper
BEYOND TURBULENCE:
Shifting the airline safety paradigm
In the competitive aviation industry, safety has traditionally been viewed through the narrow lens of physical security. However, as societal expectations evolve, there is an urgent need to expand this concept to include psychological and emotional well-being. This whitepaper highlights the critical need for airlines to shift their safety paradigms, focusing on often-overlooked issues like psychological and sexual safety, particularly through the experiences of women facing assault and harassment—a disturbingly common occurrence on public transportation, including airplanes in India.
At Starlight Effect, we've drawn inspiration from Erving Goffman’s Dramaturgical Theory to create a unique framework that reimagines the corporate arena as a stage. This framework replaces a single, limited narrative with three interconnected narratives that offer a multi-perspective analysis, adaptable to business needs.
This whitepaper introduces these three narratives to help airlines shift their paradigm of care and safety:
Frontstage Narrative: Focuses on visible actions that airlines take in response to incidents, emphasizing compassionate and effective handling to mitigate trauma and ensure passenger safety.
Backstage Narrative: Involves creating robust prevention systems, integrating safety protocols into every aspect of the passenger journey, and designing environments that promote respect and psychological comfort.
Offstage Narrative: Addresses foundational shifts in attitudes, behaviors, and cultural norms within the airline industry and society, fostering long-term change and embedding these values into the brand’s identity.
By exploring these narratives, the paper advocates for a redefined approach to safety that not only protects passengers physically but also prioritizes their emotional and psychological needs. It calls for a holistic, integrated approach to passenger care, aiming to foster trust, loyalty, and a stronger brand identity.
Ultimately, this whitepaper serves as both a critique of the current state of airline safety and a call to action for industry leaders. It urges them to lead in creating safer, more inclusive environments that recognize and protect the value of psychological comfort, positioning themselves as forward-thinking and responsible leaders in the industry.
