Advancing Aviation Safety: Strategies for Risk Management, Knowledge Transfer, and Global Cooperation

Dominik Zgieb, Director of Aviation Operations Safety Bureau, Polish Airports S.A.

Dominik Zgieb is an expert and advisor specializing in airport management, civil aviation safety, operations, regulations, certification, and risk management. He began his aviation career in 2008 at the Polish Airports State Enterprise. Dominik holds a Master of Science in Engineering in Transport from the Warsaw University of Technology and has completed postgraduate studies in Cybersecurity Management as well as Management and Financing in the Air Transport Sector. He has also participated in numerous aviation-related training courses to continuously enhance his skills and regularly speaks at industry conferences.

Professional Background and Current Role

I have 17 years of experience in aviation, including eight years in managerial positions. I have held different roles in areas related to airport operations, training, compliance monitoring, and safety management. I have advised on and implemented safety management systems as an independent expert in different companies.

From 2017 to 2024, I served as Safety Manager at Chopin Airport, Zielona Góra – Babimost Airport, and Warsaw – Radom Airport. Currently, I serve as Director of the Aviation Operations Safety Bureau at Warsaw Chopin Airport—Poland’s largest airport and one of the biggest airports and a key hub in Central and Eastern Europe. IATA forecasts predict that Chopin Airport will handle 23,9 million passengers in 2025.

The primary responsibility of this bureau is to ensure the safety of Chopin Airport by managing assigned resources in accordance with aviation law and operational standards. The bureau I lead employs over 250 people and includes teams responsible for airport rescue and firefighting services, airport medical rescue, duty officers, operational supervision, safety analysis, operational analysis, aviation documentation, change management, aviation data, wildlife hazard management, and aviation obstacles handling.

Addressing the Aviation Industry’s Growing Skills Gap

To effectively manage the growing competency gap caused by the retirement of experienced specialists, it is crucial to implement strategies that ensure the smooth transfer of knowledge to younger generations. Aviation organizations should establish partnerships with universities to develop study programs that meet market demands. These programs should integrate theoretical knowledge with practical experience and cover topics such as emerging technologies, aviation safety, sustainability, and management.

Internship and apprenticeship programs are essential for bridging the gap between academic education and industry requirements. Encouraging experienced professionals to take on mentoring roles can also facilitate knowledge transfer. Organizations should implement formal mentoring programs where senior employees pass on technical knowledge and practical skills. Informal mentorship, workshops, and direct exchanges between experienced and younger professionals can further enhance this process.

Supporting continuous professional development through dedicated training, courses, and workshops is vital. Organizations should foster a culture where knowledge sharing is an integral part of operations. Regular meetings, internal conferences, and online platforms for knowledge exchange can help institutionalize this culture within aviation organizations.

Shifting from Compliance-Based to Risk-Based Safety Models

Aviation organizations should focus more on risk management, as the industry is subject to numerous variables and unpredictable factors that can impact safety, operational efficiency, and financial stability. Making decisions based on robust risk management enables the early identification of potential threats—both operational and technological—and the development of strategies to mitigate them.

Investing in modern technologies— such as blockchain, artificial intelligence, and big data analytics— can enhance data exchange, risk prediction, and global cooperation in aviation safety.

Threat identification and risk assessment should be integrated into all organizational processes, particularly event analysis, change management, and compliance monitoring. Systematic risk assessment allows for the early detection of issues and the implementation of preventive actions that minimize the likelihood of undesirable outcomes.

Risk management in aviation encompasses activities such as risk analysis, assessment of potential consequences, and the implementation of appropriate preventive procedures. Aviation organizations should deploy risk monitoring and assessment systems to respond swiftly to unexpected situations. Moreover, strategic decisions— such as technology selection, new service development, or organizational restructuring—should be guided by risk analysis to minimize potential losses.

A Embedding a risk management culture into daily operations helps build trust among employees and customers. Regular training, exercises, and case studies enhance preparedness for crises and promote continuous improvement and resilience.

Strengthening Cross-Border Cooperation in Aviation Safety

Aviation industry leaders should support the creation of platforms that enable the rapid and efficient sharing of safety data among international organizations (such as ICAO, IATA, EASA, and ACI) and national aviation authorities. These platforms should provide easy access to anonymized data on incidents, risk analyses, and best practices, facilitating quicker threat identification and prevention.

Investing in modern technologies—such as blockchain, artificial intelligence, and big data analytics—can enhance data exchange, risk prediction, and global cooperation in aviation safety.

Furthermore, joint training and educational programs on an international level can help unify safety protocols and best practices. Industry leaders should endorse initiatives that foster knowledge exchange and the practical application of the “just culture” principle, which promotes openness in reporting incidents without penalizing employees for unintentional mistakes. This approach aids in understanding incident causes, implementing preventive measures, and encouraging broader safety data sharing.

Strengthening Safety Protocols for the Next Decade

Integrating a risk management-based approach and the just culture principle into the daily operations of an organization is essential. Risk management should form the foundation of all decision-making processes in aviation organizations.

A key element of this strategy is fostering a culture of responsibility (a just culture) that encourages open reporting of incidents and transparent sharing of safety data, while ensuring that employees are not penalized for mistakes that were not the result of intentional negligence. This approach builds the trust necessary for the continuous improvement of safety systems.

In conclusion, creating an organizational culture that emphasizes responsibility, transparency, and continuous enhancement of risk management—and leveraging modern technologies to support global cooperation—will be crucial for strengthening safety protocols in the coming decade.