The WYVERN Review

The WYVERN Review

Protecting Lives by Inspiring Excellence in Aerospace Safety

The Theory of Planned Behavior: Putting It All Together

🔑 Safe behavior doesn’t happen by chance. It occurs when attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control align. In the final part of our Theory of Planned Behavior series, we show how leaders can bring it all together to shape safer outcomes.

29
Sep

Confidence, Control, and the Choices We Make

Have you ever wanted to do the right thing, but felt the odds were stacked against you? That space between intention and action is where Perceived Behavioral Control (PBC) comes in.

22
Sep

Social Norms in Action: How Group Pressure Shapes Safety

Social norms aren’t just background noise. They quietly set the tone for what feels acceptable. Whether you’re in the flight deck, the hangar, or the office, most of us are scanning for cues: What’s everyone else doing? What’s expected here?

15
Sep

Why We Follow the Crowd (and When It Matters for Safety)

Have you ever been invited to an event where everyone else seemed to know the dress code—formal suits, elegant gowns—while you showed up in something more casual? That uneasy feeling comes from what psychologists call subjective norms—the unspoken pressure to fit in and act the way others expect.

08
Sep

Roots of Safety Attitudes: Past, Training, and Culture

In aerospace, we often say that “attitude is everything.” But where do those attitudes actually come from? And more importantly, how can organizations influence them toward safe outcomes?

02
Sep

The Power of Attitude

Ajzen described attitude toward a behavior as “the degree to which a person has a favorable or unfavorable evaluation or appraisal of the behavior in question” (Ajzen, 1991). In plain terms, it’s whether we think doing something will lead to outcomes we value.

25
Aug

The Hidden Forces Behind Behavior

Why do you decide to go for a run, recycle a bottle, or speak up in a meeting? It might feel like a spur-of-the-moment choice—but science says otherwise.

18
Aug

Heartbeats in Flight: A Real Look at Cardiovascular Risk

In aerospace, we've spent decades engineering for everything—redundancy, automation, procedural discipline. But the human element remains the most variable and arguably the most vulnerable. One risk that rarely gets front-and-

09
Jun

SPIs: Turning Safety Vision into Measurable Action

In aerospace, performance isn't just about how an aircraft flies—it's about how an organization leads.

02
Jun

Culture Is the Broth: Safety and Retention Begin Within

"If you think of safety as a stew, the culture is the broth in which the solid ingredients simmer. If the broth is rancid, the stew will be spoiled." — Dr. Steven Simon

27
May

What You Said vs. What They Heard: The Safety Gap

Global Safety Challenges: How Do We Speak the Same Language? Safety doesn't start with systems. It begins with understanding.

19
May

Mental Health in Aerospace: What We’re Still Not Talking About

At the 70th Business Aviation Safety Summit (BASS), the aerospace community faced a brutal truth: even as traditional accident rates decline, mental health-related risks are rising. From pilot suicide to chronic burnout, the dangers we don't talk about may be the ones hurting us most.

12
May

Advancing the Vision of a Healthy Safety Culture

At WYVERN, our vision is clear: Every aerospace organization has a healthy safety culture. Why? Because culture is the invisible force that shapes every decision, every action, and every outcome in aerospace. It influences how teams communicate under

05
May

Recognize, Reflect, Reengineer—Fighting Bias in Aerospace Systems

The most devastating failures in aerospace aren’t always mechanical—they’re cognitive. Human biases shape how we interpret data, make decisions, and react to anomalies. With more than 180 identified cognitive biases influencing human

28
Apr

The Hidden Hazard—Cognitive Bias in Aerospace Safety

In aerospace, we engineer redundancies, automate safeguards, and systematize risk management. Yet, one of the most persistent threats to safety doesn't come from hardware or software—it comes from human cognition.

21
Apr

CASS Knows What. SMS Knows Why.

To do that, you need more than just data—you need insight. You need systems that don't just track events but connect the dots between what's happening, why it's happening, and what to do about it.

14
Apr

The Trust Factor: How Psychological Safety Drives Team Performance

Building on our understanding of psychological safety, leaders need to implement practical strategies that nurture this environment within their teams. Research by Timothy R. Clark outlines the Four Stages of Psychological Safety, which serve as a

07
Apr

From Fear to Fearless: Building High-Performing Teams with Psychological Safety

In today's dynamic work environment, fostering psychological safety is paramount for cultivating high-performing teams. Psychological safety refers to an individual's perception of the consequences of taking interpersonal risks in a particular

31
Mar

Think Your Safety Culture Is Rock-Solid? Here’s Why You Might Be Wrong

In a recent article, former NTSB Chairman Robert Sumwalt emphasizes that cultivating a robust safety culture is an ongoing journey, not a final destination. He warns against complacency, highlighting the importance of a continuous

24
Mar

WYVERN Briefing & Debriefing Guidance: Enhancing Safety and Performance

In aerospace, the quality of pre-flight briefings and post-flight debriefings plays a critical role in ensuring safety and performance. Over time, the aerospace industry has learned from past accidents and mishaps that ineffective briefings contribute

17
Mar

Elevating Professionalism in Aerospace: Part 6 – Cultivating and Sustaining Professionalism

Professionalism in aerospace is not a one-time achievement - it’s a continuous commitment. The best aerospace professionals and organizations understand that professionalism must be cultivated, reinforced, and sustained over time. It requires

10
Mar

Elevating Professionalism in Aerospace: Part 5 – Professionalism as a Competitive Advantage

Professionalism is more than a guiding principle in aerospace - it’s a competitive advantage. Organizations that consistently demonstrate professionalism earn trust, attract business, and build long-term success. Whether it’s through superior safety

03
Mar

Elevating Professionalism in Aerospace: Part 4 – The Link Between Professionalism and Safety

Professionalism and safety in aerospace are inseparable. A culture of professionalism - both at the individual and organizational levels - directly impacts risk management, operational efficiency, and, ultimately, flight safety. It's no coincidence that the safest operators in the

24
Feb

Elevating Professionalism in Aerospace: Part 3 – Organizational Professionalism: Building a Culture of Excellence

In the aerospace industry, professionalism isn’t just an individual trait - it must also be deeply embedded in an organization’s culture. While personal professionalism is the foundation, organizational professionalism is what sustains excellence across

17
Feb

Elevating Professionalism in Aerospace: Part 2 – Personal Professionalism: The Foundation of Safety

In aerospace, professionalism is more than just a desirable trait - it’s a fundamental pillar of safety and operational success. While professionalism exists at both the individual and organizational levels, it starts with the individual. Every pilot,

10
Feb