PREAMBLE
As noted in the MENASASI Bylaws, the purpose of the Society is “To promote the development and improvement of aviation or incident accident investigation”. Implicit therein is a requirement for a baseline of agreement between the Members and the Society as to what constitutes professional behavior of the Members. Indeed, under the Bylaws, the Member covenants to support provisions of the Bylaws as a prerequisite to membership in the Society.
Therefore, as an Appendix to the Bylaws, this Code of Ethics and Conduct reflects behavior expected of MENASASI Members. It has been prepared and adopted with the full realization that determination of the adherence or lack of adherence to these principles is a matter of judgment; judgment which can only be affected reasonably by peer review. Procedures governing adjudication of alleged violations of this Code are the responsibility of the Ethics and Conduct Committee as approved by the Executive Committee of the Society.
The Code has distinguished five Ethics and numerous related items of Conduct contained thereunder. Ethics are the axiomatic and aspirational major principles shown both on a separate page and as general headings in the Code of Conduct. They are broad goals towards which accident investigators “should” strive.
The Code of Conduct is phrased in “shall” terms of expected Member behavior. The items constitute minimum levels of conduct which, if violated, constitute potential grounds for disciplinary action by the Society. Such disciplinary action can include expulsion from the Society.
It is recognized that provisions of this code will not apply to all Members during the totality of their work activities. However, insofar as investigations are conducted for safety purposes, and this Code does not conflict with other codes of professional behavior, Members are expected to adhere to the MENASASI Code.
It is also recognized that operative words or phrases describing expected Member conduct are appropriate only if feasibility is assumed under the existent circumstances. Such an interpretation should be applied throughout this Code.
This Code has been adopted by the MENASASI Board. Recognizing the desirability of membership input to this Code, the Ethics and Conduct Committee shall report to the MENASASI Chair annually the receipt of any suggestions for modifications of the Code and their recommendations therefor. Thus, the membership is encouraged to communicate with the Ethics and Conduct Committee in these matters.
MENASASI CODE OF ETHICS
INTEGRITY
- Each Member should at all times conduct his activities in accordance with the high standards of integrity required of his profession.
PRINCIPLES
- Each Member should respect and adhere to the principles on which MENASASI was founded and developed, as illustrated by the Society’s Bylaws.
OBJECTIVITY
- Each Member should lend emphasis to objective determination of facts during investigations.
LOGIC
- Each Member should develop all accident cause-effect relationships meaningful to air safety based upon logical application of facts.
ACCIDENT PREVENTION
- Each member should apply facts and analyses to develop findings and recommendations that will improve aviation safety.