Measuring under-reporting tendency in aviation: Development and validation of the aviation under-reporting scale - Hellenic version (AURS-H)

Under-reporting remains a persistent challenge in aviation safety, as pilots may withhold information about incidents, fatigue, and medical issues for various reasons. Although widely studied internationally, the existing literature has largely examined individual reporting domains or specific pilot groups, leaving a gap in the integrated assessment of under-reporting across different aviation populations. This study developed and validated the Aviation Under-Reporting Scale – Hellenic version (AURS-H), the first instrument to systematically measure Greek pilots' under-reporting tendency across incident, fatigue, and medical domains. Building on a prior qualitative study, items were generated and refined through confirmatory factor analysis on a sample of ( N = 676) military, commercial, and general aviation pilots, representing a previously unexamined EASA-regulated pilot population. The final 23-item scale demonstrated adequate model fit within a three-factor structure, with measurement invariance confirmed across pilot groups. Results revealed that risk-related concerns, particularly those associated with medical reporting, constitute the most significant barriers, whereas inconvenience-related obstacles and lack of motivation were less influential. The AURS-H extends existing approaches by providing a multidimensional instrument applicable across pilot groups and reporting domains, while also enabling systematic comparison within an EASA-regulated context. Based on the results, targeted managerial interventions and long-term organizational strategies are proposed to mitigate under-reporting, foster trust, and promote a Just Culture. Beyond its national significance, the scale provides opportunities for cross-cultural adaptation and replication, contributing to broader European and global aviation safety strategies.