The Impact of Human Factors on the Safety of Airport Ground Operations

Abstract

This paper provides an extensive overview of the contribution of human factors in airport ground operations safety. The movement area, one of the most critical areas of the airside, is prone to risks and threats related to human action or inaction, which can lead to an aviation accident. Acknowledging the natural human tendency to err and the impossibility of eliminating it entirely, the aviation sector faces enormous challenges in reducing this factor.

The aim of this research was two-fold:

• First, to provide a general overview of the human factors concept;
• Second, to illustrate the importance of human factors as a contributing factor in aviation accidents, specifically in the context of airport ground operations.

In trying to achieve this objective, the research employed a case study method, investigating a myriad of aviation accidents so as to elucidate the human factors implicated within such accidents. The problem focus of the study was outlined as follows: What is the implication of human factors within airport ground operations? To address this research question, a comprehensive research methodology was employed, drawing on an expansive array of methodologies. The methods applied were analysis and synthesis, extensive review of past literature, abstraction, observation, and inference. The findings derived are presented in the conclusion section.