Insufficient safety capability among general aviation practitioners: Evidence from Chinese accident data

• Published in: Safety science Vol. 180; p. 106655
• Main Authors: Lyu, Qian, Fu, Gui, Wang, Yuxin, Ban, Duo, Wu, Zhirong, Xie, Xuecai
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.12.2024
• Subjects: 24Model; General aviation safety; Grounded theory method; Human factors; Safety capability; 24Model; Safety capability; General aviation safety; Human factors; Grounded theory method
• ISSN: 0925-7535
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ssci.2024.106655

•Practitioners’ safety capability is an essential component of aviation safety resilience.•General aviation accidents from China were analyzed by applying 24Model and Grounded theory.•Insufficient safety capability factors were categorized into five core categories and fifteen main categories.•The study provides implications for safety education and training to enhance general aviation safety. The rapid development of China’s general aviation (GA) industry has brought about an increase in safety risks and accidents. Despite extensive investigations into these accidents, the factors related to the safety capability (SC) of practitioners have been largely overlooked, resulting in a lack of targeted safety education and training policies. Hence, this study aims to investigate the characteristics of practitioners’ SC deficiencies in the GA industry. Data for this study were sourced from GA accident reports in China from 2018 to 2022. First, the reports were identified and encoded to extract relevant concepts and categories based on grounded theory. Second, the 24Model was used to classify these categories. After that, the relationship between the core category and the main category was delineated according to the accident scenarios. This comprehensive study has resulted in the development of a SC conceptual framework comprising five core categories and fifteen main categories. In addition, the correspondence between flight tasks, practitioners, and SC factors and the relationship between cases and SC factors are revealed. The findings underscore that insufficient theoretical knowledge and a lack of risk awareness, particularly among pilots, emerge as pivotal SC factors contributing to GA accidents, especially during flight training. In summary, this study introduces a framework that advances our comprehension of SC deficiencies among GA practitioners and offers valuable insights for the enhancement of GA safety through safety education and training. Additionally, it offers guidance to stakeholders in formulating the most effective strategies for cultivating SC.