Civil Aviation Management and Flight Safety in Uganda

Abstract

This study examined how civil aviation management influences flight safety in Uganda. Civil aviation management was conceptualised and limited to planning, organising and controlling functions of the Scientific Management Theory. The contextual scope was limited to Flight Safety, excluding Communication Navigation Surveillance (CNS); Air Traffic Management (ATM); and Airport Safety which are also major dimensions of civil aviation management. It was a cross- sectional survey in design; and it adopted triangulation of qualitative and quantitative research methodologies, techniques and strategies. The study used primary and secondary data collection methods; and it had a response rate of 86%. Descriptive, correlation and multiple regression statistical analysis methods were employed to analyse the data. A multiple regression analysis model summary result of .996 R Square indicated that flight safety is explained by civil aviation management to a magnitude of 99.6%; the coefficient results indicated that civil aviation management accounts for 98.6% of variance in flight safety. Civil aviation planning function account for 32.7% variance; organising functions account for 45.7%; while controlling functions account for 20.2%. It was observed from the study findings and analysis results, that flight safety is almost 100% dependent on the effectiveness of the civil aviation management system in place. It was therefore recommended that; Uganda’s civil management system and regulations should be kept compliant and updated with international standards all the time. The State Safety Program (SSP) requirements should be issued and the Safety Management System (SMS) mandatory implementation enforced, in order to promote pro-active and predictive safety management to minimise civil aircraft major incidents and accidents.