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Abstract

This study was driven by four specific objectives, which are to examine the state of Nigeria aviation industry towards the IASA-FAA category 1 safety status attained in 2010, evaluate the trend of aircraft accidents/incidents and casualties’ in Nigerian airspace between 1983 and 2013, attempt quantifying the role of human error on accidents data using the HFACS framework, and evaluate the effects of aircraft accidents in Nigeria aviation industry. To achieve these, a constructionist perspective was held and multiple approaches were adopted including robust literature review and secondary data analysis to deal with the research questions and hypotheses raised. A total of 194 accident/incident records covering the study period 1983-2013 were utilised for the empirical analysis.

Towards the attainment of the IASA-FAA category 1 safety status, the assessment revealed that intensive infrastructural and policy inputs were made on the Nigeria aviation sector and the attained status promises positive socio-economic value. Empirical analysis of data suggests that while commercial aviation is responsible for more than half of the casualty rate, a significant decline in the number of accidents/incidents in Nigeria airspace was indicated. Human factor involvement in aircraft accidents as generally acclaimed was vindicated in this study. Human casual factor at the category of unsafe acts of the operator was observed in more than 70% of the times, and was significantly higher in commercial aviation operations. Therefore the effects of aircraft accidents on aviation industry in Nigeria most significantly affected the commercial aviation operations like many other countries in the world. Findings from this study can be a useful guide to improving the overall safety performance of Nigeria’s aviation industry.

Recommendations on human capacity development and exploitation of the HFACS framework is indeed necessary to further improve safety status and align Nigeria’s aviation operation with international best practices.

Publication Type:	Thesis (Masters)
Subjects:	T Technology > TL Motor vehicles. Aeronautics. Astronautics
Departments:	School of Science & Technology > Engineering Doctoral Theses School of Science & Technology > School of Science & Technology Doctoral Theses

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