Influences Of Human Performance Factors On The Implementation Of Safety Programs In Air Traffic Control The Case Of Kenya Civil Aviation Authority

Abstract

This study set out to establish the influence of human performance factors on the implementation of safety programs in air traffic control the case of Kenya Civil Aviation Authority. The research objectives of the study were to investigate the extent to which team work, alertness, communication skills and situation awareness affect the implementation of safety programs in air traffic control in KCAA. The target population of the study was Air Traffic Controllers and incident investigators of the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) in addition to safety oversight stake holders totaling to 210 and based in the 8 KCAA manned airports in Kenya. A sample size of 65 (derived from Yamane formula) from the target population was used to conduct the research. Data was collected using a questionnaire focusing on the research objectives. The questionnaire was constructed using structured and unstructured questions. Descriptive statistics was used as tool of evaluation in the data analysis. The findings were analyzed by mean scores, standard deviation and chi square test then presented using Tables. The study established that the four factors affected the implementation of safety programs in the organization. The study also revealed that the respondents were homogeneous in their perception to the research questions and this led to consistency in response. Findings revealed that situation awareness contributes most to incidents thereby affecting the implementation of safety programs with a mean of 4.862, and chi square test value of 196 at 95% level of significance and 4 degrees of freedom. Alertness followed closely with a mean of 4.738 and a chi square test value of 140.615 at 95% level of significance and 4 degrees of freedom. Team work was found to have a mean of 4.585 and a chi square test value of 110.923 at 95% level of significance and 4 degrees of freedom. The least yet still ranking high was communication skills with mean of 4.597 and chi square test value of 30 at 95% level of significance and 4 degrees of freedom. The study concludes that human performance factors have significant effect on the implementation of safety programs in air traffic control in KCAA. Measures need to be put in place to ensure that controllers boost their situation awareness, alertness, team work and communication skills in order to successfully implement the safety programs in place. It is recommended that more training and sensitization on the human performance factors be done and Technical Guidance Material to focus more on inclusion of these factors in aviation safety related knowledge base.