International Journal of Aviation Research

A Maintenance Repair and Overhaul Model for Operational Sustainability:

2025-10-19T07:39:17+00:00

Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) companies are integral to the aviation industry, with the core responsibility of ensuring aircraft remain safe and airworthy. Their role is critical in maintaining the industry’s high standards of performance and safety. To remain competitive, MROs must provide a wide range of services—including inspections, periodic checks, engine overhauls, avionics repairs, fuselage and cabin modifications, and interior refurbishments—while consistently meeting regulatory and safety requirements. Beyond technical compliance, MROs must adopt a quality-driven, continuous improvement approach to manage risks effectively. This requires the integration of processes, programs, and systems aligned with international standards to strengthen resilience, build organizational reputation, and achieve long-term sustainability. This study develops a theoretical model for operational sustainability in MROs. Using a qualitative methodology, it examines critical industry hazards and risk management practices, analyzes mitigation strategies, and promotes sustainability principles as essential components of MRO operations.

The Triad of Situational Awareness Framework

2025-10-19T07:41:26+00:00

Threat and Error Management (TEM) is a foundational concept in aviation safety, emphasizing proactive identification and mitigation of operational threats and human errors. Central to effective TEM is situational awareness (SA), which enables pilots to perceive, comprehend, and project critical information in dynamic flight environments. Despite extensive research on SA, gaps remain in categorizing the specific types of awareness necessary for comprehensive threat and error management. This study introduces the Triad of Situational Awareness Framework (TSAF), which categorizes situational awareness into three interrelated dimensions: self-awareness, system awareness, and environmental awareness. Using a qualitative Comparative Case Analysis approach, the study examines the crashes of Colgan Air Flight 3407 and Trans-Colorado Flight 2286 to explore how breakdowns in these dimensions contributed to accidents. Findings indicate that lapses in any TSAF dimension can cascade into complete situational awareness failure, compromising a pilot’s ability to recognize threats and mitigate errors. Self-awareness deficits, including fatigue and impaired proficiency, system awareness lapses such as delayed instrument monitoring, and environmental awareness failures, including misperception of weather or terrain, were all critical factors. The study demonstrates that integrating TSAF into pilot training and operational practices can enhance threat and error management, improve decision-making, and reduce the risk of aviation accidents

Bridging the Gap

2025-10-19T07:43:41+00:00

The Organization of Black Aerospace Professionals (OBAP) plays a pivotal role in addressing the longstanding racial and gender disparities within the U.S. aviation/aerospace workforce. Despite industry growth and increased demand for talent, Black Americans remain significantly underrepresented across most aviation professions. This position paper explores OBAP’s function as an equity intermediary—an entity that bridges gaps in access, exposure, and opportunity for minoritized individuals, particularly Black Americans. To accomplish this the paper takes three positions: (1) OBAP plays a key role in the recruitment/retention of minoritized individuals—particularly Black Americans—in the aviation/aerospace industry; (2). OBAP’s programs, namely, EA, ACE, and SFA may increase the participation rates of minoritized individuals in aviation/aerospace because of the exposure, access, and education the programs provide; and (3) OBAP can aid in the aviation/aerospace industry diversification by providing a population that has existed “in plain sight” for years, but has been overlooked historically. By drawing upon scholarship in public administration, STEM education, social equity, and nonprofits, the manuscript outlines certain barriers to entry and offers critical insight for organizational leaders wanting to move the needle. Ultimately, this manuscript contributes to both academic and practitioner discourses by advocating for greater acknowledgment, support, and measurement of minority-serving nonprofits like OBAP, whose efforts remain essential to redressing inequities in STEM-related fields and ensuring a more inclusive future for aviation/aerospace professionals.

Turbulence in the Mind

2025-10-19T07:50:34+00:00

This literature review sought to identify key mental health challenges faced by aviation/aerospace professionals, particularly those from minoritized backgrounds. The review examines the current landscape of mental health in the U.S. as well as the aviation/aerospace industry and finds that mental health conditions have increased drastically. Historically, mental health has been heavily stigmatized, but societal shifts are taking place that encourage more open communication on the topic. In the aviation/aerospace industry, however, the shift is slower, and aviation/aerospace professionals, especially professional pilots, note barriers such as lack of resources and fear of losing their medical certificate, and thus the ability to fly, as reasons they do not seek or receive treatment. This trend is especially concerning for BIPOC aviation/aerospace professionals as BIPOC communities tend to have lower access to resources despite facing compounded hardships. Recommendations for future research include alternative forms of mental health care and studying mental health trends across BIPOC populations. Lastly, this review outlines calls-to-action that are centered around theory, policy and practice. This literature review underscores the importance of modernizing the approach to mental wellness for aviation/aerospace professionals, specifically those working as professional pilots, and increasing access to mental health resources that do not jeopardize their ability to maintain medical certificates while still receiving the support needed to mitigate, manage, and/or overcome their mental health challenges.

Applying Bandura’s Reciprocal Causation Model to Safety Climate in U.S. Aviation MROs

2025-10-19T07:56:09+00:00

This study investigates the application of Bandura’s (1977) Reciprocal Causation Model—comprised of Environment, Person, and Behavior—to safety climate in U.S.-based civilian aviation Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) organizations. Drawing from Social Cognitive Theory, the model asserts that human behavior results from dynamic and continuous interaction between personal factors, environmental conditions, and behavior itself. Using a quantitative explanatory correlational design, the study collected data from 134 MRO employees via validated instruments. The Maintenance Environment Survey (MES) and the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ). Statistical analyses, including MANOVA and multiple regression, confirmed that each of the three domains significantly influenced the others in both directions. A strong safety climate (Environment) reduced psychological strain (Person) and maintenance errors (Behavior), while elevated stress levels and error rates negatively impacted safety perceptions. These findings affirm the theoretical strength of Bandura’s model and provide practical insights for developing holistic safety management strategies in high-risk work environments.

Integrating Sustainability into Aviation Training

2025-10-19T07:58:34+00:00

This paper is part of a broader research project aimed at identifying the most appropriate training materials, formats, and delivery methods for aviation sustainability content for future aviation professionals, starting from the early stages of their training. The current paper presents the data analysis and results of a short online survey targeting aviation professionals. Specifically, it provides preliminary data on sustainability perspectives from global aviation professionals. Through qualitative analysis, the creation of a baseline from a random sample of aviation professionals offers insight into their perspectives and how they could be influenced toward a more sustainable pathway. Additionally, the paper presents a Cramér's V statistical test to examine the association between aviation professions and responses on sustainability. The aim of this paper is to analyze current attitudes toward sustainability among aviation professionals and to explore how they can be better prepared and informed about emerging topics like sustainability.

Understanding how Collaborative Communication and Competence-Based Educational Training Influence Runway Incursions

2025-10-19T08:00:10+00:00

The surge in air traffic caused by an increase in the number of people using the airports and cargo freights necessitates safety measures to reduce incidents and accidents with negative effects such as loss of lives, property damage, and economic implications. Runway incursions are among the incidents that negatively impact aviation safety. Several measures have been implemented to curb the runway incursions which have resulted in budget overruns. Therefore, the aim of the study was to understand how collaborative communication and competence-based educational training influence runway incursions. The research questions that guided the study are: (1) How does collaborative communication among aviation personnel influence mitigating runway incursion events? and (2) How does competence-based educational training influence safety by reducing runway incursions? Data were collected using interviews and focus groups from pilots, certified flight instructors, professors, and ground personnel. The thematic analysis performed resulted in identifying three themes: (a) Sharing safety strategies, (b) promotes coordinated ground operations, and (c) increases situational awareness. Collaborative communication among aviation personnel influence mitigating runway incursion events by supporting sharing safety strategies and promoting coordinated ground operations. Competence-based educational training promotes aviation personnels’ situational awareness, which influences runway incursions. Accordingly, collaborative communication and competence-based educational training are essential in managing runway incursions.