Exploring the Influencing Factors of Safety Recommendations' Effectiveness in Indonesian General Aviation

Abstract

General aviation has been developed as one of the main methods of transportation in small rural aerodromes in Indonesia. Surrounded by mountainous terrain and limited equipment for flight operation, flying unpressurised aircraft with many restrictions is quite challenging and may have a high risk of accidents. The number of incidents involving general aviation has not decreased, despite the numerous safety recommendations that have been generated as a direct result of accident reports. This research aims to identify the factors affecting the effectiveness of safety recommendations related to accidents and serious incidents of general aviation in Indonesia. Ten participants from the investigation agency, safety authority, and airline operators participated in semi-structured interviews. The interviews were transcribed and analyzed using the Grounded Theory approach. The findings revealed that three main considerations used in formulating safety recommendations following an investigation in Indonesia; to improve safety, to ensure comprehension, and to be accepted and implemented by addressees. In addition, in accepting and implementing safety recommendations, recipients consider organizational internal processes, decent communication towards addressees, enforcement and penalties, investigation processes and results, and the characteristics of the safety recommendation itself. It is suggested that installation of a monitoring and follow-up system to analyze the measurability and applicability of proposed actions.