Aviation Maintenance Technician Decision-Making

Aircraft accidents caused by human decision-making errors cause property loss and fatalities on a global scale in the aviation industry. Aviation repair technician decision-making perceptions influence aviation safety. The purpose of transcendental phenomenological study was to explore the lived experiences of aviation repair technicians related to decision-making perceptions regarding aviation safety. The central research question and sub-question focused on the lived experiences of repair technicians’ decision-making perceptions. The naturalistic decision-making framework, decision theories, and decision-making models comprised the lens to assess the impact of aviation maintenance technician decision-making perceptions in aviation safety. Data were collected using semistructured interviews with 12 aviation repair technicians in a maintenance repair and overhaul facility. Transcribed interviews were coded and thematically analyzed. Five themes emerged: decision-making experience, decision-making application, importance of decision-making, technician job experience, and decision-making influence. Four subthemes also emerged: situational awareness, aviation hazards, aviation safety, and personal safety. Recommendations for future studies include conducting the study in aviation repair facilities abroad and specifically targeting female aviation technicians for comparison and studying the effectiveness of current training and safety programs. Aviation leadership and federal agencies can use the findings of this study to create social change at policy and organizational levels to mitigate accidents, aircraft damage, and personnel injuries