Outsourcing Aircraft Maintenance Activities of Airlines: Ascertaining the Safety Hazards

Abstract

In this study, it is aimed to ascertain potential process-specific hazards occurring as the outcomes of outsourcing in aircraft maintenance activities. In this way, it is also aimed to contribute to the aviation safety. To achieve these purposes, qualitative research design is preferred. In this context, LinkedIn, a social networking media preferred by the professionals for business purposes, is used to create a sample and collect data. A sub-discussion group is created in the Aviation Quality & Safety Information Exchange group, whose members are the subject experts in LinkedIn. The qualitative data collected from this purposeful sample are analyzed by using an inductive method. It is revealed that, with the use of outsourcing in aircraft maintenance activities, effectiveness of hierarchical control is reduced as a result of removing the maintenance activity from the airline organization hierarchy. In addition, for aviation authorities it is difficult to follow the aircraft maintenance activities which are getting more and more complicated. It is also concluded that another potential risk is aircraft maintenance activities are basically considered as a tool to reduce the costs.