‘Complacency or a false sense of security should not be allowed to develop as a result of long periods without an accident or serious incident. An organization with a good safety record is not necessarily a safe organization.”

-International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO Doc 9422, 1984)

 The revolutionary invention of the Wright Flyer (sometimes referred to as the Kitty Hawk Flyer)-the first manned aircraft by Wilbur and Orville Right in 1903 has the concept of utilizing airspace by humankind. Along with the exploitation of third dimension-the airspace, aviators rightly became aware of safety issues in aviation. Soon after the invention of aircraft, the world witnessed the first fatal incident in 17 September 1908 when Wright Model A aircraft crashed at Fort Myer, Virginia, USA, injuring its co-inventor and pilot, Orville Wright and killing the passenger Lieutenant Thomas Selfridge (Aviation Accidents and Incidents, 2014). The concern for aviation safety gets priority for its survival in the days to come. The aviation is an evolving science. The people involved in aviation are ever exposed to hazardous conditions due to its unique characteristics. The concept of airspace management is to minimise reason or condition that may lead to unsafe situation (ICAO Document 9858, 2003). We often find people reluctant to follow a positive safety culture and invite unnecessary danger. Aviation accidents or incidents are occurring not because of wrongly formulated procedures or malfunctioning of equipment, or inadequate training, rather it is happening mainly due to not practicing of positive safety culture. An attempt has been made in this research to find out the reasons behind aviation hazards and verify that practicing of positive safety culture enhance safety level of airspace management. 

Background of the Study The safety has always been the most important aspect in all aviation activities. Safety is the state in which the risk of injury to persons or of properties is reduced to, and maintained at or below an acceptable level through a continuing process of hazard identification and risk management (ICAO Doc 9859, 2006). The overall safety objective in aviation is to ensure that a safe, secure and efficient air navigation system is available at all levels of operations. We must acknowledge that ‘perfect safety environment’ in aviation is an unachievable aspiration. The failures, omissions and errors may still occur in spite of the best endeavours to avoid them. It is not possible to completely eliminate the likelihood of harm or damage; but it is obviously possible to control the processes, or events, or reasons which could lead to hazardous situation. Such perception and endeavour in aviation environment is termed as the positive safety culture. Airspace management community is formed by people, technology and procedures (ICAO Document 9858, 2003). We cannot deny any one aspect of this unique triangle. All the participants in aviation have to perform and contribute for achieving aviation safety. Therefore, an integrated approach by all three components of airspace management community is desirable for achieving the desirable level of safety. 

It is the responsibility of the State (s) concerned to determine the acceptable level of safety. The state(s) is to implement the safety management system and safety programme for achieving such desired safety level. International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) formulates the Universal Safety Oversight Programme, which is to be observed by different contracting states.

If we want to achieve a safer environment in aviation, we need to promote and establish a positive safety culture. A positive safety culture intends to create an environment where the intention is to achieve the greater safety objectives, rather than taking punitive measures. The objective of positive safety culture is that the same hazardous‘ incident/accident never happens in aviation for the same reason again in future.  

Research Problem The desired level of safety in aviation is achieved by integrated contribution of the main three elements of aviation community: people, technology and procedures. The main reason for safety hazard may be due to absence of implementing an appropriate safety programme. Aviation incidence or accidents may occur for not appropriately complying with the procedures and instructions by the users. The existing system may not be adequate for achieving the desired level of safety in a particular organization, or within a particular airspace. Aviation safety hazard situation may also prevail because of not practicing positive safety culture by personnel involved in aviation. An endeavour has been made in this paper to find out that it is not for inappropriate system or procedures or technology; but it is mainly because of not practicing of positive safety culture by personnel involved in aviation at different levels, the desired level of safety of airspace management is not achieved. 

Objective of the Study The main and specific objectives of the study are as follows: 

a. Main Objective. The main objective of this study is to find out that non-practicing of positive safety culture by the organisation, as well as by individual involved in aviation restrain achieving the safety level of airspace management. 

b. Specific Objectives. The specific objectives are: i. To examine the existing aviation safety environment in Bangladesh. ii. To find out the specific reasons for aviation accidents and incident.

iii. To determine the availability of appropriate safety policies and procedures in aviation. 

iv. To identify the safety reporting system in aviation in Bangladesh. 

v. To discover the culture of safety management, training and decision making procedure in aviation. 

vi. To suggest a pragmatic safety management programme in aviation.   Significance of the Study The airspace is continuously becoming complex by incorporating various types of aircraft and modern sensors. Human is an important factor in aviation that includes senior management, pilots, air traffic controllers, maintenance personnel etc. Human approach to address the safety issues differs with the change of aviation environment. As a result, the significance of implementing positive safety culture is paramount in achieving the desired level of safety in aviation. The research deduction will help the senior management, the aviators, the operational personnel, the maintenance people and the policy makers formulate appropriate safety programme for their respective organisation, as well for the airspace to minimise aviation hazards, and to achieve the desired level of safety. 

After deriving information from collected data during initial studies, it was evident that there were many factors contributing to the safety level in aviation. It is found that most of the aviation incidents and accidents generally occur due to human factors, material failures and procedural mistakes. But all these factors mainly depend on organizational approach and culture to deal with safety aspects. In this context this research seeks to establish that "appropriate approach by organisation to ensure safety management, existing safety management system within the organisation and positive safety culture prevailing in the aviation organisation enable to achieve the desired level of safely in aviation."