Aviation security culture: An application on Turkish aviation industry

The aviation industry has developed and changed in various aspects since its early years. The most important change element that has emerged in recent years is human. As a part of the security culture, human element can be effective at all stages of operational processes. For this purpose, an evaluation was made on Schein's Organizational Culture Model and the security culture in the Turkish aviation industry. Data collected through the questionnaire for research were divided into three main factors based on the theory, "Management System, Leader Behaviours, and Employee Behaviours", with Structural Equation Modelling. The questionnaire was obtained by adapting the scale developed by the IAEA into Turkish and aviation industry. Data were collected by using a 5-point Likert-type scale, online and physical survey method. In conclusion, with the analysis of established model, it was observed that the model remained within fit values and determined that three main factors predicted final element, security culture, at a significant level. Since different levels of factor loadings are obtained, security culture is explained by these factors at different levels. Result obtained only expresses factor loadings to the security culture and contribution levels in creating security culture. In this respect, the research is important in terms of revealing the factors that constitute security culture in the Turkish aviation industry, its deficiencies and which ones need to be developed, determining whether the factors that form the security culture are valid in practice and determining explanation levels, and adapting the scale used to Turkish and aviation. Keywords: Aviation Industry, Aviation Security, Security Culture, Aviation Security Culture