ABSTRACTAviation safety is a crucial concern from the ground preparation itself since many factors are associated with flight operations rather than the phases of flight. In this context, proper maintenance of runways could not be neglected at any cost when ensuring aviation safety considerations. To ascertain the same, validated runway monitoring mechanisms are required, since such mechanisms would provide insights for the decision-makers at strategic levels to visualize the concerns through monitored trends. SLAF, being the sole military aviation arm of the country, plays a pivotal role in this context as it maintains many domestic runways that are being used for military as well as domestic air transportation and flying-training purposes. Thus, this study aims to identify the effectiveness of present runway condition monitoring mechanisms in SLAF in order to identify the prevailing gaps. A qualitative study is carried out with Ops Air branch officers who perform duties as Senior Air Traffic Controlling Officers (SATCO) in SLAF establishments considered as the sample of the study. Further, the interviews conducted with their participation were considered primary data. A thematic analysis is conducted with the use of primary and secondary data to evaluate available measures within SLAF, giving more prominence to technological aspects based on findings. In this context, it was identified that available mechanisms are comparatively lesser effective when considered with the available measures in the global context. Thus, applicable improvements are suggested to enable proactive management of Air Force assets and operations emphasizing the integration of technology for smart initiatives in SLAF.
Chathura Deweniguruge (Mon,) studied this question.