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Embry‑Riddle Aeronautical University researchers have analyzed a century's worth of aviation safety and human factors research and found new directions for the fields.

Mining more than 1,600 studies published between 1937 and 2023, the researchers used advanced analytical tools to identify global research trends, collaborations and knowledge gaps.

“When I realized there hadn’t been any bibliometric study of aviation safety and aviation human factors, I saw an opportunity to fill that gap and contribute something meaningful,” said Safety Science graduate Elizabeth Amorkor Okine, who led the study. “It’s a great feeling to know that something you worked so hard on will be used by others in the field.”

The human factors field — the study of how people interact with machines, environments and procedures — has become a cornerstone of aviation safety.

By reviewing decades of Federal Aviation Administration and international accident data, the researchers confirmed that human error remains the dominant factor in aviation accidents — responsible for roughly half of commercial airline crashes and nearly three-quarters of general aviation accidents in recent years.

The most studied human factors issues include fatigue, situational awareness, workload, ergonomics, automation and stress, while studies of maintenance, air traffic control and ramp operations remain limited, the researchers found.

“Despite remarkable technological progress, human error continues to dominate as the leading cause of aviation accidents,” said Dr. Esmaeil Zarei, associate professor of Safety Science. “This study reinforces the urgency of moving beyond a narrow focus on individual error toward systemic, human-centered solutions.”

Okine was mentored by Zarei and Professor Brian Roggow, chair fof the Department of Safety Sciences. The study was published last year in the  and in .

From Data to Direction

For Okine, the project was both technically demanding and deeply rewarding. She spent months reviewing thousands of studies, refining search criteria and verifying data quality.

“Every dataset tells a story,” Okine said. “When carefully analyzed, it can reshape how we understand and improve aviation safety.”

Her mentors said that persistence turned intellectual insights into a clear roadmap for the global aviation community.

“Elizabeth has epitomized the essence of student scholarship,” Roggow said. “She has demonstrated excellence and persistence in executing a robust examination of the literature, while identifying gaps for future endeavors.”

The researchers also compared aviation research with other complex, safety-driven industries, such as nuclear energy and chemical processing. They found aviation still lags behind in building comprehensive databases and predictive models to prevent human error.

The paper highlights three emerging branches of aviation safety.

First, the use of artificial intelligence and machine learning to anticipate potential risks before they occur.

Second, the employment of resilience engineering to identify how aircraft systems continue to perform under stress.

Finally, the need for a systems-thinking approach that looks at a holistic view of safety, connecting the people, procedures and technology that shape it.

A Decade of Safety and Scholarship

The study reflects the work and research at Robertson Safety Institute (RSI), which is celebrating its 10th anniversary during the 2025-’26 academic year.

Founded in 2015 through the vision of former Prescott Campus Chancellor Frank Ayers and aviation safety pioneer Dr. S. Harry Robertson, the institure was created to strengthen safety education within Embry‑Riddle and beyond.

Over the past decade, the institute has grown into a hub for  and applied research. Its courses — such as advanced aircraft accident investigation and crash survivability analysis — and custom programs draw professionals from around the world seeking to sharpen investigative and risk management skills.

Through collaborations with the Boeing Center for Aviation and Aerospace Safety at Embry‑Riddle, the institute bridges research and practice, providing students with access to hands-on investigation labs and real-world learning experiences.

Safer Skies Ahead

As aviation enters an era of advanced propulsion systems, autonomous systems and new types of aircraft, understanding the human element will be more important than ever. The Robertson Safety Institute plans to expand its mentorship of student researchers and strengthen partnerships addressing safety in these emerging technologies.

For Okine, who now works for Allegiant Air as an internal evaluation program evaluator, the project reinforced her commitment to continuous improvement.

“This experience taught me that impactful research takes patience and collaboration,” she said. “I definitely plan to keep contributing to research, especially in areas that connect human reliability, safety management and data analytics.”