AN APPRAISAL OF THE LEGAL, OPERATIONAL AND REGULATORY INTERVENTIONS IN THE CONTROL AND PREVENTION OF CONTROLLED FLIGHT INTO TERRAIN (CFIT) IN CIVIL AVIATION OPERATIONS

Aviation accident reports worldwide have identified a list of causative factors as leading causes thereto. One of such factors is Controlled Flight into Terrain (CFIT). CFIT as one of the causes of aviation accidents is relatively unknown to non‐aviators. Irrespective of this obscurity, CFIT remains a major cause of aviation accidents globally as evident in aviation investigation reports. However, the preceding two decades have witnessed rapid technological advancements which have evolved in the aviation industry to aid pilots’ (crews) situational awareness in the course of navigation. These advances have contributed greatly, leading to a dramatic reduction in the global statistics of General Aviation (GA) Controlled Flight into Terrain (CFIT) accidents and incidents. Albeit, CFIT has continued to occur in the aviation industry, it is gratifying to notice a geometric decline in statistics thereof. This paper, cognisant of the foregoing, discusses the concept of CFIT as a causative factor in accidents in the aviation industry. This is with a view to advancing the study of CFIT as one of the causes of aviation accidents. The paper examines the causes of CFIT, paying particular attention to consequential contributory factors and measures of control especially technological, regulatory and legal interventions. The paper undertakes an assessment of CFIT vis‐à‐vis crew operational challenges. The paper also proffers measures aimed at averting controlled flight into terrain. The paper finds that there are various reasons why CFIT occur, but mostly as a result of loss of situational awareness by the crew.