Strategic Aircraft Maintenance Systems and Sustainable Competitive Advantage in Kenya’s Aviation Companies
Keywords:
Aircraft Maintenance, Safety Management Systems, Sustainable Competitive Advantage, Aviation IndustryAbstract
This study examined the influence of Strategic Aircraft Maintenance Systems (SAMS) on sustainable competitive advantage (SCA) among aviation companies in Kenya. Grounded in institutional theory and the resource-based view, the study adopted an explanatory sequential mixed-methods design. Quantitative data were collected through a census survey of 360 managers drawn from all 60 aviation companies licensed by the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA), complemented by in-depth interviews with senior managers responsible for aircraft maintenance planning, safety risk assessment, and regulatory oversight. Strategic Aircraft Maintenance Systems were operationalized through hazard identification, safety risk assessment, and maintenance turnaround time. Quantitative data were analyzed using simple linear regression, while qualitative data were analyzed thematically to provide explanatory insights. The results indicate that Strategic Aircraft Maintenance Systems have a strong and statistically significant influence on sustainable competitive advantage (β = 0.579, p < 0.001), explaining 35.8% of the variance in competitive outcomes (R² = 0.358). Qualitative findings reveal that structured hazard reporting, risk-based maintenance planning, and efficient turnaround times enhance aircraft availability, operational reliability, regulatory confidence, and customer trust, thereby strengthening competitive positioning. The study concludes that aircraft maintenance systems function not merely as compliance mechanisms but as strategic organizational capabilities that enable aviation firms to achieve and sustain competitive advantage in a highly regulated operating environment, with important implications for aviation managers and policymakers.
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