The effects of digitalization on human factors, safety, and decision making in aviation operations: A systematic review

The growing use of automation, digital interfaces, data-driven decision-support systems, and artificial intelligence has significantly transformed aviation operations and reshaped human–machine interaction. Although digitalization is often associated with efficiency, standardization, and error reduction, its effects on human performance, decision-making, and safety are not one-dimensional. In some contexts, digital systems support operators and improve operational reliability, while in others they may reduce active human involvement, weaken situational awareness, and increase overreliance. This study systematically reviews the literature on the effects of digitalization on human factors, safety, and decision-making in aviation operations. The review was conducted in accordance with the PRISMA 2020 framework. A total of 485 records were identified through Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar, and 25 studies were included in the final analysis after a multi-stage screening process. The selected studies were examined through a theoretically guided narrative synthesis, focusing on workload, situational awareness, trust in automation, decision-support systems, and safety-related outcomes. The findings show that digitalization has a dual and context-dependent impact on human performance. While digital systems can reduce workload, improve decision speed, and increase consistency in routine tasks, they may also create new risks in highly automated environments. Recent post-2018 studies further indicate a shift from classical automation toward AI-enabled and data-driven systems, where model transparency, data quality, explainability, trust calibration, and organizational oversight have become central concerns. Overall, digitalization alone does not guarantee safer aviation operations; safety depends on the balanced integration of human, technological, and organizational elements.