Corporate Perceptions of Job Satisfaction And Educational Needs

Abstract

During the winter of 1986, The Ohio State University Department of Avi,ation conducted a survey of randomly selected National Business Aircraft Association members. The survey served two explicit purposes (1) addressing the need for information to be used in the design of a course at OSU in corporate flight operations; and (2) assessing the needs of the industry for workshops and seminars in communication and management. Direct information from corporate flight departments was sought to insure that the practical concerns of the corporate pilot or flight department manager be combined with organizational communication and management strategies tailored to the specific needs of the industry. This information was gathered through a series of scaled responses, and through closed and open ended questions. Industry cooperation and support has been excellent. The questionnaire's design provides insight into the perceptions of corporate pilots and managers regarding a number of factors that pertain to their degree of job satisfaction. Public attention regarding aviation continues to focus on the airlines. Expansion, collapse, takeovers, hires, furloughs, unions, and routes all receive media attention. Primarily through the media, the general public and many prospective aviation professionals have become aware of the pilot shortage and the projected continued hires by major lines. Even among many commercial pilots the traditional goal continues to be attaining a major airlines captain slot despite the two-tier pay scales and changing benefits. The rites of passage for a non-military pilot to build experience traditionally consisted of a progression from flight instructor to Part 135 then to corporate or to regionals then to majors. Those entering the corporate market have tended to remain in it. The corporate market on the surface seems healthy. The NBAA reports an increase in member aircraft (5,547) and corporate membership (2,941) in 1985. Except for 1983, membership shows an approximate growth of 10% per year. Company loyalty is often high, although conditions in corporate flight departments are known to vary greatly. What is there about the corporate arena that allows it to retain high time experienced professionals who have one of the best safety records in the business? Is it in the best interest of the industry that corporate aviation be such a well kept secret? This study only provides an introduction to such questions. The paper examines those aspects of the OSU survey results which indicate the degree of satisfaction that survey respondent corporate managers and pilots exhibit regarding their perceptions of (1) their own company compared with other corporate flight operations; and (2) their position in their own company compared with a similar position with a major airlines. Those educational needs identified by the NBAA members as beneficial to either students soon to be operating in the corporate environment or to individuals already in the field are briefly addressed as well.