The Collegiate Aviation Review International

Exploring Collegiate Flight Training Students' Perceptions of Safety Culture

Carolina Anderson — 2024-02-29

As flight training organizations expand and adapt to meet the growing demands of the industry, organizational leadership and safety departments are continuing to intensively focus on aviation safety and quality assurance through the core values of safety promotion, culture, and education. A flight school's safety culture, shaped by students' risk perceptions, can predict safety behaviors. Understanding students' trust and confidence in this safety culture could potentially aid in early risk mitigation strategies. The purpose of this study was to investigate flight students' perceived safety culture at a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 141 flight training school in the Southeast region of the United States. The survey was adapted from the Safety Culture Indicator Scale Measurement System. Quantitative and qualitative data were obtained from 398 students. Confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modeling were used to test structural relationships among organizational commitment, operations interactions, formal safety indicators, and safety behaviors. Results indicated a good model fit to analyze the nine hypotheses. Two of the nine hypotheses were supported. Safety Values and Safety Personnel significantly influence perceived personal risk. The textual data analysis revealed strong student's opinions towards a medical grounding and no-show procedure initiated by the Flight Department. Additionally, themes identified students' desire to receive more communication of safety information and the language barriers present in a multi-cultural operation.

Consumer Willingness to Fly on Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) Electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing (eVTOL) Aircraft

David Ison — 2024-02-27

For any novel means of transportation to thrive, its success hinges on the willingness of prospective customers to adopt the new system. To explore consumer willingness to participate in Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) by flying on electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, an online survey of 975 individuals in the U.S. was conducted using an existing Willingness to Fly (WTF) scale designed specifically for assessing the acceptance of new aviation technologies and services. Most respondents expressed interest in flying on an eVTOL but planned to wait a few months after service starts before participating in AAM. Overall, the most frequent responses were â€œagreeâ€ and â€œstrongly agree" with being WTF in eVTOLs. The survey offered four different eVTOL flight scenarios, with respondent WTF decreasing as weather or conditions deteriorated. Images of specific eVTOL models were used to assess WTF on each aircraft type. The vehicle with the most unique type of powerplants resulted in the lowest reported WTF. The study also analyzed the WTF of flying on eVTOLs across various demographic attributes. Results showed significant differences between genders, with males having a higher average WTF score. There was a weak negative correlation between WTF and age. Married respondents had the highest WTF, followed by single persons. WTF varied significantly across types of employment, income, and educational attainment. The highest WTF scores were found in the $50,000-74,999 range, with urban respondents having higher WTF than those in suburban and rural locations. Safety and cost were the top two concerns among all levels of WTF. The combination of employment status and marital status was found to be most correlated to WTF. By comprehending the inclination of consumers to travel in eVTOL aircraft, policymakers, manufacturers, and stakeholders can garner valuable insights into market demand, consumer preferences, sustainable transportation, and environmental considerations. Identifying characteristics that support or inhibit customer acceptability can assist in overcoming resistance to adoption and lead to more effective implementation of eVTOLs. Public outreach and education may be warranted to promote familiarity and passion among potential users, increasing interest and involvement. Recommendations for future research include repeating the study with an international sample and exploring willingness to pay for AAM services.

Understanding Collegiate Flight Students' Perceptions and Realities of Depression and Anxiety

Grant Boyd — 2024-02-27

As a result of recent incidents and other circumstances, shared questions and potential problems related to mental health and aviation have surfaced within collegiate aviation programs. The purpose of this study is to provide a better understanding of collegiate aviators' attitudes towards mental health in aviation, how they manage their mental health, how these practices may transition into their flying careers, and whether the current FAA aeromedical standards are professionally written to protect these and other aviators. The researchers conducted a mixed methods study to identify a common knowledge base of collegiate flight students' perceptions and realities related to depression and anxiety. Study participants were bachelor's degree seeking flight students from University Aviation Association (UAA) member collegiate flight programs. The received responses were analysed through the perspective of four research questions. In summary, gathered responses indicated that students believe there is a perceived benefit to not disclosing or ignoring mental health and fitness issues, safeguarding their own mental health is one of their primary concerns, and there is a considerable number who would leave the aviation industry if they could no longer fly. Additionally, most students agree that change would be beneficial, as it relates to the current FAA medical certification process.

Comparison of Taxi-in and Taxi-out Times by Airport Hub Classification and Number of Hot Spots

Jiansen Wang — 2024-03-29

Taxi time has been identified as a significant factor that may affect airport capacity, congestion, fuel burn, and emissions. Reducing taxi time at airports may contribute to increasing airport efficiency and capacity, and reducing fuel consumption and emissions. In this paper, average quarter-hour taxi-time data from a sample of 33 U.S. airports was analyzed to explore the difference between taxi-out time and taxi-in time. Using parametric and non-parametric statistical tests, this research found that the mean and median taxi-out time was significantly different from the mean and median taxi-in time for each of the three airport hub classifications (small, medium, large), each of the six numbers of airport hot spots (0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5), and for each combination of hub classification and numbers of hot spots. The results of this research may provide a better understanding of taxi time at small, medium, and large hubs airports with hot spots. The results may be useful to airport managers and decision makers to improve airport efficiency when faced with competing airport improvement initiatives or projects.

Pilot Study for Cabin Crew's Willingness to Operate on Single Pilot Operations

Katherine Bell — 2024-04-04

Single pilot operations are already in place within military aircraft, small modes of commercial passenger transportation, and cargo operations. NASA, aircraft manufacturers, and airlines are collaborating on projects that birth safe and efficient single pilot operation suitable technology for commercial airliners. A stipulated number of cabin crew are required per number of passengers on commercial airliners for safety, security, and medical purposes. The purpose of this pilot study was to determine what scales are valid to assess factors that affect a cabin crew’s willingness to operate on single pilot operations. With the selection of appropriate scales, such findings could aid industry regulators, government bodies, and airlines with training programs, educational conferences, and procedural development. The pilot study surveyed members of the cabin crew population using voluntary response sampling. Cabin crew were presented with a survey that collected demographic data, affect ratings, technology acceptance model perceptions, personality traits, and willingness to operate scores. The validity of the scales was tested using Cronbach’s Alpha in SPSS and the usability of the survey instrument was assessed. The affect scale was shown not to be valid. In a follow-on study, the aim will be to use a survey containing the six remaining valid scales and collect demographic data to determine which predictors will be significant in a regression model.

An Evaluation of the “Police Response to Uncrewed Aircraft Systems Operations” Online Training Program

Anthony Galante — 2024-04-25

This study evaluates the impact of the “Police Response to Uncrewed Aircraft Systems Operations” online training program of officers from the Daytona Beach Police Department (DBPD). By measuring the effectiveness of the training through pretest and posttest assessments and considering variables such as educational background, length of service, and rank, this research underscores the training’s potential to enhance UAS response capabilities. Employing a self-selection sampling method, the study engaged 82 voluntary participants from the DBPD, revealing significant improvement across all groups in UAS knowledge and confidence levels. Despite limitations, these findings offer compelling evidence of the training’s efficacy and advocate for continuous education to strengthen law enforcement’s readiness and public safety preparedness in the face of evolving technological challenges. Future investigations should delve into long-term effects and underlying factors to bolster the robustness of these results.

An Examination of the Current State of Examining Authority at Part 141 Pilot Schools

Timothy Rosser — 2024-04-29

In recent years, the airline industry pilot base has experienced significant turnover. As a result, there has been a corresponding need for qualified pilots to fill open pilot positions, therefore an increased need to train and certificate those pilots. A main source for training larger numbers of pilots has been FAA part 141 pilot schools. Most of the part 141 pilot schools train student pilots to proficiency and send those students to a FAA Designated Pilot Examiner for the check ride. A much lower number of part 141 pilot schools are approved for Examining Authority, which allows the school itself to conduct rating and certificate check rides in house. The process for a school to receive FAA approval is outlined in FAR 141.63 and 8900.1, and in some ways, appears to be open for interpretation. The purpose of this study was to examine the perceptions of process requirements associated with FAA Examining Authority approval. The study also aimed to investigate the different Examining Authority approval requirements as set forth by individual Flight Standards District Offices. In addition, the researchers sought to discover whether pilot schools who perceived Examining Authority approval to be too difficult to pursue, would reconsider if those requirements were easier to obtain. A survey was conducted with part 141 pilot schools to gain an understanding of school perceptions of the process, and to examine whether individual FSDOs follow the same process and expect the same requirements. Survey findings showed that there were significant differences in Examining Authority approval requirements between different FSDO offices. Additionally, several pilot schools stated that they would consider, or reconsider application for Examining Authority if the FAA relaxed some approval requirements.

Quieted Voices: A Phenomenological Analysis of the Experiences of Black/African-American Collegiate Aviation Students

Theodore Wesley Johnson — 2024-05-08

The aviation industry lacks racial and gender diversity. It is White-male dominated, with 94% of professional pilots identifying as White males, only 3.4% identifying as Black Americans, and less than 5% are female. Research focusing on the participation rates and experience(s) of Black Americans in aviation is scant. The purpose of this study was to understand the experience(s) of Black American collegiate aviation students so higher education and aviation industry leaders could make informed policy decisions and rectify inhospitable work environments, respectively. A phenomenological approach was used to capture the phenomenon via semi-structured interviews of 10 participants. The study revealed three major battles Black aviation students fight due to external and/or internal pressures, which significantly impact their collegiate experience(s) and, to a certain degree, retention. Being a Black woman or a “double only” in an underrepresented space yielded an experience that Black males were unaware of and did not experience but made the collegiate experience of a Black woman very different than that of their male counterparts. Additionally, a student’s involvement in a community of support seemed to be a notable difference-maker in one’s collegiate experience(s). These communities provided salient socio-emotional support for students, helping reduce instances of social isolation and assimilation many of the participants described. Pointed recommendations on how to improve the retention of Black students and Black Americans in collegiate aviation programs and the aviation industry, respectively, were furnished to conclude the study, which were aimed at higher education and industry leadership.

Student Mental Health Crisis: Perceptions of Collegiate Flight Students

Hunter Clarke — 2024-05-10

Student mental health is worsening. On top of the mental health stressors that come with being a college student, collegiate flight students are introduced to an entirely separate set of situations that can trigger mental health disorders. Because of these added stressors, poor mental health and suicide rates among flight students are becoming a more prominent issue today. The fear of being grounded by the FAA or having a medical certificate revoked contributes to the withholding of mental health symptoms of pilots. Not only does this create a concern for suicide and self-harm, but it also creates a safety concern regarding a pilot’s decision-making skills, putting themselves and others at risk. This study highlights collegiate flight students’ perceptions associated with mental health. The results of this survey are examined in the context of three research questions, which guided the researcher’s conclusions regarding collegiate flight student mental health. In summary, four significant findings emerged from the study: (1) mental health, including depression, anxiety, and/or stress, is a prominent issue among collegiate flight students; (2) being observed or evaluated by others, financial issues (flight costs), and FAA check rides/practical tests are a main source of depression, anxiety, and/or stress in collegiate flight students (3) collegiate flight students find underreporting of mental health concerns to be more beneficial to their career than seeking treatment, (4) students believe that change is necessary and beneficial, as it relates to the current FAA medical certification process.

Time and Cost to Complete Instrument Training Based on Flight Block Times

Rafael Dubena — 2024-06-18

The optimization of flight training operations at higher educational aviation institutions can be helpful in increasing the efficiency at which student pilots attain their certification and help supply more pilots into the industry. Large training institutions usually offer students certain blocks of time to conduct their training. At these schools, the Instrument course is usually administered during daytime or nighttime flight blocks. The purpose of this research study was to analyze if there was a significant difference in the overall cost to complete the Instrument course during the day compared to at night. One independent sample t-test was conducted; the parameters selected were Two-Tail, with a sample size of 128. Archival data records of higher educational aviation institutions were analyzed, and the results show that it costs, on average, around $1,100 less to complete the Instrument course in night flight blocks compared to day flight blocks. This research paper demonstrated how flight block times can significantly impact the cost of completing the Instrument course at aviation universities and highlighted factors that led to these results.

Re-Imagining STEM-Based Aviation Education Through Alternative Knowledge Creation

Shannon McLoughlin Morrison — 2024-04-18

Boeing's workforce study suggests that the aviation industry is going to need over two million more people in the role of pilots, technicians, and cabin crew. Yet, according to the Federal Aviation Administration Civil Airmen Statistics, the number of women who hold the certificate required to fly for a major airline is still just above 4%. These two challenges, a potential shortage in individuals pursuing aviation careers and an industry that struggles to attract and retain underrepresented individuals, have the potential to be addressed if we re-imagine collegiate aviation education. This peer-reviewed practice article leverages a case study performed by Morrison and McNair (2023) to suggest new pedagogical strategies that would support the recruitment and retention of minoritized students to the industry. This analysis of the case study is supported by existing research into why the aviation industry continues to struggle to become more socially just and equitable and how collegiate aviation education is positioned to respond to that struggle.

Examining Moral Conduct in Aviators Through the Lens of Immanuel Kant’s Perfect and Imperfect Duties

Stephen Rice — 2024-05-22

This paper focuses on Kantian ethics, explicitly exploring the implications of Kant's perfect and imperfect duties within the aviation sector. It analyzes how these ethical principles apply to pilot behavior and their impact on safety, professionalism, and trust within flight operations. This paper argues for a culture of integrity and responsibility among aviation professionals and highlights the criticality of ethical leadership concerning pilot performance. Additionally, it outlines potential areas for future research, including empirical studies on pilot behavior and the development of targeted ethical training programs for flight crews, aiming to enhance ethical standards and practices in aviation.