Collegiate Aviation Programs Research Articles

Collegiate Aviation Student Perceptions of Racial Influences in Aviation Education

The U.S. aviation industry has grown significantly in the last several decades, but existing literature identifies a gap between progress for the industry and representation of minorities (Ison et al, 2016; Stevenson et al, 2020). According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics in 2019, out of the 141,000 persons employed as either “aircraft pilots” or “flight engineers,” 2.6% were Black, 3.4% were Asian, and 2.2% were Hispanic or Latino, while 93.7% were White (BLS, 2019). What has yet to be investigated, however, is how that gap is perceived by students preparing to enter the aviation industry. This exploratory study examines the perceptions of collegiate aviation students, who represent the next generation of the aviation industry, and the impact race may have had on their choice to pursue an aeronautics or aeronautical science degree. Interviews were conducted with students currently enrolled in an aviation career degree program. Results indicated that while a slim majority of participants did not perceive race to be a barrier in aviation education, many participants identified examples of where racial barriers have played a role, in some form, during their aviation education career. In addition, several participants described the U.S. aviation industry’s lack of diversity as an obstacle after beginning their collegiate aviation program. This case study provides an opportunity for institutions to consider how current diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts are impacting students, and what else may need to be done to increase minority representation within the aviation industry.

Women of Color in the Aviation Industry

Women of Color in the Aviation Industry takes a gallant position on the contemporary state of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives within U.S. aviation through the lenses of several women of color working in the industry. The exploration of their experiences as women of color aviation professionals provides a compelling and nearly irrefutable backdrop for the many inequities, challenges, and barriers they face as a function of their race and/or gender. The author contends these inequities persist because aviation entities are engaged in “performative DEI” measures rather than reflecting upon their extant structures and systems to ascertain what is causing the inequities and why minoritized groups, particularly women of color, are adversely impacted. The text strives to encourage readers to critically reflect upon the reason(s) why minoritized groups, specifically women of color, continue to have low participation rates in an industry that proclaims to be committed to DEI to make a more just workforce. Such a conundrum is explored through semi-structured interviews with numerous women of color who hold various aviation positions. This approach was most apt to obtain first-person accounts of the challenges women of color and presumably other minoritized groups experience. Consequently, industry leadership can leverage these experiences and focus efforts on making equity-centric change instead of concerning themselves with remaining on the “right side” of DEI. The author provided several robust examples of how current DEI efforts, coupled with a lack of reflection, do more harm than good because they propagate a “diversity that maintains Whiteness.” Combined with the six commonly used controlling images, these examples help refute the state of social equity many believe the U.S. is in. The primary messages are written to make it easy for the layperson to understand, but the text falls short of providing actionable recommendations leadership can implement. Despite this limitation, the text may benefit a broad audience, especially for leadership overseeing commercial airlines, government, and collegiate aviation programs. Further, the experiences described have some transferability to sectors and industries external to aviation, meaning they can be incorporated within the public, private, and nonprofit sectors to enhance public administration and social policy to make a more just society.

The Use of Industry Advisory Boards in Support of Collegiate Aviation Programs

Abstract-Research problem: Aviation Accreditation Board International (AABI), the organization that accredits aviation degree programs, requires that programs seeking accreditation work with aviation industry professionals in the development and assessment of their programs. (AABI Accreditation Criteria Manual, February 24, 2023). There is no formal directive regarding how aviation programs and industry partners must work together, however, and no best practices relating to the use of industry advisory boards have been researched for aviation degree programs as they have been in other academic fields. Research questions: (1) How do aviation degree programs incorporate industry feedback? (2) How are industry advisory boards being used in support of aviation degree programs? Literature review: Literature in other fields regarding the use of advisory boards in the development and assessment of academic programs has offered insights into stakeholder benefits and suggested best practices, but research on the use of industry advisory boards in collegiate aviation programs is significantly lacking. Methodology: A survey link was shared with all current UAA and AABI members with the goal of determining how common it is for programs to have an industry advisory board. If the programs reported having an industry advisory board, additional survey questions sought to identify the benefits and challenges of having an industry advisory board, as well as the common characteristics of the boards. Findings: Advisory boards are commonly used to support aviation degree programs. However, there is a wide variation in terms of how they operate. This study offers a beginning framework for learning how industry partners and aviation programs are currently working together and suggests areas of additional needed research in order to identify best practices.

Business Aviation Days: Mentorship and Partnership

Business aviation is a vital component of the U.S. economy, growing at a double-digit rate year-over-year since the pandemic, and offers many outstanding career opportunities for collegiate aviation program graduates. Despite the opportunities available, many students may need to be made aware of the options available in business aviation due to a lack of exposure compared to other aviation industry sectors. This paper describes one university’s efforts to advance understanding of business aviation through a new annual multi-day conference that has produced new partnership and mentorship opportunities that greatly benefit students and industry alike.

Sleep quality and stress: An investigation of collegiate aviation pilots

Objective: To investigate collegiate aviation pilots’ quality of sleep and psychological distress levels. Participants: Collegiate aviation pilots from a Code of Federal Regulations Part 141 four-year degree-awarding university in central Florida (N = 192). Method: The Pittsburgh Sleepiness Quality Index and the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale were utilized to assess the participants’ subjective quality sleep and psychological distress levels, respectively. A Spearman’s rank-order correlation was run to assess the relationship between quality sleep and distress levels in collegiate aviation student pilots. Results: The prevalence of poor sleep quality among the collegiate aviation pilots was 69%. Mild or severe psychological distress was experienced by 32% (n = 61) of the pilots. There was a strong, positive association between quality sleep and psychological distress (rs (192) = .716, p < .05). Conclusion: Results suggested collegiate aviation programs should promote explicit strategies for students to improve their sleep habits and well-being.

Evaluating the Effects of Safety Management Systems (SMS) on Safety Culture Factors in Collegiate Aviation Operations: A Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) Approach

Implementing Safety Management Systems (SMS) is currently voluntary for collegiate aviation operations in the U.S. Some extant studies have advocated using Safety Management Systems (SMS) as a proactive tool to continuously improve collegiate aviation safety culture. Using a structural equation modeling/path analysis (SEM/PA) approach, the effect of SMS on factors of safety culture in multiple collegiate aviation programs in the U.S. was evaluated using a hypothesized model that measures the relationships between scales of SMS, safety motivation (mediator), and safety culture factors (safety compliance, safety reporting, and safety participation). Demographic differences in safety culture were also evaluated. Findings suggest significant predictive relationships between SMS and observed safety culture outcomes. There was also a significant mediation role of safety motivation between SMS and some observed safety culture outcomes. Results suggest that senior or upper-level students were found to have significantly lower reported safety reporting behavior as compared to lower-level students. Domestic students were found to have higher scores for safety reporting behavior compared to international students. Results also suggest an apparent SMS knowledge gap among respondents, and implementing initial and recurrent higher-level SMS courses as part of collegiate aviation program academic syllabuses may be helpful. Other implications for policy and practices in collegiate aviation safety culture and recommendations for future research are highlighted.

Understanding Factors Underlying Fatigue among Collegiate Aviation Pilots in the United States

An increase in evidence-based studies into the deleterious effects of fatigue on flight operations has been reported by key aviation groups globally. The collegiate aviation flight training environment has not been researched at the same level when compared to military and airline operations. College aged students are unique in the sense that they are tasked with classwork, studying, participation in student organizations, social activities, and often have part time jobs within and outside of the academic environment. These conditions may cause errors, incidents, accidents, poor academic performance, and undesirable health metrics. The purpose of this study was to understand fatigue as a multi-factorial dimension and to assess potential relationships among these factors using hypothesized measurement models. The research team distributed the Collegiate Aviation Fatigue Inventory II (CAFI-II) to eight small, medium, and large collegiate aviation programs in the United States. The CAFI-II primarily focuses on fatigue awareness, causes and symptoms of fatigue, and lifestyle choices. Four hundred and twenty-two (n = 422) valid responses were obtained. Results suggested a direct predictive relationship between fatigue in collegiate flight training and the perceptions of respondents of conditions that are known to cause fatigue. Findings also suggested that respondents who had a favorable perception of fatigue risk and management programs had a better understanding of the causes of fatigue.

An Analysis of the Effect of Self-Efficacy of Female Students in Collegiate Flight Programs

The purpose of this research was to examine the effect of self-efficacy of male and female students in collegiate flight programs to identify if a relationship exists between self-efficacy responses and gender representation in aviation. Self-efficacy, an element of social cognitive career theory’s (SCCT) behavioral factors, deals with an individual’s belief in his/her capacity to address a certain set of circumstances. No studies have been found addressing self-efficacy of students enrolled in collegiate aviation programs, specifically addressing differences between male and female students. The population for this study consisted of students enrolled in four-year collegiate aviation programs, as found through the University Aviation Association (UAA) membership rosters. The General Self Efficacy Scale (GSES) was distributed to students enrolled in collegiate aviation programs enrolled in various aviation majors. Results from this study compared 145 collegiate aviation students’ self-efficacy responses and personal comments and presented a multi-factor examination of possible influences of gender on self-efficacy for collegiate aviation students. Independent t-test results revealed male and female students had similar self-efficacy responses and associated level, but revealed a perceptual difference of gender disparity in the personal comments and responses. Additionally, an independent t-test demonstrated collegiate aviation students have statistically significant higher self-efficacy than the generalized American adult population at 95% confidence level.

Development of Critical Thinking Skills in Collegiate Aviation Programs

Development of Critical Thinking Skills in Collegiate Aviation Programs

Attitudes to Wearing Face Masks at US Collegiate Aviation Programs

A survey was completed by 598 respondents from 14 collegiate aviation programs. The survey queried attitudes of advantages and disadvantages of wearing face masks (FM). Over 75% of respondents were students (with the remainder about equally split between faculty and staff) and 67% who identified as pilots. Despite public guidelines supporting the advantages of FMs, there were polarized attitudes found with the employed methodology. Females were more likely to report greater values and fewer discomforts of wearing FMs. Pilots were more likely to report fewer advantages and more difficulties wearing FMs than non-pilots. Due to public health guidelines concerning FMs, negative attitudes pilots professed are concerning given the many hours they spend in a cramped cockpit.

Understanding Fatigue within a Collegiate Aviation Program

ABSTRACT Objective: The purpose of this study was fivefold: to investigate the symptoms that would prompt collegiate aviation pilots perceive they are fatigued; to investigate the time of the day they are most fatigued; to investigate their academic and personal schedules; to investigate the methods collegiate aviation pilots utilize to ensure they are fit to fly; and to investigate whether they have received any academic and/or flight fatigue identification and management training. Background: Fatigue is a pervasive safety hazard in aviation affecting several aspects of flight crew members’ ability to perform their job. Fatigue in aviation and its consequences has been researched across military and commercial operations, but until now Part 141 collegiate aviation pilots have been neglected. Method: Data were collected using an online survey questionnaire self-report questionnaire (N = 122) consisting of items investigating fatigue identification and management by Part 141 collegiate aviation pilots. Results: Sixty percent of the participants usually experience the mental and physical symptoms of fatigue during flight activities. A finding of concern was that 43% of the participants indicated they had not received any training in fatigue identification and management during ground and flight activities. Conclusion: The safety management of fatigue in a Part 141 collegiate aviation environment is a safety issue that warrants further research, and training and education.

Effective Social Media Strategy for Collegiate Aviation Programs

Effective Social Media Strategy for Collegiate Aviation Programs

Assessing the relationship between organizational management factors and a resilient safety culture in a collegiate aviation program with Safety Management Systems (SMS)

Extant research advocates for assessing and continuously improving resilient safety culture in high-reliability organizations (HROs) such as aviation that has a fully functional Safety Management Systems (SMS). Perceptions on the relationship between four (4) organizational management factors (Principles, Policy, Procedures, Practices) and resilient safety culture in a collegiate aviation program was assessed using an online survey instrument drafted using Reason (2011) concept on safety resilience. Sample was drawn from aviation students, flight instructors, faculty and administrators. Structural Equation Model (SEM) and Causal Path Analysis (CPA) techniques were used to assess conceptual models. Results suggest good reliability and construct validity for survey instrument. All the measurement models had acceptable fit based on various goodness-of-fit indices. The results suggest all four management factors had significant predictive relationship with resilient safety culture. Practices had the weakest predictive relationship and Policy had the highest. Procedures strongly mediated path between Policies and Practices and there was no significant causal relationship between Principles and Practices. Results suggest that more focus should be placed on resilient safety practices in the collegiate aviation program. Significant benefit of this study is the validation of an instrument that explores the relationship between resilient safety culture and organizational management factors and adds to literature on resilient safety culture in collegiate aviation programs. Future studies using this survey instrument and models in other collegiate aviation programs, airlines and airports are highly recommended.

Assessing Cultural Drivers of Safety Resilience in a Collegiate Aviation Program

Organizational safety resilience is a key factor in sustaining an effective safety management system (SMS) in high-reliability organizations (HROs) such as aviation. Extant research advocates for monitoring, assessing and continuously improving safety in an organization that has a fully-functional SMS. Safety resilience provides a buffer against vulnerabilities. Extant research also suggests a paucity in terms of a measurement framework for organizational safety resilience in collegiate aviation operations. A quantitative approach using Reason’s safety resilience concept (Reason, 2011) is used to assess organizational safety resilience in a collegiate aviation program with an active conformance SMS accepted by the FAA. A sample of 516 research participants responded to an online survey instrument derived from Reason (2011). Structural Equation Model (SEM)/Path Analysis (PA) techniques are used to assess models that measure the strength of relationships between three cultural drivers (Commitment, Cognizance, Competence) of safety and safety resilience. There were strong significant relationships between these cultural drivers and safety resilience. Path analysis suggests that Commitment significantly mediates the path between Cognizance and Competence and highlights its important role in sustaining safety competencies. There were significant differences in the perceptions of safety resilience among top-level leadership, flight operations and ground operations. Flight operations and ground operations had higher mean scores on safety resilience than top-level leadership. Study provides a validated model of safety resilience that is essential for SMS improvements in collegiate aviation programs. Future studies will utilize this safety resilience model to assess other collegiate aviation programs in various phases of SMS implementation, airlines, and air traffic control operations.Key words: SMS, safety culture, safety resilience, collegiate aviation

Collaborating to train the next generation of pilots: Exploring partnerships between higher education and the airline industry

The airline industry is experiencing a pilot supply problem that has dominated headlines across the world. Boeing estimates over 790,000 pilots are needed worldwide in the next 20 years to accommodate growth and staffing retirements. Regulatory reforms implemented in the aftermath of the crash of Colgan Air 3407 resulted in collegiate aviation programs playing a larger role in supplying pilots for the airlines. As a result of the fierce competition for pilots, airlines and higher education institutions (HEIs) have entered into a variety of partnership programs that develop career pathways for students while allowing carriers to secure talent earlier in the training process. Despite the proliferation of these programs, little is known about their structure, effectiveness, and potential challenges. The purpose of this research is to develop a framework of the types of partnerships that exist between HEIs and airlines for the purpose of addressing workforce development. Potential program benefits and challenges are examined from the perspective of HEIs. The methodology includes a review of existing programs and interviews with program coordinators. The research will provide new knowledge about the role of partnerships in meeting the needs of collegiate aviation programs.

Competency-based Education: A Framework for Aviation Management Programs

In recent years, the agencies that accredit collegiate aviation programs have moved to outcomes-based models. These models benefit from defined core competencies that can be used to drive the development of related program goals and student learning outcomes to ensure program consistency and quality. This article provides a brief description of the process that the faculty at a large midwestern university utilized to develop core competencies for its aviation management programs, and the set of competencies that resulted from the process.

Electronic Flight Bag Policies at Collegiate Aviation Programs

Electronic Flight Bags (EFBs) are now standard in the commercial aviation industry. Air carriers must implement and maintain EFB training and policies according to FAA regulations. Pilots are also using EFBs at collegiate aviation programs.This study investigated EFB practices at collegiate aviation programs, and how well these practices complied with FAA recommendations. Specifically, the research investigated whether or not the presence of an official EFB policy at a flight program had any relation to the quality of the EFB program. Results indicated that most programs somewhat conform to FAA policies, and in some cases, programs without policies had more effective EFB practices.

Personality types of pilot students: A study of an Australian collegiate aviation program

Personality types of pilot students: A study of an Australian collegiate aviation program

Recommendations For Improvement Of Collegiate Flight Training Operational Efficiency Through Guided-Inquiry Inductive Learning

Efficiency in higher education has increasingly come under scrutiny as student debt levels continue to increase and the quantification of the value provided to students by colleges remains elusive. Collegiate flight training operations are especially subject to such scrutiny, due to their expense and to continued below-average entry-level salaries in the airline industry. This research examines an inductive learning approach combined with a flipped classroom, whereby aviation management students in a large Midwestern collegiate aviation program analyzed the operational efficiency of their primary flight training operation and recommend potential solutions and means of implementation. Such an approach provides multiple benefits. The resulting improvement in scheduling efficiency results in better use of existing capacity, and can be utilized to allow additional students to matriculate in the program, subsequently reducing student fees for all enrolled students by spreading fixed costs over a wider customer base. In addition, the management students participated in the development and implementation planning of empirical solutions to the problem, thereby addressing a call from industry to incorporate practical projects in the classroom to achieve greater comprehension and retention of subject matter. A number of alternative assessment methods (Frank & Barzilai, 2004), including semi-structured student interviews, surveys, peer evaluations, and analysis of deliverables, were utilized, and these indicated that classroom engagement and subject matter retention was improved by the delivery methods that were employed.

Cultural Dimensions: A Comparative Analysis of Aviation Students in China and the U.S.

Research has shown cultural dimensions can provide insight into effective management within diverse work and school environments. (Sandal & Manzey, 2009). In this study, researchers distributed a research questionnaire based on Hofstede’s original four cultural dimensions: power distance, masculinity vs femininity, uncertainty avoidance and individualism vs collectivism. Participants were recruited from two collegiate aviation programs, one in China and the other in the United States.