A Survey of Pilots on the Dissemination of Safety Information

Civil Aerospace Medical Institute1999PDFTech ReportRakovan, L.Wiggins, M. W.Jensen, R. S.Hunter, D. R.Ohio State UniversityFederal Aviation AdministrationUnited States. Office of Aerospace MedicineUnited StatesAir transportationAir transportation crashesCivil aviationAirline pilotsAviation safetyDemographicsCertificationAviationEducation and TrainingSafety and Human FactorsSocietyDOT/FAA/AM-99/7A survey was conducted to obtain information from the pilot population on perceptions of safety-related training currently being offered, its usefulness, and the process through which it might be better disseminated to the general aviation population. The questionnaire assessed use of safety information, safety awareness, computer/video use, pilot self-assessment of proficiency, demographic information, and stressful experiences. In addition, four open-ended questions were included to allow pilots to freely express themselves on a variety of safety issues. The questionnaire was sent to 6,000 pilots (approximately 2,000 each to private, commercial, and airline transport) selected randomly from the pilot population. Responses were received from 1,822 (30.4% of the sample). Of the respondents, 31.3% were private pilots, 34.2% were commercial pilots, and 34.5% were airline transport pilots. The frequency of response to all questionnaire items for the three certificate categories are provided, plus analyses of the responses of pilots in a target group consisting of all private pilots and those commercial pilots who had not flown for hire. Analyses also compared the responses of (1) seminar attendees versus non-attendees, and (2) pilots who had been in accidents versus those who had not. Recommendations to improve the attendance of pilots at FAA-sponsored safety seminars are given.119