Background Factors That Affect Pilot Success in Regional Airline Training

122 Pages·2016·1.6 MB·English

by  Derek Alan Herchko

Dissertations and Theses
1-2012
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Derek Alan Herchko
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University - Daytona Beach
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BACKGROUND FACTORS THAT AFFECT PILOT SUCCESS
IN REGIONAL AIRLINE TRAINING

by

Derek Alan Herchko

A Thesis Submitted to the College of Aviation Department of Applied Aviation Sciences
in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of
Master of Science in Aeronautics

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
Daytona Beach, Florida
January 2012

Abstract
Researcher: Derek Alan Herchko
Title: Background Factors That Affect Pilot Success in Regional Airline
Training

Institution: Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
Degree: Master of Science in Aeronautics
Year: 2012
Following the Colgan Air accident in February 2009, the U.S. Congress and the traveling
public called for increased flight experience requirements for pilots of regional airlines.
In response, Congress enacted the Airline Safety and Federal Aviation Administration Act
of 2010. This legislation required that regional airline pilots, inclusive of first officers,
have an Airline Transport Pilot certificate and a minimum of 1,500 total flight hours. This
legislation had a provision that allowed the Federal Aviation Administration to create
credit toward flight hours for pilots who had specific academic training courses above
normal pilot certification. The Pilot Source Study was initiated to determine the credits
that should be made towards the 1,500 total flight hours requirement. This study analyzed
the records of 420 regional airline pilots who went through training between 2005 and
2010 and found the pilot source (background) factors that affected success in regional
airline initial training, initial operating experience, first-year line observations, and first-
year recurrent training. Results showed that pilots who had a college degree, a degree in
aviation, a flight degree accredited by Aviation Accreditation Board International, a flight
instructor certificate, or between 500 and 1,000 total flight hours were more likely to
complete training. Results also showed that pilots who had an Airline Transport Pilot
certificate had fewer extra events during training.
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Table of Contents
Page
Thesis Review Committee .................................................................................................. ii
Abstract .............................................................................................................................. iii
List of Tables .......................................................................................................................x
List of Figures .................................................................................................................. xiv
Chapter
I Introduction ..................................................................................................1
Significance of the Study .................................................................1
Statement of the Problem .................................................................3
Purpose Statement ............................................................................4
Hypotheses .......................................................................................4
Delimitations ....................................................................................5
Limitations and Assumptions ..........................................................5
Definitions of Terms ........................................................................6
List of Acronyms .............................................................................7
II Review of the Relevant Literature ...............................................................8
Part 121 Airlines ..............................................................................8
Regional Airlines .............................................................................9
Part 121 Regional Airline Initial Training .........................10
Regional Airline Hiring .....................................................12
Initial Operating Experience (IOE) ................................................13
First-year Line Observations and First-year Recurrent Training ...13
iv
Pilot Source Variables....................................................................13
Aviation Degrees ...............................................................13
Accredited Aviation Programs ...........................................14
Pilot Certificates.................................................................15
Options for Advanced Pilot Training .................................17
Previous Airline Experience ..............................................18
Summary ........................................................................................18
III Methodology ..............................................................................................21
Research Approach ........................................................................21
Design and Procedures .......................................................21
Population/Sample .........................................................................22
Sources of the Data ........................................................................22
Data Collection Device ..................................................................22
Instrument Validity and Reliability ...................................24
Treatment of the Data ....................................................................24
Descriptive Statistics ..........................................................24
Hypothesis Testing.............................................................25
IV Results ........................................................................................................26
Descriptive Statistics ......................................................................26
College Degree (Yes/No) ...................................................26
Associate/Bachelor’s..........................................................26
Aviation Degree .................................................................27
AABI-accredited Flight Program .......................................28
v
Pilot Certificate ..................................................................28
Military Background ..........................................................29
Advanced Pilot Training ....................................................31
Flight Instructor .................................................................31
Dual Given .........................................................................32
Total Flight Hours ..............................................................33
Previous Experience...........................................................35
Extra Training Events ........................................................35
Training Completion ..........................................................36
Time Spent in IOE .............................................................36
Percentage of Minimum IOE .............................................37
Percentage of Minimum IOE (z-score) ..............................38
First-year Line Observation ...............................................38
First-year Recurrent Training ............................................39
Hypothesis Testing.........................................................................39
Training Completion Related to College Degree
(Yes/No) .............................................................................39

Training Completion Related to Associate/Bachelor’s......40

Training Completion Related to Aviation Degree .............41

Training Completion Related to AABI-accredited Flight
Program ..............................................................................42

Training Completion Related to Pilot Certificate ..............43

Training Completion Related to Military Background
(Yes/No) .............................................................................44

vi
Training Completion Related to Advanced Pilot
Training ..............................................................................45

Training Completion Related to Flight Instructor .............46

Training Completion Related to Groupings of Hours of
Dual Given .........................................................................47

Training Completion Related to Groupings of Total Flight
Hours ..................................................................................48

Training Completion Related to Previous Experience .......49

Extra Training Events Related to College Degree
(Yes/No) .............................................................................50

Extra Training Events Related to Associate/Bachelor’s ....51

Extra Training Events Related to Aviation Degree ...........52

Extra Training Events Related to AABI-accredited Flight
Program ..............................................................................53

Extra Training Events Related to Pilot Certificate ............53

Extra Training Events Related to Military Background
(Yes/No) .............................................................................54

Extra Training Events Related to Advanced Pilot
Training ..............................................................................55

Extra Training Events Related to Flight Instructor ............56

Extra Training Events Related to Groupings of Hours of
Dual Given .........................................................................57

Extra Training Events Related to Groupings of Total Flight
Hours ..................................................................................58

Extra Training Events Related to Previous Experience .....59

Percentage of Minimum IOE (z-score) Related to College
Degree (Yes/No) ................................................................60

Percentage of Minimum IOE (z-score) Related to
Associate/Bachelor’s..........................................................61
vii
Percentage of Minimum IOE (z-score) Related to Aviation
Degree ................................................................................62

Percentage of Minimum IOE (z-score) Related to AABI-
accredited Flight Program ..................................................63

Percentage of Minimum IOE (z-score) Related to Pilot
Certificate ...........................................................................64

Percentage of Minimum IOE (z-score) Related to Military
Background (Yes/No) ........................................................65

Percentage of Minimum IOE (z-score) Related to
Advanced Pilot Training ....................................................66

Percentage of Minimum IOE (z-score) Related to Flight
Instructor ............................................................................67

Percentage of Minimum IOE (z-score) Related to
Groupings of Hours of Dual Given ....................................68

Percentage of Minimum IOE (z-score) Related to
Groupings of Total Flight Hours........................................69

Percentage of Minimum IOE (z-score) Related to Previous
Experience..........................................................................70

First-year Line Observation ...............................................71

First-year Recurrent Training Related to College Degree
(Yes/No) .............................................................................71

First-year Recurrent Training Related to Associate/
Bachelor’s ..........................................................................72

First-year Recurrent Training Related to Aviation
Degree ................................................................................73

First-year Recurrent Training Related to AABI-accredited
Flight Program ...................................................................74

First-year Recurrent Training Related to Pilot
Certificate ...........................................................................75

First-year Recurrent Training Related to Military
Background (Yes/No) ........................................................76
viii
First-year Recurrent Training Related to Advanced Pilot
Training ..............................................................................77

First-year Recurrent Training Related to Flight
Instructor ............................................................................78

First-year Recurrent Training Related to Groupings of
Hours of Dual Given ..........................................................79

First-year Recurrent Training Related to Groupings of
Total Flight Hours ..............................................................80

First-year Recurrent Training Related to Previous
Experience..........................................................................81

V Discussion, Conclusions, and Recommendations ......................................83
Discussion ......................................................................................83
Descriptive Statistics ..........................................................83
Pilot Source Variables............................................83
Outcome Variables.................................................84
Hypothesis Testing.............................................................85
Conclusions ....................................................................................88
Recommendations ..........................................................................89
References ..........................................................................................................................91
Appendices
A Permission to Conduct Research ...............................................................94
B Data Collection Device ..............................................................................96
C Sample Dataset.........................................................................................101
D Conclusions of Pilot Source Study Phase I and This Study.....................103

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