Aviation Commons^™

Impact Of In-Cabin Human Machine Interface Designs On Passenger Trust In Urban Air Mobility, Ricole A. Johnson, Erika E. Gallegos

Journal of Aviation/Aerospace Education & Research

Urban Air Mobility (UAM) presents a promising solution for alleviating urban traffic congestion and enhancing transportation efficiency. However, the widespread acceptance of UAM, particularly sustained ridership of autonomous passenger air vehicles (PAVs), is contingent upon addressing critical human factors for building passenger trust, especially in the absence of a human pilot. This paper evaluates how different in-cabin human-machine interface (HMI) designs affect passenger trust in the aircraft and in-cabin display, situation awareness, and pilot preferences. Forty participants, equally split between early and late technology adopters, completed two simulated flights: a baseline flight with no HMI and a second flight featuring …

Instructional Fidelity In Virtual Flight: Applying A Structured Learning Model For Vr-Based Pilot Training, Lindsay Gouedy, Bryce Jarrell, Mary Fendley, Brandon Wolf

Journal of Aviation/Aerospace Education & Research

As immersive training technologies reshape the future of aviation education, this study explores the impact of integrating Virtual Reality (VR) into a structured instructional model for B-52 pilot training. With the development and implementation of the I-BUFF (Integrated B-52 Unit Flight Familiarization) model, an innovative framework built upon the 4C/ID (Four Component Instructional Design) and SEEV (Salience, Effort, Expectancy, Value) models, this research evaluates whether structured VR environments improve training transfer and accelerate task proficiency for in-air refueling tasks. A sample of 233 pilot trainees was assessed across three groups: traditional training (non-VR unstructured), VR semi-structured, and VR fully structured …

The Role Of User Experience In Virtual Reality Flight Training: A Comparison With Pc-Based Simulation, Tianxin Zhang, Christina M. Frederick, Barbara Chaparro

Journal of Aviation/Aerospace Education & Research

The current project explores how user experience (UX) in virtual reality (VR) flight simulation influences both cognitive learning outcomes and procedural skill acquisition when compared to traditional desktop-based simulation.. Using a quasi-transfer of training design, 48 student pilots were randomly assigned to VR, Desktop, or Control groups and trained on the Chandelle maneuver. UX was measured with the User Experience Questionnaire (UEQ), while training effectiveness was evaluated through a post-training knowledge test and recorded maneuver performance on a high-fidelity flight training device. Results indicated that the VR group reported significantly higher UX scores in Attractiveness, Stimulation, and Novelty, and showed …

Utilising Video Recordings To Assess Student Pilot Performance: An Exploratory Study During A Simulated Training Flight, Bradley Moncion, Shi Cao, Allison Lynch, Suzanne K. Kearns, Elizabeth Irving, Ewa Niechwiej-Szwedo

Journal of Aviation/Aerospace Education & Research

In ab initio flight training, the quality of the feedback a flight instructor provides their student is essential to their success. While other high-performance and safety-critical industries have incorporated the use of video recordings into training and assessments, the aviation industry generally has not. There are some studies addressing the potential benefits of video recordings in training professional pilots, but there is a lack of research at the ab initio level. In this study, five flight instructors assessed the performance of student pilots conducting a simulated training flight using a 4-point marking scale. The flights instructors were then tasked with …

Navigating The Challenges: Preflight Planning With Notam In Australia’S General Aviation Sector, Joshua Chiang, Guido Carim Junior

Journal of Aviation/Aerospace Education & Research

Notices to Airmen (NOTAMs) are an integral part of a pilot’s preflight navigational briefing, providing pertinent information in textual format. However, significant shortcomings have been found in the NOTAM system and in its use, with many of the shortcomings revolving around the interface. This study aimed to identify and evaluate the challenges general aviation pilots face when interacting with NOTAMs during preflight navigational planning. A thematic analysis study was conducted and included episodic semi-structured interviews with 15 pilots and document analysis. The interview transcription and excerpts of NOTAMs were analyzed following a thematic analysis technique. The findings of this preliminary …

Evaluation Of Tactile Cueing Embedded In An Aviation Headset On Pilot Altitude Control, Nicholas D. Wilson, Jessica Van Bree, Matthew Cleveland, Sunny Charakuru, Thomas Petros, Richard Ferraro, Kouhyar Tavakolian

Journal of Aviation/Aerospace Education & Research

This study evaluated the effectiveness of tactile cueing integrated into a pilot’s headset on pilot altitude control during simulated instrument conditions. Pilots typically rely on visual and auditory inputs to maintain situational awareness, but in high-workload or instrument meteorological conditions (IMC), these channels can become overloaded. One underutilized alternative for alerting is a tactile cueing apparatus. Using an X-Plane simulation of a Piper Archer equipped with a G-1000 avionics suite, 39 FAA-certified pilots flew two precision approaches. The experimental group (n = 20) received haptic cues via ear seal-embedded tactors when deviating from assigned altitude or glideslope. The control group …

The Ethical Code Of Access And Use, Modeled By Archival Educator Aurora E. Davis, Jennifer A. Walker, Sarah A. Buchanan, Charissa F. Ercolin

Provenance, Journal of the Society of Georgia Archivists

Archival education has a legacy of collective development between professionals, educators, and students of archives. Longitudinal attention to archival pedagogy can greatly inform ongoing curricular directions, so that students always emerge from their archival program ready to manage complex collections in wide-ranging professional settings. One academic archival program’s first archival educator brought to her role relevant experience from both the aviation and newspaper industries that shaped her pedagogical impact on students. This paper considers the origins of archival education at the University of Missouri through the work of Aurora E. Davis, who served as a faculty member at the School …

Financial Risk Trends During Covid-19: A Comparative Analysis Of Three Major U.S. Airlines (2020-2022), Kamanda Mosongo

The Journal of Purdue Undergraduate Research

No abstract provided.

Orbital Reliable Printed Circuit Boards, Thomas Maxwell Starnes, Keegan Blake Jordan, Ian Griffith, Grant Monroe Pesqueira, Vishal Navin Patel

Senior Design Project For Engineers

Deep Interstellar Solutions is proposing a device to produce custom, serviceable printed circuit boards (PCBs) in low Earth orbit. This technology uses blank PCBs that are laser-etched and prepared for electrical components, then stored in the module. This method of PCB production allows for rapid repairs or prototyping without the need for subsequent resupply missions. By implementing this technique, future missions will achieve greater autonomy, sustainability, and resource efficiency. The goal of this development is to pioneer the creation of custom circuitry for use in deep-space missions where resupply is neither cost-effective nor timely.

Evaluating Community Involvement Efficacy In The Adoption Of Airport Noise Mitigation Programs, Rhea Dutta, Oleksandr Sergey Crowell, Joao Pedro Biondo Peres, Caroline Kathure Marete

Discovery Undergraduate Interdisciplinary Research Internship

Introduction and Background: The management of noise stemming from airport operations has been at the center of regulatory efforts aimed at balancing airport expansion with both environmental and community impacts. This study evaluates the effectiveness of community involvement in creating and implementing noise mitigation programs. It explored the methods through which airports are adopting federal regulations, established by agencies such as the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and implementing initiatives, such as Noise Compatibility Programs (NCPs) and Noise Exposure Maps (NEMs). Specific regulations reviewed include 14 CFR Part 150, 14 CFR Part 160, and the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). …

Smart Pireps: Leveraging Technology To Simplify Pilot Weather Reporting In General Aviation, Emma Hellwege

Honors Projects

This honors project examines how emerging aviation technologies can support or automate components of Pilot Weather Reports (PIREPs) to improve reporting accuracy, reduce pilot workload, and increase participation within the general aviation (GA) community. PIREPs provide essential real-time weather observations—such as turbulence, icing, and visibility—that supplement automated systems and enhance situational awareness for pilots, air traffic control, and meteorologists. However, reports are vastly underutilized due to workload constraints, inconsistent training, voice-only submission methods, and technological disparities across the GA fleet.

Through a structured analysis of federal aviation documentation, sensor capabilities, human factors research, and recent advancements in automation, this study …

Fuel Factors: Jet A Prices And Charter Operations, Manaal Choudhury, Zoey M. Hicks, Chanho Kang, Brooke Wheeler

Aeronautics Student Publications

The relationship between the average monthly fuel price (IndexMundi, 2025) and Part 135 operations (WingX, 2025) was not statistically significant, r = -.009, p = .95.

The Relationship Between Compound Annual Growth Rate And Wildlife Strikes In U.S. Cities, Leila Burns, Katherine Oconnell, Ethan Schuam, Brooke E. Wheeler

Aeronautics Student Publications

This study investigates the relationship between urban expansion and wildlife strikes at airports around the U.S. To analyze this correlation, the Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) for each city’s population was compared to the Average Annual Wildlife Strike Reports (AAWSR) at each airport. The data were collected from the U.S. Census Bureau (2025) population records and the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) National Wildlife Strikes Database (2025). The research was intended to determine if urbanization contributes to the frequency of wildlife strikes. The results concluded that there was a near-zero correlation between CAGR and AAWSR. This indicates that population growth is …

Speaking Up: Aeronautics Student Voice Propensity And Power Distance By Experience, Nicholas Forthofer, Shellbie Reed, Mihir Wadhwa, Vivek Sharma, Brooke Wheeler

Aeronautics Student Publications

This research suggests that there is a difference in voice propensity and power distance with flight experience.

Clear The Air: Willingness To Pilot And Willingness To Pay With Leaded And Unleaded Fuel, Jaelyann A. Soto Marquez, Jay C. Helstone, Bryson T. Harber, Vivek Sharma, Brooke E. Wheeler

Aeronautics Student Publications

Pilots reported a higher willingness to pilot (WTPilot) with traditional leaded avgas compared to the unleaded alternative. Willingness to pay (WTPay) was lower when the unleaded fuel was priced higher, showing sensitivity to cost. Results revealed that familiarity and affordability matter when considering sustainable fuel for flight training.

Population Density And Recorded Unmanned Aerial Systems Sightings In Southeastern Cities, Avalon Bozard, Rebecca Berris, Mario Perez, Brooke Wheeler

Aeronautics Student Publications

The increase in Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) sightings within the National Airspace System (NAS) has introduced many safety concerns, regulatory complications, and operational challenges, especially with the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) future removal of beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS). As UAS become more integrated, understanding the relationship between UAS sightings and city population density is of great importance for ensuring safety. This quantitative correlation examined the relationship between Southeast cities’ population density and reported UAS sightings in 2020. The data was obtained through the FAA’s UAS sightings report (2022) and the U.S. Census Bureau’s population data (2020) from the …

Mental Health And Willingness To Seek Mental Health Aid In Aviation, Andrew Lynch, Giacomo Tropeano, Trenton Paige Plogher, Vivek Sharma, Brooke Wheeler

Aeronautics Student Publications

No relationship was found between aviation student mental health status and willingness to seek mental health aid; there was no difference in willingness to seek help between pilots and non-pilots.

Air Traffic Control Staffing Deficiencies And Their Relationship To Incidents And Accidents, Ashton Irons, Sunkyum Kim, Gianna Mendez, Vivek Sharma, Brooke Wheeler

Aeronautics Student Publications

Air Traffic Control (ATC) staffing deficiencies are a long-standing systemic crisis. This study revealed a statistically significant but weak positive relationship between ATC staffing deficiencies and incident and accident rates.

Evaluating Kansai Airport's Ppp: Grounded Ambitions, Concession Of Financial, Geotechnical, And Climate Risk, Edmund Cho, Dimitrios V. Siskos

International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace

This study critically examines the Kansai Airports Group’s 44-year Public-Private Partnership (PPP) monopoly-type concession encompassing Kansai International (KIX), Osaka Itami (ITM), and Kobe (UKB) airports. The research uses financial analysis, Monte Carlo simulation, and NPV-at-risk modeling to evaluate how Japan’s fixed-term private monopoly model allocates financial, operational, and environmental risks. In 2015, there were significant developments in the promotion of the Private Finance Initiative (PFI) Act. It was revised in 2015; as a result, it finds that the underestimated long-term maintenance liabilities, especially Kansai airport (KIX) foundation subsidence, and lacked flexibility to manage exogenous shocks like COVID-19 and Typhoon Jebi. …

From 2d To 3d: Multi-Agent Reinforcement Learning For Spectrum-Constrained Urban Air Mobility., Qingyang Li

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) and Urban Air Mobility (UAM) are accelerating a transformation of air transportation but face acute spectrum congestion in dense urban environments. Reliable Control and Non-Payload Communications (CNPC) must be maintained at all times to ensure safe operations, even as fleets of aerial vehicles (AVs) transport passengers and cargo between distributed vertiports. We first develop a 2D formulation that jointly optimizes discrete headings, velocities, and spectrum allocation to minimize total mission time while satisfying quality of service (QoS) and collision-avoidance constraints, and we demonstrate significant gains over non-learning and learning baselines. Building on this 2D framework, we …