Aviation Commons^™

Color-Coding: An Aid Or Hindrance In A Multi-Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Supervisory Control Task, Austin Daniel Wood

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of the current study was to investigate the effect of coding types (i.e., alphanumeric coding, color-coding, and redundant color + alphanumeric coding) for vehicle identification and status information on pilots’ recognition performance, situational awareness (SA), and workload for a multi-vehicle operations ground control station (GCS) supervisory control task. With the aviation industry's push towards operators supervising and controlling multiple vehicles, it is pertinent to identify design features that support the capabilities and limitations of human operators. The current study employed a within-subjects, repeated-measures experimental design, in which a sample of 33 students with aviation experience performed three trials, …

Helicopter Pilots’ Safety Behaviors: Identifying Factors That Affect Risk Perception Among Helicopter Pilots, Khaled J. Alzaabi

Theses and Dissertations

Helicopter operations frequently take place in complex, high-risk environments, where pilots continuously assess hazards and make critical decisions under pressure. Despite standardized procedures, regulations, and training designed to enhance safe operations, helicopter pilots may perceive risk differently when encountering similar flight situations. Understanding the factors that influence helicopter pilots’ perception of risk is essential for improving helicopter operation safety.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of various factors on risk perception among helicopter pilots. Using an explanatory correlational design, the study assessed whether helicopter pilots’ demographics, flight experience, and affective domain factors explain differences in their …

Effects Of Pilot Seeking Mental Health Treatment On Passenger Willingness To Fly Before And After An Educational Intervention, Angela Thompson, Emily Mongeon, Elizabeth Brewer, Vivek Sharma, Brooke Wheeler

Aeronautics Student Publications

Willingness to fly before and after an intervention showed no significant difference, but there was a significant difference in willingness to fly with a pilot who is versus is not seeking mental health treatment.

Comparison Of Faa Forecasted And Actual Annual Enplanements At U.S. Airports In 2007, 2011, And 2023, Jordan Alexander Kattner, Ninthushan Nithiyanandan, Yunjae Son, Vivek Sharma, Brooke Wheeler

Aeronautics Student Publications

Accurate forecasting of passenger demand is essential for effective airport planning, infrastructure, and policy decision-making particularly from a risk management perspective (Mandel, 2014). However, making long-term forecasts is extremely difficult with many different factors at play leading airport planners to make misinformed investments. This study used publicly available data from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) forecast and Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) actual annual enplanements to examine the difference between forecasted and actual observed annual enplanements at 30 large hub airports in the United States to improve passenger demand forecasts. The result showed a statistically significant difference but small effect …

Annual Wildlife Strikes Per Operation By Runway Configuration In The Southern U.S. From 2015 To 2024, Cam Mann, Arie Ebanks, Vivek Sharm, Brooke Wheeler

Aeronautics Student Publications

Research on wildlife strikes is vital to the understanding of wildlife behavior at airports. This study focused on reported wildlife strikes per operation by differing runway configurations, parallel and intersecting, in 16 southern states from 2015 to 2024. Parallel runway configurations experienced more reported wildlife strikes per operation than intersecting runway configurations, consistent with previous research. Wildlife strikes that occur at critical phases of flight bring detrimental effects to aviation economies and wildlife habitats. Wildlife Hazard Management Programs (WHMP) in effect at airports do show success, but with limited range. The study used an ex post facto design due to …

Student Perceived Stress Correlated With Study Approaches In A Collegiate Part 141 Flight School, Jonathan Doherty, Nate Petrie, Jonathan Vroman, Brooke Wheeler, Vivek Sharma

Aeronautics Student Publications

Collegiate flight students experience unique academic and technical challenges that may contribute to stress levels. Although previous research has examined stress in aviation students, limited research has investigated how students’ approaches to studying relate to perceived stress within this population. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between perceived stress and two study approaches, Surface and Deep Approach, among collegiate flight students enrolled in their university’s Part 141 flight training program. A correlational research design was used. Participants completed an online questionnaire comprising the Revised Two-Factor Study Process Questionnaire (R-SPQ-2F) to measure Deep and Surface study approaches …

The Danger Zone: Uas Sightings By Distance From Airports, Jalee Noel Boucher, Omkar Aaditya Sahoo, Brian Winston Anthony Williams, Vivek Sharma, Brooke Wheeler

Aeronautics Student Publications

The increased usage of unmanned aerial systems (UAS) has called for an increase in pilot awareness as they approach or depart airports. Given the increase in UAS usage and the growing academic and industry relevance of UAS, encounters between manned aircraft and UAS are to be expected. The purpose of this study is to examine differences in the number of monthly reported UAS sightings across distance categories from the airport in the contiguous United States between January 2021 and December 2025 (FAA, 2025). An ex post facto design was used and distance categories were established. Data that lacked distance information …

Difference In Weather Delays At U.S. Large Hub Airports By Season, Momoka Okabe, Mitchell Riordan Rivers, Julian Waller, Vivek Sharma, Brooke E. Wheeler

Aeronautics Student Publications

At 31 large hub airports in the United States, there was a statistically significant difference in weather delays between Fall and both Winter and Summer, and Summer and Spring.

Aircraft Violations Related To Temporary Flight Restrictions & Operations​ From 2017 To 2021, Mark Lipp, Tea Yankova, Hudson Schnier, Vivek Sharm, Brooke Wheeler

Aeronautics Student Publications

Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFRs) are temporary airspace limitations issued to protect sensitive operations, events, and public safety within the United States and Territories National Airspace System (NAS). Despite widespread dissemination of TFR information, violations continue to occur. This study examined the relationship between the monthly number of active TFRs, total aircraft operations, and TFR violations from 2017 to 2021. A quantitative, non-experimental correlational design was used to analyze publicly available Federal Aviation Administration datasets, including TFR records and incident reports from the Aviation Safety Reporting System (ASRS). Descriptive statistics and Pearson product–moment correlations were calculated using 59 monthly observations. Results …

Human Error-Related Aviation Accidents And Incidents Scheduled Vs. Non-Scheduled Operations, Aidan J. Cosgrove, Christopher K. Budiman, Julia Palma Gil, Vivek Sharma, Brooke Wheeler

Aeronautics Student Publications

Scheduled operations had higher monthly human error (HE) related aviation accidents and incidents than nonscheduled operations; however, the effect size is small.

Traffic Alert:​ Correlation Between Near Midair Collision Reports And Takeoffs And Landings At U.S. Class Bravo Airports: 2010 To 2025, Nash Slettom, Brooklyn Stellato, Taylor Jackson, Vivek Sharma, Brooke Wheeler

Aeronautics Student Publications

A significant, positive correlation was identified between airport operations and near midair collision(NMAC) reports.

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.

Examining The Relationship Between Title 14 Code Of Federal Regulations (Cfr) Part 147 Maintenance School Aviation Maintenance Technician (Amt) Instructor Experience And Instructor Pass Rates For Airmen Certification Standards (Acs) Element Subject Areas, Richard Lyman Johnson

Theses and Dissertations

This quantitative, correlational study examined the relationship between Aviation Maintenance Technician (AMT) instructor experience and student pass rates in 14 CFR Part 147 maintenance schools. Data were collected from February to August 2025 using purposive and snowball sampling, which yielded 67 complete responses. Instructor experience, measured in months of A&P-rated maintenance work prior to teaching, ranged from 1 to 684 months (M = 253.54, SD = 197.97). Student pass rates, defined as the proportion of students passing ACS element subject area courses, ranged from .52 to 1.00 (M = .95, SD = .07). Most instructors were male, White, over 50 …

Diversifying Cybersecurity: Evaluation Of An Internet Of Things (Iot)-Based Cybersecurity Training Course Designed To Bridge The Diversity Gap, Maureen Namukasa, Bhoomin B. Chauhan, Carlie Swords, Curtice Gough, Weronika Dymanus, Catherine Diresta, John Vitali, Vivek Sharma, T J. Oconnor, Meredith Carroll

Aeronautics Faculty Publications

This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of an eight-module Cybersecurity course at increasing the learning outcomes of middle and high school students with little to no experience, including underrepresented minorities (URMs) in Cybersecurity. Twice we administered and evaluated the Cybersecurity course, which included hands-on IoT-based activities, utilizing collaborative learning, scaffolding, and representation-based learning strategies. Using a quasi-experimental, within-subjects, repeated measures design, each participant experienced a pretest, the course, and a post-test to evaluate the impact on learners’ self-efficacy, interest, and knowledge. The results revealed that (1) at pre-test, female (p = .001) and in one course administration minority …

Trends In Annual Reported Laser Strikes Per Aircraft Operations In The United States From 2010-2024​, Charles J. Prenaveau, Aidan B. Chen, Brooke Wheeler

Aeronautics Student Publications

Laser strikes targeting aircraft have increased in the United States from 2010 to 2024, even when adjusted for the number of aircraft operations. This trend poses a growing threat to aviation safety.

Drought Effects On Part 121 Operations In California, Brian Robert Barlotta, Steve Na, Vivek Sharma, Brooke E. Wheeler

Aeronautics Student Publications

This study examined whether Part 121 flight disruptions (delays, cancellations, diversions) differed between drought and non-drought periods at the five busiest airports in California from 2004 to 2024. There were no significant differences in disruptions between drought seasons for any of the variables.

Annual Bird Strike Reports Per Airport Operation By Different Runway Configurations In The 11 Contiguous Western States Of The United States, Hyunyoung Jang, Jiin Jang, Constantine Anthony Pagent, Vivek Sharma, Brooke E. Wheeler

Aeronautics Student Publications

This study examined differences in annual bird strike reports per operation by runway configuration: parallel runway and intersecting runway. Results supported that parallel runways experience higher annual bird strike reports per operation compared to intersecting runways, indicating a configuration-based risk pattern.

Drone In Sight: Studying The Rates Of Uas Sightings Near Airports By Month, November 2019 To December 2024, Ethan Akers, James Hart Arnold, Travis Coleman, Vivek Sharma, Brooke Wheeler

Aeronautics Student Publications

A weak, decreasing trend was found in monthly UAS (also

known as Unmanned Aerial Vehicle or Drone) sightings near

airports (FAA, 2025), but it was not statistically significant.

There was a significant difference in UAS sightings by month of

the year between November 2019 and December 2024, with a

more sightings in summer months.

The Effects Of Aviation Environmental Knowledge And Ticket Price Increase On Willingness To Pay, Dylan Dahl, Joonyeong Bae, Angelina Velez, Brooke Wheeler

Aeronautics Student Publications

There was no significant effect of aviation environmental knowledge on willingness to pay (WTP; p = .20); however, there was a significant effect on WTP by ticket price increases (p = .02) between 0 and 15%. This suggests that price is a stronger driver than awareness of environmental impact when paying for sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).

Understanding Human-Agent Teaming: A Mixed-Methods Examination Of Perceptions And Interactions, Valerie Robbins-Roth, Kendall Carmody, Bella Deloach, Meredith Carroll, Amanda Thayer, Jessica Wildman

Aeronautics Faculty Publications

While quantitative research on trust in HATs is well-established, there is a significant gap in understanding individuals’ subjective experiences during trust violations and repair. This study explores how people perceive and respond to these events, guided by three key questions: (1) How do participants describe emotional and behavioral responses to trust violations and repair? (2) How do personality traits influence reactions? (3) What qualitative themes emerge in the dissolution of trust? Using a mixed-methods approach, participants engaged in a 1-hour simulated search-and-rescue mission with four autonomous agents. During the task, one agent committed two trust violations, followed by repair attempts …

Determining The Difference In Monthly Hazardous Uas Sightings Pre- And Post-Trust​, Jacob Daniel Anderson, Kyle Beane, Ethan Ryan Prins, Brooke Wheeler

Aeronautics Student Publications

Unmanned Aerial Systems (UASs) present a significant challenge to regulators. This study determined that there was no statistically significant difference in monthly UAS sightings before and after the implementation of TRUST.

Investigating The Relationship Between Population Density Surrounding An Airport And The Number Of Wildlife Strikes Per Operation., Alexandra E. Rowe, Daniel Alves, Evan Park, Brooke Wheeler, Vivek Sharma

Aeronautics Student Publications

This study compared the relationship between population density surrounding an airport and reported wildlife strikes per operation. A very weak correlation with no statistical significance was determined which emphasizes the need for future research on wildlife mitigation strategies and understanding wildlife patterns.

Cloudy Views: Collegiate Flight Students Rated Employability Of Cfi Applicants By Experience And Gender, Kaylee A. Crispe, Esther Renee Wilson, Sihong Park, Brooke Wheeler, Vivek Sharma

Aeronautics Student Publications

After surveying core aeronautics classes, it was determined that there was a difference in employability by scenario. Scenarios with high flight time were rated higher than those with low flight time.

Effect Of Pilot Mental Health On Passenger Willingness To Fly, Isabella L. Deloach, Sara E. Bergamini, Dowon Choi, Brooke Wheeler, Vivek Sharma

Aeronautics Student Publications

This study explored how passengers' willingness to fly is affected by the mental health condition of pilots, providing insight into public perception of the mental health condition of pilots. Results showed significant differences between all scenarios except the medication scenario vs. therapy scenario.