Many things can influence a student's success in a course. Previous research has shown that students are more successful when they complete the course reading, but students may not always comply with reading requirements for multiple reasons, such as other time pressures or financial costs. Issues with reading requirements may be compounded if an…

This paper describes the iterative development, evaluation, and improvement of DAV 715: Human Factors in Aviation, an online doctoral course in the Ph.D. in Aviation program at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. From 2013 through 2017, data were collected from students enrolled in the course using a learning experience survey and an…

Advanced regional jet simulators, specifically the Bombardier and Embraer series, have grown in popularity within the collegiate aviation world over the last two decades. Curricular and program applications for these simulators made way for improvements to advanced systems and crew resource management (CRM) courses, academic research, and student…

Due to the high risk associated with collegiate aviation programs, the need to increase safety is paramount. Previous research has established a link between safety culture and safety performance in industry as well as in collegiate aviation programs. This study sought to evaluate changes in students' perceptions of a university's aviation safety…

The aviation industry is currently recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic and is forecast to continue to grow after returning to pre-pandemic levels of activity. As a result of retirements and growth, airlines are experiencing a large demand for qualified pilots. Collegiate aviation programs serve as a major source of training and recruitment, but…

Scope and method of study: The purpose of this national research study was to examine the effects that COVID-19 had on primary flight training at the collegiate level. This study was to determine how pilot production was affected by the pandemic and its associated lockdowns and mitigation measures to help see the ripple effects it caused and…

The use of Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS), also known as drones, is increasing in geospatial science curricula within the United States. Four geospatial science faculty members within the Arthur Temple College of Forestry and Agriculture at Stephen F. Austin State University (SFASU), Texas, focus on applying imagery obtained from drones to map,…

Engineering, aviation/aerospace, and nursing are top critical occupations in Oklahoma, meaning each area has consistent workforce shortages when compared to the notable industry growth projected over the next ten years (Oklahoma Aeronautics Commission, 2023; Oklahoma Career Tech, 2023; OSRHE, 2021; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2023). In higher…

This study investigated the relationship between undergraduate aviation student perception of instructor-student rapport and perceived student empowerment, as measured by the constructs of impact, meaningfulness, and competence. A survey comprised of the 6-item Professor-Student Rapport Scale- Brief (PSRS-B) (Wilson & Ryan, 2013) and the…

The air transportation industry was experiencing massive growth across the globe before the COVID-19 pandemic. At that time, future projections from major forecasting indicators, such as the Boeing Global Forecast and Airbus Market Forecast, predicted a greater than 4% average yearly growth rate over the next twenty years. The Federal Aviation…

This dissertation examines the key challenges faced by collegiate aviation faculty members as they transitioned from in-person coursework to emergency remote teaching (ERT) during the COVID-19 pandemic. Interpretive phenomenological analysis of semi-structured interviews profiled four collegiate aviation faculty members' experiences with the…

Three studies in this dissertation examined a topic centered around delayed flight progress in aviation pilot training. Study one explored the impact of nonconcurrent flight laboratory training on the academic outcomes of collegiate aviation students, while studies two and three explored virtual reality and artificial intelligence as potential…

Flight training is a lengthy and resource-intensive process with additional learning, and teaching techniques are often overlooked. One technique is observational learning, or backseating in aviation training, which can accelerate pilot training. This study aimed to analyze the factors that facilitate and hinder the implementation of backseating…

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requires that all pilots hold a medical certificate granted by an Aviation Medical Examiner (AME), or an equivalent exemption standard. Over the years, these aeromedical examinations have grown to include aspects related to mental health, as well as a number of other factors. There are several mental…

The collegiate aviation programs of higher education are seeking to adapt their capabilities and expertise toward educating a generation of airmen who will operate Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA). The collection of studies presented in this dissertation address this interest as higher education programs investigate the value of modalities and…