The Influence of Motivation and Investment on the Length of Time Pilots Fly into Degraded Weather

<p>Approximately 75% of weather-related accidents result in fatalities and are a primary safety concern in aviation. This study attempted to understand how financial motivation and time investment influence the length of time pilots fly into degraded weather. The sunk-cost effect claims that financially motivated pilots would continue longer when weather is encountered late in the flight. The results revealed that the financially motivated pilots continued longer than the non-financially motivated pilots when weather was encountered early in the flight. These results support the situation assessment hypothesis and cognitive anchoring. Specifically, how pilots assess the situation and utilize information obtained before making a decision can influence their decisions. Further research is needed to understand this relationship to possibly reduce the number of weather-related accidents and associated fatalities.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science in Human Factors & Systems

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis - Open Access

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Human Factors and Systems

Year

2008

Author dc:creator

• Saxton, Bonnie M.

Contributors dc:contributor

• Albert J. Boquet
• Jonathan French
• Scott A. Shappell

• air pilots
• motivation
• degraded weather
• Aviation
• Management and Operations

Repository record dc:identifier

https://commons.erau.edu/db-theses/179

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:commons.erau.edu:db-theses-1260