Date of Award
Spring 2008
Document Type
Thesis - Open Access
Degree Name
Master of Science in Human Factors & Systems
Department
Human Factors and Systems
Committee Chair
Albert Boquet, Ph.D.
Committee Member
Jonathan French, Ph.D.
Committee Member
Scott Shappell, Ph.D.
Abstract
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.
Scholarly Commons Citation
Saxton, Bonnie M., "The Influence of Motivation and Investment on the Length of Time Pilots Fly into Degraded Weather" (2008). Master's Theses - Daytona Beach. 179.
https://commons.erau.edu/db-theses/179
