Mitigating Risk Tolerance among General Aviation Pilots: Identifying Factors That Contribute to GA Pilots’ Risk Perception
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to identify factors that contributed to general
aviation (GA) pilots’ level of risk perception, which could then be manifested as an
increase in risk tolerance. The study used an explanatory correlational design to
determine what factors were related to risk perception. Research factors included
gender, age, marital status, race/ethnicity, education level, flight hours, single- and
multi-engine hours, hours as PIC, type of flight training, number of FAA
licenses/ratings, number of hazardous events pilots were involved in, self-efficacy,
aviation safety attitudes, level of psychological distress, and locus of control. The
dependent variable was risk perception. Predictors were partitioned into three sets,
A = Demographics, B = Flight Experience, and C = Affective Domain, and the
sample consisted of 93 GA pilots. Participants were solicited from member
institutions of the University Aviation Association.
A hierarchical regression analysis with set entry order A-B-C found no
significant factors at the first two stages, including corresponding increments.
When the Affective Domain entered the analysis, age, number of hazardous events,
and locus of control had a significant relationship with risk perception. Age had a direct relationship, hazardous events had an indirect relationship, and locus of
control had a positive relationship. The increment of the Affective Domain also
was significant, and an independent follow-up analysis revealed psychological
distress had a significant and direct relationship with risk perception. An
independent mediation analysis also found the number of hazardous events was
partially mediated by psychological distress, and this mediation reduced the effect
of hazardous events on risk perception. The findings of the study did not provide
sufficient evidence to support or refute Bandura’s (1977) self-efficacy theory,
partially supported Ajzen’s (1992) theory of planned behavior with respect to locus
of control, and supported habituated action theory. The study’s findings provided
compelling evidence that the affective domain, particularly aviation safety
attitudes, psychological distress, and locus of control, is important to understanding
GA pilots’ level of risk perception.