Gender Differences and their Relation to Hazardous Attitudes in Pilot Training

Abstract

It has been stated by the FAA that Aeronautical Decision Making (ADM) training for pilots has been effective in reducing in-flight errors by up to 50 percent.  Hazardous attitudes and their associated antidotes are currently discussed as part of the FAA’s ADM training for pilots.  The purpose of this study is to add to the understanding of decision making differences and the effectiveness of instructing students on mitigating hazardous attitudes throughout their pilot training programs, in both male and female students using the New Hazardous Attitudes Survey.  Results of this study discovered that only two of the six hazardous attitudes, Resignation and Self Confidence, were significantly lower in students who had advanced levels of flight training, as compared to those with only basic levels.  Another significant result demonstrated that female’s overall hazardous attitudes scores were higher in the more advanced levels of flight training while males scores were lower.