How Do General Aviation Pilots Choose Their Route When Flying in Complex Airspace?

ABSTRACT Objective: This study is an analysis of the planning of general aviation (GA) pilots and its impact on airspace infringements. Background: Past studies identified the contribution of inadequate flight planning to airspace infringements in Europe, but without any discussion relating to the processes involved and their shortcomings. This article, therefore, examines the flight route decision making of GA pilots. Method: Twenty-seven recreational GA pilots who flew an airplane, glider, or ultralight aircraft were interviewed using semistructured interviews in Finland, Norway, and the United Kingdom. These nations experienced a relatively high number of reported airspace infringements. Interview transcripts were analyzed using thematic analysis. Results: The results showed that GA pilots planned a route near controlled or restricted airspace especially in areas with small uncontrolled airspace. This decision was typical for GA pilots who were based in the capitals of the European nations. The selected flight path and altitude were influenced by factors related to the pilot (e.g., risk management) and the airspace design (e.g., low lower boundary of controlled airspace). Pilots who were aware of the risk of straying into airspace while flying such a route considered mitigation measures, such as cross-checking the aircraft’s position frequently. Conclusion: Such findings can address airspace infringements by encouraging pilots to take mitigation actions while flying such a route, including flying at a greater distance from the airspace.