Perceptions of flight crew resilience among commercial pilots: evaluation of pilots’ acceptance of CBTA across China, the United States, Europe, and the Asia Pacific

Abstract

Airline pilots play a critical role in ensuring safety in aviation. This study investigates commercial pilots' perceptions of flight crew resilience, and their acceptance of Competency-Based Training and Assessment (CBTA) utilizing revised questionnaires from the Flight Management Attitude and Safety Survey (FMASS). The research included pilots from China, the United States, Europe, and the Asia Pacific, aiming to assess their understanding, acceptance, and application of resilience concepts and CBTA methods in daily operations. The study uses a questionnaire that includes open questions for pilots to share their suggestions for CBTA training. This advantage allows the study to apply both quantitative and qualitative approaches. The mixed methods of SPSS v.26 and NVivo provide valuable insights. The findings indicate that pilots possess a better understanding of, and more positive attitudes toward, Crew Resource Management (CRM) and Threat and Error Management (TEM). The study advocates for fostering a supportive cockpit environment, emphasizing the importance of airline culture and cockpit climate in building resilience. It also highlights the necessity of incorporating resilience training into initial pilot education and during CBTA programs. Recognizing that humans are critical to the aviation system, the study concludes that resilience training for flight crews should be introduced from the very first lesson in pilot training. Additionally, successful pilot training outcomes will benefit from collaboration between researchers and industry practitioners.