From the descriptive in the Table 19, the respondents of the survey question 2 and 3 support the first null hypothesis and reject the alternative hypothesis.
Based on the findings, the study supports the first null hypothesis that states:
H0: "Majority of UAV pilots do not agree that graduating from Undergraduate Pilot Training (UPT), to be under 40 years old and have a minimum of 100 flying hours are critical attributes that all safe UAV pilots should possess."
However, the study rejects the first research hypothesis that states:
H1: "Majority of UAV pilots will agree that graduating from Undergraduate Pilot Training (UPT), to be under 40 years old and have a minimum of 100 flying hours are critical attributes that all safe UAV pilots should possess."
Valenti et al. (2004) support the findings of the first hypothesis by pointing out that the major objective of the UAV is to execute mission without human interaction. UAV is remotely controlled aircraft where the pre-programmed flight plans are being controlled by complex dynamic automation systems. UAV is typically developed for number of mission including attack roles. UAV is also developed to eliminate the dangerous missions being carried out by the pilots of the manned aircrafts. In carrying out some of the missions, many pilots have lost their lives in the enemy combat, while some pilots have been killed during National Guard mission such as fires disaster, earthquake, and other natural disaster. Since the UAVs are remotely controlled by the automation systems, and not manned by the pilots "graduating from Undergraduate Pilot Training (UPT), to be under 40 years old and have a minimum of 100 flying hours" are not critical attributes that all safe UAV pilots should possess.
Testing the Second Hypothesis
The study proceeds to test the second null hypothesis that states:
Ho: "UAV pilots do not believe that lack of involvement in a "human related" aviation safety incident and possession of computer skills contributes to being a safe UAV operator in the USAF."
And the research hypothesis that states that:
H2: "UAV pilots believe that lack of involvement in a "human related" aviation safety incident and possession of computer skills contributes to being a safe UAV operator in the USAF."
Question 4
To demonstrate effective aviation safety, a plot should have a:
3 years of experience as a pilot
1= Not Very Important 2= Not Important 3= Not Sure 4= Important 5= Very Important
Table 6:
Question 4:
3-Year Experience as a Pilot
Scale
Frequency
Cumulative Frequency
Percentage
Mean
Standard Deviation
1: Not Very Important
8
8
22.86%
2.63
1.396
2: Not Important
13
21
37.14%
3: Not Sure
3
24
8.57%
4: Important
6
30
17.14%
5: Very Important
5
35
14.29%
Based on the findings, the research does not support the statement that possession of 3-year experience in the aviation industry contributes to being a safe UAV operator in the USAF.
Question 5
To demonstrate effective aviation safety, a plot should:
Possess computer skills
1= Not Very Important 2= Not Important 3= Not Sure 4= Important 5= Very Important
Table 7:
Question 5
Computer Skills
Scale
Frequency
Cumulative Frequency
Percentage
Mean
Standard Deviation
1: Not Very Important
0
0
0%
4.343
1.027
2: Not Important
4
4
11.43%
3: Not Sure
2
6
5.71%
4: Important
7
13
20%
5: Very Important
22
35
62.86%
Fig 6: Possessing of Computer Skills
Based on the findings more than 82% of the respondents agree that possession of computer skills contributes to being a safe UAV operator in the USAF. The data collected in the survey 5 support the second research hypothesis.
Question 6
To demonstrate effective aviation safety, a plot should be Fighter Pilot.
1= Not Very Important 2= Not Important 3= Not Sure 4= Important 5= Very Important
Table 8:
Question 6
To be Fighter Pilot
Scale
Frequency
Cumulative Frequency
Percentage
Mean
Standard Deviation
1: Not Very Important
12
12
34.29%
1.97
0.954
2: Not Important
16
28
45.71%
3: Not Sure
3
31
8.57%
4: Important
4
35
11.43%
5: Very Important
0
35
0%
Based on the findings, the research does not support the statement that being a fighter pilot in the aviation industry contributes to being a safe UAV operator in the USAF.
Table 9: Summary of the Findings of Survey Question 4, 5 and 6
Survey
Survey Questions
Mean
Standard Deviation
% of Important
% Not important
% Not Sure
4
3-Year Experience as a Pilot
2.63
1.396
31.43%
60.00%
8.57%
5
Possession of Computer Skills
4.343
1.027
82.86%
11.43%
5.71%
6
To be Fighter Pilot
1.97
0.954
11.43%
80.00%
8.57%
Total
Mean %
41.91%
50.47%
Mean Difference
8.56%
Fig 7: Bar Chart illustrate the Findings of the Survey Question 4, 5 and 6
To further test the hypothesis 2, the research proceeds to provide the findings of the rest of the survey questions.
Findings of the Rest of the Survey Questions
Question 7: "Have you attended Undergraduate Pilot Training (UPT) or the new UAV operators Course?"
Tick the one appropriate to you
1 -- UPT 2-- UAV operator course 3-- No previous pilot training
Table 10
Question 7: Have you attended UPT course?
Scale
Frequency
Cumulative Frequency
Percentage
Cumulative Percentage
Mean
Standard Deviation
1: UPT
28
28
80%
80%
1.229
0.426
2: UAV Operator course
7
35
20%
3: No Previous Pilot Training
0
35
0%
Based on the findings all the respondents have attended aviation courses. 80% of the respondents have attended Undergraduate Pilot Training (UPT), and 20% have attended the UAV operator courses. The findings have revealed that the respondents know the importance of attending the aviation training courses.
Question 8: What is your age?
Tick the one appropriate to you.
1-- 20-35
2-- 36-50
3-- 51 or older
Table 11
Question 8:
What is your age?
Scale
Frequency
Cumulative Frequency
Percentage
Cumulative percentage
Mean
Standard Deviation
1: 20-35
17
17
48.57%
48.57%
1.742
0.82
2: 36-50
10
27
28.57%
77.14
3: 51 or older
8
Question 9: "How many flying hours have you logged?"
Tick the one appropriate to you
1-- 0-750
2-- 751-1500
3-- 1500+
Table 12
Question 9:
Flying Hours
Scale
Frequency
Cumulative Frequency
Percentage
Cumulative Percentage
Mean
Standard Deviation
1: 0-750
14
14
40%
40%
1.89
0.832
2: 751-1500
11
25
31.43%
71.43%
3: 1500+
10
35
28.57%
Based on the findings approximately 70% of the respondents have logged less than 1500 hours of the flying hours. While only 28.57% of the respondents have logged more than 1500 flying hours.
Question 10. "How many years of experience do you have as a pilot"?
Tick the one appropriate to you
1-- None
2-- 5 or less
3-- 6-15
4-- 16+
Table 13
Question 10
Years of Experience
Scale
Frequency
Cumulative Frequency
Percentage
Cumulative Percentage
Mean
Standard Deviation
1: None
10
10
28.57%
28.57%
2.4
1.143
2: 5 or less
9
19
25.71%
54.28%
3: 6-15
8
27
22.86%
77.14%
4 16+
8
38
22.86%
The findings have revealed that more than 70% of the respondents have had up to 5 years of experience as pilots. Based on the findings, more than 70% of the respondents have understood the safety procedures in the pilot profession. Many of the respondents understand the safety procedures in the aviation industry based on their experience as pilots.
Question 11. Which of these aircraft have you previously piloted? (Circle all that apply)
1-- "Heavy" aircraft; 2-- "fighter/bomber" aircraft; 3-- rotary aircraft; 4-- none of these"
Table 14
Question 11:
Aircraft previously Piloted
Scale
Frequency
Cumulative Frequency
Percentage
Cumulative Percentage
Mean
Standard Deviation
1: Heavy aircraft
16
16
45.71%
45.71%
2.23
1.35
2: Fighter or bomber aircraft
7
23
20%
65.71%
3: Rotary aircraft
0
23
0
65.71%
4 None of these
12
35
34.29
The finding of the survey question 11 supports the findings of the survey question 10. The respondents have had years of experience as pilots. More than 65% of the respondents have previously piloted heavy aircrafts or fighter or bomber aircrafts.
Question 12. "Do you possess computer skills"?
Tick the one appropriate to you
1-- Yes
2 -- No
Table 15
Question 12 Possession
of Computer Skills
Scale
Frequency
Cumulative Frequency
Percentage
Cumulative Percentage
Mean
Standard Deviation
1: Yes
28
28
80%
80%
1.2
0.406
2: No
7
35
20%
20%
The findings supports survey question 5 that states that "to demonstrate effective aviation safety, a plot should possess computer skills. The findings of the survey question 12 shows that 80% of the respondents are computer literates. The results show that many of the respondents understand the importance of possessing compute skills in the safety of UAV pilots.
Question 13. "Have you ever been involved in a "human related" aviation safety," incident?
Tick the one appropriate to you
1-- Yes
2 -- No
Table 16
Question 13:
Human Relation Aviation Safety
Scale
Frequency
Cumulative Frequency
Percentage
Cumulative Percentage
Mean
Standard Deviation
1: Yes
0
0
0%
0%
2
0
2: No
35
35
Question 14: "Critical attributes of being a UAV pilot are graduating from Undergraduate Pilot Training (UPT), being under 40 years old, and having a minimum of 100 flying hours experience?"
Please Tick One
1-- Strongly Disagree; 2-- Disagree; 3 - Neither Agree or disagree; 4 - Agree; 5 - Strongly Agree
Table 17
Question 14: Attributes of being a UAV pilot
Scale
Frequency
Cumulative Frequency
Percentage
Mean
Standard Deviation
1: Strongly Disagree
8
8
22.86%
2.2
0.901
2: Disagree
15
23
42.86%
3: Neither Agree or disagree
9
32
25.71%
4: Agree
3
35
8.57%
5: Strongly Agree
0
35
0
Fig 8: Attributes of A UAV Pilot are being under 40, having minimum of 100 flying
Hours and graduating from UPT
The findings of the survey question 14 also accept the first null hypothesis, and reject the first research hypothesis. From the findings of the survey, it is revealed that more than 65% of the respondents disagree or strongly disagree with the statement.
Based on the findings, the study confirms the support of the first null hypothesis that states:
H0: "Majority of UAV pilots do not agree that graduating from Undergraduate Pilot Training (UPT), to be under 40 years old and have a minimum of 100 flying hours are critical attributes that all safe UAV pilots should possess."
However, the study rejects the first research hypothesis that states:
H1: "Majority of UAV pilots will agree that graduating from Undergraduate Pilot Training (UPT), to be under 40 years old and have a minimum of 100 flying hours are critical attributes that all safe UAV pilots should possess."
Question 15. "To what extend do you agree/disagree with the following statement: UAV pilots who possess computer skills and who have never been involved in a human related incident are critical factors to being a safe UAV operator in the USAF."
Please Tick One
1-- Strongly disagree; 2 - Disagree; 3-- Neither agree or disagree; 4-- Agree; 5-- Strongly agree
Table 18
Question 15: Computer Skills and Human Related Incident
Scale
Frequency
Cumulative Frequency
Percentage
Mean
Standard Deviation
1: Strongly Disagree
0
0
0
3.94
0.802
2: Disagree
1
1
2.86%
3: Neither Agree or disagree
9
10
25.71%
4: Agree
16
26
45.71%
5: Strongly Agree
9
35
25.71%
Fig 9: UAV Pilot who posses Computer Skills and never involved in Human Related
Incidents are critical factor in UAV Safe Operator
From the findings, the study accepts the second research hypothesis that states:
H2:…
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