Date of Award

8-2026

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department

Aeronautics

First Advisor

John E. Deaton

Second Advisor

Troy Nguyen

Third Advisor

Ersoy Subasi

Fourth Advisor

Rian Mehta

Abstract

Helicopter operations frequently take place in complex, high-risk environments, where pilots continuously assess hazards and make critical decisions under pressure. Despite standardized procedures, regulations, and training designed to enhance safe operations, helicopter pilots may perceive risk differently when encountering similar flight situations. Understanding the factors that influence helicopter pilots’ perception of risk is essential for improving helicopter operation safety.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of various factors on risk perception among helicopter pilots. Using an explanatory correlational design, the study assessed whether helicopter pilots’ demographics, flight experience, and affective domain factors explain differences in their risk perception. The

targeted factors were organized into three sets of predictors: Set A = Demographics (age and educational level); Set B = Flight Experience (total flight hours, type of initial training, and number of previous hazardous events); and Set C = Affective Domain variables. The affective domain consisted of participants’ self-efficacy, aviation safety locus of control, and personality traits. Following the preliminary data analysis, personality trait variables were excluded from the inferential analysis due to the instrument’s low internal consistency reliability.

Data were collected from N = 134 helicopter pilots operating in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. A hierarchical regression analysis revealed that education level and self-efficacy were significant predictors of helicopter pilots’ risk perception. Postgraduate degree was significant across all three stages, indicating that helicopter pilots with postgraduate degrees consistently reported higher risk perception. In contrast, helicopter pilots with high self- efficacy demonstrated lower risk perception. The type of initial flight training showed a marginal effect, suggesting that helicopter pilots who received their initial training in a military curriculum may perceive the risks they encounter as lower than those who received it in a civilian curriculum. Age, accumulated flight hours, involvement in hazardous events, and aviation safety locus of control were not significant predictors of helicopter pilots’ risk perception.

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