Impact of public law 111-216: Perceptions of U.S. collegiate flight students

Abstract

Scope and method of study: The purpose of this national research study was to examine the perceptions of U.S. collegiate flight students regarding the impact of PL 111-216 after its implementation and how PL111-216 will affect collegiate flight students and the U.S. airline industry. This study was to determine if a relationship exists between collegiate flight students' perceptions of PL 111-216 and the possible effects it may have on collegiate flight students' desires and ambitions to become U.S. commercial pilots. Additionally, this study examined collegiate flight students' perceptions regarding the impact Public Law 111-216 may have on the overall U.S. airline industry.

Findings and conclusions: The data collected from U.S. collegiate flight students at seven universities located throughout the U.S. were analyzed for the findings and conclusion in this research. Two research questions were developed to guide the study and organized into a research questionnaire emphasizing three areas: collegiate flight students' characteristics, collegiate flight students' perceptions of Public Law 111-216, and collegiate flight students' personal comments. The findings of this research study have the potential to impact collegiate flight students, collegiate flight programs, and the U.S. airline industry. This research provides collegiate flight programs and the U.S. airline industry insight into flight students' perceptions of PL 111-216. This insight may help forecast future trends in prospective enrollments and retention rates of current students in collegiate flight programs due to the significant increase of unanticipated flight costs. This study has the potential to also provide a vision of future pilot supply. The findings may provide an avenue for collegiate flight programs and the U.S. airline industry to address possible areas of concerns as a result of PL 111-216 changes in pilot qualification standards.