VERY LIGHT JET: PILOT TRAINING TO ENHANCE SAFE AND EFFICIENT OPERATION By TWEET T. COLEMAN Bachelor of Science Mills College Oakland. California 1976 Master of Aeronautical Science Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Daytona Beach, Florida 1995 Submitted to the Faculty of the Graduate College of the Oklahoma State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of DOCTOR OF EDUCATION July, 2008 VERY LIGHT JET: PILOT TRAINING TO ENHANCE SAFE AND EFFICIENT OPERATION Dissertation Approved: Steven K. Marks Thesis Adviser Mary Kutz Timm Bliss James P. Key A. Gordon Emslie Dean of the Graduate College ii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS “In this chaotic world, we need leaders… We need leaders to help us develop the clear identity that lights the dark moments of confusion” (Wheatley, 1999). I wish to thank my committee members, who lead and guided me to complete the academic requirements: Dr. Mary Kutz, Dr. James Key, Dr. Timm Bliss, and especially my committee chair, Dr. Steve Marks. A big “Mahalo” to my course coaches: Alethia Futtrell and John Direnzo, also graduates of this program. We worked as a team throughout this educational journey, sharing our understanding of the leadership styles of 20th and 21st century, class presentations, and the statistical research and design challenges. We supported each other, certainly a comforting feeling when working through this doctoral program. I want to express my deep appreciation to my husband, Patrick, who has been there through the light and dark moments for the last 39 years. Clearly, he is the horizontal stabilizer in my life and especially with this research project. I would like to thank my four children: Al, Jeannie, Jason, and Jenny who provided chaos, creativity, and deep insights. Finally, I would like to thank my fellow pilots who read, critiqued, and contributed to this research project. iii TABLE OF CONTENTS Chapter Page I. INTRODUCTION.............................................................................................1 Background...............................................................................................1 Statement of the Problem..........................................................................5 Purpose of the Study .................................................................................7 Research Questions...................................................................................7 Assumptions..............................................................................................7 Hypotheses................................................................................................7 Scope and Limitations...............................................................................8 Definitions.................................................................................................9 II. REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE .................................................................14 Pilot Training..........................................................................................15 Government Documents .........................................................................17 FAA Industry Training Standards (FITS)...............................................20 National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) .................................22 Pilot Qualifications ................................................................................23 Mentor Program......................................................................................25 Mentor Responsibilities.................................................................27 Selection Criteria...........................................................................28 Education/Ratings/Desired Qualities.............................................28 Manufacturers.........................................................................................29 Recurrent Pilot Training.........................................................................31 Airport Specifications.............................................................................32 III. METHODOLOGY ..........................................................................................34 Introduction.............................................................................................34 Design of the Study.................................................................................35 Population...............................................................................................36 Sample.....................................................................................................36 Instrument ...............................................................................................37 Instrument Selection......................................................................37 Instrument Description...................................................................38 Instrument Reliability and Validity...............................................38 iv Chapter Page Procedures for Gathering Data.......................................................39 Data Analysis Techniques & Mathematical Procedures................41 Limitations ..............................................................................................44 Summary.................................................................................................44 IV. FINDINGS.......................................................................................................45 Introduction.............................................................................................45 Demographic Data and Return Percentages ...........................................46 Data Summarization................................................................................47 Survey Question Number One.......................................................47 Survey Question Number Two......................................................48 Survey Question Number Three....................................................49 Survey Question Number Four......................................................50 Survey Question Number Five.......................................................51 Survey Question Number Six........................................................52 Survey Question Number Seven....................................................53 Survey Question Number Eight.....................................................54 Survey Question Number Nine......................................................55 Survey Question Number Ten.......................................................56 Survey Question Number Eleven...................................................59 Survey Question Number Twelve..................................................61 Survey Question Number Thirteen................................................62 Survey Question Number Fourteen...............................................63 Survey Question Number Fifteen .................................................64 Survey Question Number Sixteen..................................................65 Survey Question Number Seventeen.............................................66 Survey Question Number Eighteen...............................................67 Survey Question Number Nineteen...............................................68 Survey Question Number Twenty.................................................69 Survey Question N umber Twenty One.........................................71 Research Question Number One....................................................72 Research Question Number Two...................................................73 Research Question Number Three.................................................73 Research Question Number Four...................................................73 Research Question Number Five...................................................74 Research Question Number Six.....................................................74 V. SUMMRY, CONCLUSION, AND RECOMMENDATIONS........................78 Introduction.............................................................................................78 The Study Sought to Answer Six Research Questions ..................79 Summary.................................................................................................79 Problem...................................................................................................80 v Chapter Page Conclusion..............................................................................................81 Survey Question Fourteen..............................................................81 Survey Question Fifteen ...............................................................82 Survey Question Sixteen ...............................................................82 Research Question Number One....................................................83 Research Question Number Two...................................................84 Research Question Number Three.................................................84 Research Question Number Four...................................................85 Research Question Number Five...................................................85 Research Question Number Six ....................................................85 Respondents Special Interest Areas........................................................86 Safety Features in the VLJ ............................................................86