Good enough for government work? - A master's thesis on airmanship and military pilots' perception of competence.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between characteristics of the job as a pilot in the Royal Norwegian Air Force and how they affect the individual’s perception of competence. The characteristics in question were experience, currency, workload and complexity. The empirical data used in the study (n = 16) was collected through a questionnaire distributed to three operational fixed-wing squadrons, flying differing aircraft with their own unique mission sets, with the intention of capturing trends prevalent across the whole organization. Linear regression analysis provided the basis for addressing the primary research question and a statistically significant final model (R2 = .70) was obtained containing the predictor variables experience (flight hours) and workload. Flight hours displayed a strong positive relationship with perception of competence, while workload exhibited a strong negative association, and emerges as the most interesting result from the study. The data indicates that a majority of the pilots in the study are working close to a workload redline, with a particular disparity between the time required to execute task demands posed by the job, and the time available to complete them. As such, little tolerance is left for extra workload without incurring into an overload region where performance declines. Thus, the study provides information to stakeholders as how to foster a work environment in a ‘Goldilocks zone’ that stimulate for optimized competency and performance among pilots.