FAA Office of Aerospace Medicine
Civil Aerospace Medical Institute

Report No: DOT/FAA/AM-08/7

Title and Subtitle: Use of Weather Information by General Aviation Pilots, Part II, Qualitative: Exploring Factors Involved in Weather-Related Decision Making

Report Date: March 2008

Authors: Knecht WR

Abstract: Interview data obtained from 221 general aviation (GA) pilots are qualitatively scored for factors which influence weather-related decision making.� Factors finding relatively strong support are

1. the specific type of weather to be faced (storms, ice, visibility, and cloud ceiling are of greatest concern to GA pilots),
2. type of flight (IFR vs. VFR),
3. pilot physiological state (primarily disorientation), and
4. the inherent uncertainty of weather and the resultant cognitive difficulty of understanding this uncertainty.

Factors finding more modest support are:

1. social and/or economic pressures, and
2. impulsive behavior.

Additionally, relatively strong support is found in previously unpublished data for the influence of mission goals.� Research directions, remediations, and the value of qualitative analysis are discussed.

Key Words: General Aviation, Weather, Risk Factors

No. of Pages: 22