Failure Predicts Success: Professional Ethical Decision-Making in Aviation Simulators

Abstract

This research investigated the ongoing problem of pilot-induced mishaps from the perspective of professional ethics. The research relied heavily upon precedent work in philosophical virtue theory and moral psychology, including MacIntyre (1984) and Rest, et al, (1994). Anonymous field surveys were used to collect samples of behavior judged by SME’s as likely to induce or preclude an aircraft mishap. These observations were reduced to a Behaviorally Anchored Rating Scale (BARS) diagnostic and to construct simulator scenarios. Participants in the simulator phase were entered into a 3 x 2 pre-test / post-test experimental design. The scenarios offered participants opportunities to display relevant behaviors and experience the resulting session outcome (safe landing at an airport or other). Participants were randomly assigned to one of three intervention groups (control, FAA, and experimental). Experimenters were kept blind to group assignment. Diagnostic scores proved predictive of session outcome. No significant difference in pre- to post-test improvement was observed between experimental groups.