In response to the 2009 Colgan 3407 airline crash and ensuing public concern, Public Law 111-216: The Airline Safety and Federal Aviation Administration Extension Act of 2010 was signed into law on August 1, 2010. This legislation mandated significant changes to the aviation and airline industries. Among these changes, an increase in pilot qualification standards was enforced for pilots seeking employment with US air carriers. This study explores the perceptions of aviation faculty members and flight center personnel at fouryear collegiate flight training programs in the US regarding the effect of PL 111-216. Results of this national study indicate the majority of respondents believe PL 111-216 will have an adverse effect on collegiate aviation flight students, collegiate aviation flight training programs and the US air carrier industry. This study also revealed the perception that collegiate flight students will begin to pursue flight careers (non-US airline or corporate aviation) that are not directly impacted by PL 111-216.

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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.vi