Testing the Compliance Behavior Model in General Aviation

Australian general aviation accident data show pilots who conduct operations into adverse weather, when against the rules, remain as a significant cause of fatal accidents. This paper presents the background, methodology, and results of a theory of planned behavior (TPB) elicitation study, which extracted key psychological beliefs of aircraft pilots in such circumstances. The present study established a psychometric survey instrument with items that are valid and reliable, to then further explore the TPB psychological constructs concerning the intentions of pilots when presented with adverse weather. Given the principled deliberations associated with rule-related behavior, the project explores an extension of the TPB by investigating the addition of two psychological constructs – personal norms and anticipated affect and their power to provide a discrete contribution and improved explanation of variance.