S-3A Pilot Reduction Policy. A Morale and Effectiveness Study

摘要

Since the introduction of the S-3A Viking aircraft into the U.S. Navy in the early 1970's, the number of pilots within the S-3A community has steadily decreased. Two policies were implemented to reduce the number of S-3A pilots. The intent of these policies was to improve morale and mission effectiveness. With the decrease of the number of S-3A pilots, an increase in the utilization of the naval flight officer was effected. The focus of this thesis is to measure the perceptions of the impact of the pilot reduction policy and calculate relevant correlations. The data used in this study is derived from the perceptions of forty S-3A pilots and forty S-3A naval flight officers from Naval Air Station Cecil Field, Florida, and Naval Air Station North Island, California. Analysis of the survey data obtained from S-3A pilots and naval flight officers indicates a perception that the implementation of a pilot reduction policy favorably impacts morale and mission effectiveness/performance. The results also support the use of the naval flight officer in the S-3A copilot position.