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College of Aeronautics

College of AeronauticsFaculty and ResearchAreas of Focus

Research At The College Of Aeronautics

The College of Aeronautics' programs incorporate a multi-disciplinary approach to research that spans across various programs including engineering, human factors, safety, psychology, computer science and biology. Courses are designed to help students become more comfortable and familiar with conducting research, a vital part of any degree program. The College of Aeronautics manages an impressive inventory of aircraft and simulators that are available for research as well as a large pool of qualified instructor and student pilots holding various ratings and certificates. Additionally, students have access to various labs and other facilities such as the Advancing Technology and Learning in Aviation Systems (ATLAS) lab, Airport Management and Development lab, Air Traffic Control lab, Basic Aviation Training Device (BATD) Lab, Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) lab, and the Emil Buehler Center For Aviation Training and Research. Our Alumni Association and faculty provide our students with direct connection with organizations such as NASA, FAA, Air Force Research Lab, Harris Corp, Northrop Grumman, Avidyne, and many of the commercial pilot associations.

Undergraduate Research

The College of Aeronautics is working to promote student understanding of and participation in research. Aviation Research (AVT4002) is a senior undergraduate course, in which students plan, conduct, and present research projects on a variety of aviation-related topics:

  • Florida Tech pilots’ willingness to report through the ASAP,
  • Analyzing two different approaches to training private pilots,
  • Decision making and the Flight Risk Assessment Tool (FRAT),
  • Examining the relationship between airport station staffing and ground operation incidents,
  • The impact of employee’s experience on ground operation incident rates,
  • Effect of attrition of ramp agents on ground operations incidents,
  • The relationship between airport size and ground operations incidents.

A recent College of Aeronautics graduate and faculty member presented a project from AVT4002, Flight Students’ Willingness to Fly Within or Over Airspace Containing Operating Unmanned Aerial Systems, in the Human Factors section of the Industry, Engineering, & Management Systems Conference Human Factors Section (March 2018). This work has also been accepted for publication in the conference proceedings.

One of the College of Aeronautics undergraduate researchers received 2nd place in the 2016 UAA poster competition for his poster: Impact of Graphical and Textual Weather Briefings on Preflight Aeronautical Decision Making.

Current Projects

Here are some of the aviation research topics that College of Aeronautics faculty and students are currently involved in. 

    • Aviation Consumer Perceptions
      • Willingness to Fly with Reduced Crew and Unmanned Aircraft
      • Aviation Consumer Preferences
    • Aviation Management and Airport Development
      • Cross Cultural Training Knowledge Management Content Development
      • Pilots' job satisfaction in relation to leadership style of airline executives
    • Human Factors
      • Augmented Weather Interface Technology
      • Aviation and Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Interface Design
      • Human Factors Considerations for Internet of Things Cybersecurity
      • Human Machine Teaming in Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS)
      • Pilot Cognition and Decision Making with Uncertainty
      • Pilot-in-Training Success Factors
      • Psychosocial Effects of Social Media Restrictions on Workers
      • Urban Air Mobility Human Factors
    • Human Space Flight
      • Crew Selection for Long Duration Space Flight
      • Plant Growth for Long Duration Spaceflight
    • Safety
      • Aviation Risk Assessment and Accident Analysis
      • Helicopter Operations Weather Information Technology
      • Rotorcraft Wire Strike Prevention and Protection
      • Runway incursions
    • Environmental Science
      • Airport noise and aviation emissions at airports
      • Airport noise modeling

Visit our Research Stories page to read more about the wide variety of research at the College of Aeronautics.

From The Director of Research

The College of Aeronautics is committed to building upon its excellent talent and facility bases in order to pursue new applied research and development opportunities. New endeavors in aviation human factors, safety, and airport management R&D realms will be especially beneficial to students enrolled in our graduate programs. Our vision includes a research component for undergraduate students as well, as we see quality research as the foundation of any academic program.

As we develop targeted research thrusts over the next five years, we fully anticipate the COA to be recognized as one of the premier universities conducting aviation-related research. This is an exciting moment for the COA as we embark upon the development of an expanded research base that will benefit both students and university alike.

John Deaton, Ph.D.

PEGASAS Research

Learn more about PEGASAS research at the College of Aeronautics at Florida Tech! 

Recent Publications

Students of the College of Aeronautics have the unique opportunity to work alongside professors to perform real-world research starting at the undergraduate level and continuing throughout their academic careers. Research at the College of Aeronautics is not just a professor’s pet project, students get their work published here giving them valuable experience and a leg up on the competition when starting their careers.

*denotes student author

Aviation Management

*Dinler, N., & Rankin, W. B. (2020). Increasing Airports' On-Time Arrival Performance Through Airport Capacity and Efficiency Indicators. International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace, 7(1). https://doi.org/10.15394/ijaaa.2020.1444

*Dinler, N., & Rankin, W. B. (2018). Assessment of the Evolving Low-Cost Business Model for the Future Importance of U.S. Secondary Airports. International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace, 5(4). https://doi.org/10.15394/ijaaa.2018.1267

Aviation Safety

Carstens, D. S., *Pittorie, W., Carroll, M. & *Sanchez, P.  (In press). Review of aviation safety databases to identify information conflicts being experienced on the flight deck: Implications for NextGen.  Aviation Psychology and Applied Human Factors.

*King, G., *Horton, A., *Buford, L., Mehta, R., & Wheeler, B.E. (2020). The Impact of Airport Classification on Wildlife Strikes. University Aviation Association, Student poster competition, 1st Place, Undergraduate category.

*Li, T., Wheeler, B. E., & Carstens, D. S. (2020). Examining the Impact of Overhearing In-Flight Cell-Phone Calls on Passenger Safety. International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace, 7(2). Retrieved from https://commons.erau.edu/ijaaa/vol7/iss2/7

Wheeler, B.E., *Redden, K., *Bonilla, D., Fox, G., & Silver, I. (2020). OMIR Event Type and Frequency at a Collegiate Flight Program. Journal of Management and Engineering Integration. 13(1), 104-110.

Wheeler, B.E., *Cambata, C., Silver, I.M., Fox, G. & *Alyamani, G. (2019). Safety Culture at a Collegiate Flight School. Journal of Management and Engineering Integration. 12(2), 94-98.

Wheeler, B.E., *Golcher Ardic, E., *Wertin, R., Fox, G., & I.M. Silver. (2019). Operational Incident and Mishap Reports by Phase of Flight. Journal of Management and Engineering Integration. 12(2), 105-111.

Wheeler, B.E., *Gomez-Womack, J., & *White, D. (2019). Examining Ground Operations Incidents by Airport Size. Journal of Management and Engineering Integration. 12(2), 99-104.

Cusick, S. K., Cortes, A. I., & Rodrigues, C. C. (2017). Commercial aviation safety. McGraw Hill Professional.

Human Space Flight

Eichler, A., N. Hadland, D. Pickett, D. Masaitis, D. Handy, A. Perez, D. Batcheldor, B. Wheeler, & A. Palmer. (2021). Challenging the agricultural viability of Martian Regolith Simulants. ICARUS. 354(2021), 114022. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.icarus.2020.114022.

*Nakushian, A., & Deaton, J. (2020). Issues Facing Crew Selection for Long Duration Space Flight Missions. International Journal of Aviation Research, 12(1).

Wheeler, B.E., & R.K. Peet. (2016). A multiscale analysis of plant diversity along soil nutrient gradients. In Vegetation structure and function at multiple spatial, temporal and conceptual scales. E.O. Box, editor. Springer.

Human Factors

Carroll, M., Ruble, M., Dranias, M., *Rebensky, S., *Chaparro, M., Chiang, J. and Winslow, B. (2020). Automatic detection of learner engagement using machine learning and wearable sensors. Journal of Behavioral and Brain Science, 10, 165-178. doi: 10.4236/jbbs.2020.103010.

Carroll, M. & *Sanchez, P.  (2020). Decision making with conflicting information: Influencing factors and best practice guidelines.  Theoretical Issues in Ergonomic Science.  doi.org/10.1080/1463922X.2020.1764660

Carroll, M., *Sanchez, P., Wilt, D., & *Rebensky, S. (2020). Utilizing Simulation to Train Decision Making with Conflicting Information. In: Cassenti D., Scataglini S., Rajulu S., Wright J. (eds) Advances in Simulation and Digital Human Modeling. AHFE 2020. Advances in Intelligent Systems and Computing, vol 1206. Springer, Cham.

*Chaparro, M., Carroll, M., & Hook, J. (2020).  Improving the Usability of a Digital Neurobehavioral Assessment. In: Ahram T., Falcão C. (eds) Advances in Usability, User Experience, Wearable and Assistive Technology. AHFE 2020. Advances in Intelligent Systems and Computing, vol 1217. Springer, Cham.

*Chaparro, M.E., Carroll, M. & Malmquist, S. (2020). Personality Trends in the Pilot Population. Collegiate Aviation Review International, 38(2),  Retrieved from http://ojs.library.okstate.edu/osu/index.php/CARI/article/view/8025/7423

*DeHoff, M. C., & Cusick, S. K. (2018). Mental health in commercial aviation-depression & anxiety of pilots. International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace, 5(5), 5.

*Madonna, C., *Moore, J., *Gerald, J., Wheeler, B.E., & Mehta, R. (2020, March). A Look at Risk Attitude: Flight Students Compared to Non-Flight Students. Presentation at the 2020 National Training Aircraft Symposium (NTAS).

Mehta, R., Rice, S., Winter, S. R., *Anania, E. C., *Baugh, B. S., & *Milner, M. N. (2020). Determining the predictors for ease of sleep while on aircraft: Regression and qualitative analyses. Journal of Air Transport Management, 83. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jairtraman.2019.101756

Mehta, R., Rice, S., Winter, S.R., *Milner, M., Mehta, F. (2020, March). What Factors Influence the Imposter Phenomenon amongst Collegiate Flight Students? Presentation at the 2020 National Training Aircraft Symposium (NTAS).

*Nakushian, A., *Kapar, A., *Ryan, K., Mehta, R., & Wheeler, B.E. (2020, March). Prevalence of Invulnerability in Collegiate Part 141 Flight Students. Presentation at the 2020 National Training Aircraft Symposium (NTAS).

*Rebensky, S., *Chaparro, M., & Carroll, M. (2020). Optimizing the learning experience:  Examining interactions between the individual learner and the learning context. In: Nazir S., Ahram T., Karwowski W. (eds) Advances in Human Factors in Training, Education, and Learning Sciences. AHFE 2020. Advances in Intelligent Systems and Computing, vol 1211. Springer, Cham

Wheeler, B.E., *Risso, A., *Albrecht, T., Mehta, R., & Silver, I. (2020). Duration and Efficiency of Private Pilot Training. Presentation at the 73rd Annual UAA Education Conference, Virtual.

Carroll M., *Lindsey S., *Chaparro M. (2019) Integrating Engagement Inducing Interventions into Traditional, Virtual and Embedded Learning Environments. In: Sottilare R., Schwarz J. (eds) Adaptive Instructional Systems. HCII 2019. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, vol 11597. Springer, Cham.   DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-22341-0_22

Carroll, M., *Lindsey, S., *Chaparro, M., & Winslow, B. (2019).  An applied model of learner engagement and strategies for increasing learner engagement in the modern educational environment.  Interactive Learning Environments, DOI: 10.1080/10494820.2019.1636083.

Carroll, M., Wilt, D.F., *Sanchez, P., & Carstens, D. (2019).  Examining pilot decision making in information-rich cockpits.  Proceedings of the 20th International Symposium of Aviation Psychology.  May 7-10, Dayton, OH, 73-78.

*Lindsey S., Carroll M., Carstens D. (2019) Evaluation of the Impact of Mobile VR Interaction Methods on Performance, Preference, and Enjoyment. In: Stephanidis C. (eds) HCI International 2019 - Posters. HCII 2019. Communications in Computer and Information Science, vol 1033. Springer, Cham.  DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-23528-4_55

Mehta, R. (2019). The Graduate Advisor-Advisee Relationship: What Both Parties Should Expect. International Journal of Aviation Research, 11(1), 29-35. https://doi.org/10.22488/okstate.19.100403

Mehta, R., *Chauhan, B., *Edwards, M., Rosser, T., Dunbar, V., & Rice, S. (2019). Does a SWT Reverse Contagion Effect Exist from Humans to Automation. Collegiate Aviation Review International, 37(1), 90-106. https://doi.org/10.22488/okstate.19.100206

Mehta, R., *Chauhan, B., *Edwards, M., Rosser, T., Dunbar, V., & Rice, S. (2019, October). Is there a System Wide Trust Reverse Contagion Effect from Humans to Automation? Presentation at the 72nd Annual UAA Education Conference & Expo, Memphis, TN. https://doi.org/10.22488/okstate.19.100206

Mehta, R., Rice, S., Winter, S. R., Spence, T., *Edwards, M., & *Candelaria-Oquendo, K. (2019). Generalizability of Effect Sizes Within Aviation Research: More Samples Are Needed. International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace, 6(5). https://doi.org/10.15394/ijaaa.2019.1404         

*Pittorie, W., Carroll, M., & Carstens, D. (2019).  Effects of Verbal vs Graphical Weather Information on a Pilot’s Decision Making during Preflight.  Proceedings of the 20th International Symposium of Aviation Psychology.  May 7-10, Dayton, OH, 349-354.

*Sanchez P.L., Carroll M.B. (2019) Optimization of User Interfaces in the Digitization of Paper-Based Processes: A Case Study of a Mobile Aviation Application. In: Marcus A., Wang W. (eds) Design, User Experience, and Usability. Practice and Case Studies. HCII 2019. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, vol 11586. Springer, Cham. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-23535-2_40

*Anania, E., Rice, S., Winter, S., Mehta, R., & Vaden, E. (2018). Potential predictors of ability to sleep during commercial air travel. Poster accepted for presentation at the 2018 Institute of Industrial & System Engineers Conference & Expo, Orlando, FL.

Carroll, M. and Winslow, B. (2017) Examination of the Impact of Condensed Biofeedback Training on Acute Stress Responses. Journal of Behavioral and Brain Science, 7, 287-303.

Champney, R. K., Stanney, K. M., Milham, L., and Carroll, M.B. (2017) An examination of virtual environment training fidelity on training effectiveness, International Journal of Learning Technology, 12 (1), pp.42–65.

*Lindsey, S., Carstens, D.S. & Carroll, M. (2017). Presence Level of Low Cost Controllers for Mobile Based Virtual Reality Headsets, The Journal of Management & Engineering Integration, 10(1), 59-63.

Mehta, R., Rice, S., Winter, S.R., & *Eudy, M. (2017). Perceptions of Cockpit Configurations: A Culture and Gender Analysis. International Journal of Aerospace Psychology, 27(1-2), 57-63. https://doi.org/10.1080/10508414.2017.1365609

Rice, S. & Mehta, R. (2017). Automation in Sociotechnical Systems. In Cuevas, H., Velazquez, J., & Dattel, A. (Eds). Human Factors in Practice: Concepts and Applications. CRC Press. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315587370-6    

Aviation Consumer Perceptions

Mehta, R., & Rice, S. (2020). How Does the News Affect Willingness to Fly? Presentation at the 73rd Annual UAA Education Conference, Virtual.

Wheeler, B.E., Duboc, N., & St. Amand, Z. (2020). Drone Delay: Consumer Willingness to Fly after Awareness of Recent UAS Event. Journal of Management and Engineering Integration. 13(1), 122-128.

Mehta, R., Rice, S., Deaton, J., & Winter, S. R. (2019). Creating a Prediction Model of Passenger Preference between Legacy and Low-Cost Airlines. Transportation Research Interdisciplinary Perspectives, 3, 100075. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trip.2019.100075

Mehta, R., *Rao, N.A., *Labonte, E., Rice, S., Carstens, D. and *Gaenicke, S. (2019) Consumers from India and the USA have differing views of flight attendants. International Journal of Aviation Management, 4(3), 147–162. https://doi.org/10.1504/IJAM.2019.098362  

Rice, S., Mehta, R., Winter, S. R., *Anania, E., *Milner, M. N., & *Ragbir, N. (2019, March). What type of person is willing to undergo a teeth cleaning with a dental robot? Poster accepted to the 2019 International Symposium on Human Factors and Ergonomics in Health Care, Chicago, IL.

Rice, S., Winter, S. R., Mehta, R., Keebler, J. R., *Baugh, B. S., *Anania, E. C., & *Milner, M. N. (2019). Does length of ride, gender or nationality affect willingness to ride in a driverless ambulance. Journal of Unmanned Vehicle Systems, 7, 39-55. https://doi.org/10.1139/juvs-2017-0027

Rice, S., Winter, S. R., Mehta, R., & *Ragbir, N. K. (2019). What factors predict the type of person who is willing to fly in an autonomous commercial airplane? Journal of Air Transport Management, 75, 131-138. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jairtraman.2018.12.008

*Anania, E. C., Mehta, R., *Marte, D., Rice, S., & Winter, S. R. (2018). Which factors predict consumer willingness to ride in driverless vehicles? Paper accepted for the Proceedings of the 62nd International Meeting of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society, Philadelphia, PA. https://doi.org/10.1177/1541931218621314 

Edwards, M., & B.E. Wheeler. (2018). Flight Students’ Willing to Fly Within or Over Airspace Containing Operating Unmanned Aerial Systems. IEMS Conference Proceedings 2018.

*Marte, D. A., *Anania, E. C., Rice, S., Mehta, R., Milner, M. N., Winter, S. R., *Walters, N., *Capps, J., & *Ragbir, N. (2018). What type of person supports 24/7 police drones over neighborhoods? A regression analysis. Journal of Unmanned Aerial Systems, 4(1), 61-70.

Winter, S.R., Keebler, J. R., Rice, S., Mehta, R., & *Baugh, B.S. (2018). Patient perceptions on the use of an autonomous emergency medical transport: An affective perspective. Transportation Research Part F. 58, 431-441. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trf.2018.06.033

Winter, S.R., Keebler, J. R., Rice, S., Mehta, R., & *Baugh, B.S. (2018, October). Driverless ambulances: A possibility, but will patients ride? Paper presented at the 62nd International Meeting of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society, Philadelphia, PA. https://doi.org/10.1177/1541931218621270

Winter, S. R., Rice, S., Mehta, R., *Walters, N. W., *Pierce, M. B., *Anania, E. C., *Milner, M. N., & *Rao, N. (2018). Do Americans differ in their willingness to ride in a driverless bus? Journal of Unmanned Vehicle Systems. 6(4), 267-278. https://doi.org/10.1139/juvs-2018-0020

*Milner, M., Mehta, R., Rice, S., & Winter, S.R. (2017, May). What Information About Consumers Predicts Their Trust in Autopilots? 19th International Symposium on Aviation Psychology. Dayton, Ohio.

Mehta, R., Rice, S., & Winter, S.R. (2017, March). How Consistent Are Consumers’ Perceptions of Willingness to Fly? Presentation at the 2017 Industry, Engineering, & Management Systems Conference, Cocoa Beach, Florida.

Mehta, R., Rice, S., Winter, S.R., & Buza, P. (2017). Cabin Depressurization as a Hijacking Mitigation Tactic: A Consumer Perceptions Study. Collegiate Aviation Review International, 35(1), 13. https://doi.org/10.22488/okstate.18.100472 

Rice, S., & Mehta, R. (2017, March). Developing a Valid and Reliable Willingness to Interact with Drones (WID) Scale. Presentation at the 2017 Industry, Engineering, & Management Systems Conference, Cocoa Beach, Florida.

Rice, S., Winter, S., Mehta, R., Winter, R., Rice, A. & Oyman, K. (2017). Consumer perceptions of aircraft safety scale (C-PASS): An empirically developed scale for American consumers. The International Journal of Technology, Knowledge, and Society 13(2), 39-47. https://doi.org/10.18848/1832-3669/CGP/v13i02/39-47

Winter, S. R., Rice, S., *Friedenreich, K., Mehta, R., & *Kaiser, B. (2017). Passenger Perceptions Toward the Federal Flight Deck Officer Program and their Willingness to Fly. Aviation Psychology and Applied Human Factors, 7(1), 7-17. https://doi.org/10.1027/2192-0923/a000110   

Winter, S. R., Rice, S., Keebler, J. R., & Mehta, R. (2017, March). Patient perceptions on the use of an auto-piloted emergency medical transport: An affective perspective. 2017 International Symposium on Human Factors and Ergonomics in Health Care, New Orleans, Louisiana.

Winter, S. R., Rice, S., *Rains, T., *Milner, M., & Mehta, R. (2017). A longitudinal study on the alteration of consumer perceptions and the use of pilot medication. Journal of Air Transport Management, 59, 100-106. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jairtraman.2016.12.004