OSU Journals (Oklahoma State University)
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A Comparison of the Success of Ab-Initio and Transfer Private Pilots at Southern Illinois University Carbondale: Revisiting a 2008 Study
Full text linkThis article reports the findings of a study examining the comparative success of ab-initio and transfer flight students in addition to the effectiveness of a transition course designed to support transfer student integration. This study expanded on prior research at the same institution comparing ab-initio and transfer flight students to determine whether the two groups differed in their ability to complete subsequent flight training following private pilot certification. This study also surveyed transfer flight students to collect their feedback about their experience in taking a transition course designed to successfully transition them into the university flight training environment and validate aeronautical knowledge and piloting skills. Quantitative data from students who completed the commercial pilot course were analyzed and, as found in the earlier study, no statistically significant differences were found between ab-initio students and transfer flight students in either course completion rates or days-to-commercial completion, indicating that the transition course effectively integrates transfer flight students into the flight program. Qualitative survey responses in this current study revealed that, while the transition course is working as intended, course flexibility and enhanced flight instructor awareness of the customizable aspects of the course could enhance student satisfaction. Overall, the findings suggest that a transition course can serve as an effective leveling experience for students, enabling them to succeed in the next phases of their flight training at rates comparable to their ab-initio peers
New Host and Distributional Records for Hematozo- an and Helminth Parasites of Midland Watersnake, Nerodia sipedon pleuralis (Ophidia: Natricidae), from Western Arkansas
No full textNeoterranova caballaeroi (Nematoda: Anisakidae) from Northern Cottonmouth, Agkistrodon piscivorus (Reptilia: Ophidia: Viperidae) in Arkansas
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The Legal Implications of Drone Use by Minors
Full text linkThe growing availability and affordability of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), also known as drones, have led to more minors using them for fun and commercial purposes. This study looks into the relationship between juvenile justice and aviation law. It focuses on the legal issues that arise from drone misuse by minors, such as violating airspace rules and posing risks to public safety. Using a doctrinal legal search methodology along with qualitative content analysis, the study investigates federal and state drone laws, legal cases, and examples from news articles and reports. A comparison of laws reveals differences in how various regions regulate drones operated by minors, with gaps in statutory clarity and enforcement mechanisms. The findings show that minors can be held responsible under both aviation and non-aviation laws, which include those related to public safety and property damage. This study highlights unclear areas in current legal systems, especially concerning minors’ responsibilities and the role of parents in monitoring drone operations. Recommendations include unifying state and federal laws, clarifying the legal duties of minors and their parents, and promoting programs that educate users about safe drone practices. These steps aim to enhance oversight and mitigate risks associated with misuse, thereby creating a safer aviation environment. This research emphasizes the need for flexible legal structures to tackle the changing challenges of drone use by minors
The Role of Modern-Day Labor Unions: Perceptions of U.S. Airline Employees
Full text linkU.S. labor unions began as organizations that were formed to ensure fair wages, better benefits, and improved working conditions for workers. Today, the U.S. airline industry is a heavily unionized environment with many unions representing the different airline employee groups. The purpose of this study was to solicit U.S. airline employees’ perceptions regarding the role and responsibilities of modern-day labor unions. The researchers collected 306 completed surveys from participating U.S. airline employees, representing airline pilots, flight attendants, aircraft mechanics, ground operations, and other airline employee group(s). Four significant findings emerged from the research study: (1) over 85% of the participating unionized U.S. airline employees approved of the labor unions that are representing them in the workplace, (2) approximately 75% of airline employees agreed their unions are beneficial to them in the workplace and their representation has improved employees’ wages, working conditions, and overall quality of life, (3) about 60% of the airline employees agreed that unions hold too much power and influence, and (4) almost 90% of employees agreed labor union endorsements and union money regarding political policies are wrong. The results and recommendations will be shared with labor union leaders, decision makers in the US airline industry, and aviation academicians, in anticipation these findings will determine if labor unions are perceived by the participating airline employees as no longer a necessity, but more of a mandated choice in the U.S. airline industry
Comparative Analysis of Human and Independent Large Language Model (LLM) Perspectives on the Top Ten Cybersecurity Issues in Aviation
Full text linkThis study compares cybersecurity threat prioritizations produced by aviation subject-matter experts and ten independently developed large language models (LLMs). Using Borda ranking methods and Kendall’s W to evaluate agreement, we analyze aligned themes and divergences in aviation-specific threat emphasis. SMEs prioritized risks at integration boundaries, safety-critical navigation interference, and supply-chain and cloud-to-aircraft trust paths. LLMs successfully identified broad risk categories but emphasized generic IT attack surfaces more heavily than domain-specific vectors. Findings suggest LLMs provide value for horizon scanning and taxonomy scaffolding but require aviation context to support operational prioritization. Limitations include a small SME sample (n=4) and rapidly evolving AI model capabilities. Future work should expand stakeholder representation across operators, ANSPs, airport authorities, and regulators