The effect of decision making styles on burnout level in flight: A study on pilot students

As an integral part of the global economy and transport network, the aviation industry is critical to the safe and efficient operation of the industry and to the health and safety of passengers, crew and all aviation employees. Pilots, as one of the fundamental elements of aviation, are responsible for making decisions that directly affect flight safety. Therefore, pilot training processes should be shaped with strategies to improve the quality of the decisions taken especially during the flight phase. However, factors such as excessive stress, workload and burnout that pilots are exposed to during the training processes may lead to negative effects on decision-making processes and thus threaten flight safety. In this thesis, the effects of burnout syndrome during the pilot training process were investigated and the reflections of burnout levels on pilots' decision-making styles during flight were analysed. The research aims to understand how the burnout experienced by pilots during their training period can shape their decision-making processes during flight. Burnout can cause physical, emotional and cognitive overload of pilots, making it difficult for them to make sound and safe flight decisions, which may lead to accidents. The results of the study revealed that burnout levels have a negative impact on pilots' intuitive and rational decision-making abilities. In addition, burnout syndrome had significant effects on decision-making styles such as decision avoidance and split-second decision making. These findings suggest that pilots may have difficulty in making correct and safe decisions under stressful and challenging conditions encountered during flight, which may pose a risk to flight safety. Therefore, it is emphasised that psychological support and stress management training should be integrated in pilot training processes to reduce the effects of burnout syndrome. Such support will help protect pilots from burnout and enable them to make healthier decisions during the training process. Thus, it will be possible to increase flight safety and optimise the performance of pilots in the aviation industry. This thesis reveals that burnout syndrome is an important factor to be considered in training processes and that such interventions play a critical role in ensuring safe flights. In particular, it should be taken into consideration that the burnout experiences of pilots during the training process may have lasting effects on their future decision-making abilities. In this context, training programmes should include strategies to develop not only technical knowledge and skills but also psychological resilience. It is important for educators to have the necessary knowledge and skills to detect early signs of burnout in pilot students and to put in place appropriate support mechanisms. Furthermore, aviation authorities and training institutions need to implement policies and practices to protect the psychological well-being of pilots. Such measures are essential for the sustainability and safety of the aviation industry.