The impacts of information technologies on pilot profile in civil aviation

The civil aviation sector has been cumulatively increasing its activities around the world for more than a century. Investments and technological advancements during and after the Second World War facilitated the development of cockpit and knowledge management systems in aircraft, strengthened air/ground communication systems and eradicated the risks of misinformation and disinformation in decision-making processes. Furthermore, aircraft have witnessed significant improvements in speed, range, size, passenger capacities, quality standards and safety parameters. Today, civil aviation has emerged as a prominent mode of transportation, driven by factors such as speed, safety and time advantages, leading to its widespread global use. Furthermore, the phenomenon of globalization and increased competition has rendered it a relatively economical transportation option. Pilots continue to play a central role in flight operations, as they have done in the past. Ensuring accurate, uninterrupted and real-time access to essential information throughout the flight using information technologies and automated cockpit systems is an indisputable necessity to optimize the safety-cost-time triangle. In addition, experienced captain pilots skillfully leverage their extensive flight experience, knowledge, and expertise, adeptly evaluating both explicit and tacit knowledge while integrating data from the aircraft's automated systems. This allows them to make prompt and precise decisions. Moreover, the process of converting pilots' tacit knowledge into explicit knowledge, contributing to the institutional memory and recording it, holds the potential to enhance safety and uphold high standards in future flight operations. Over the years, technological advancements have led to changes in various aspects of flight operations, including the number of personnel involved, pilot's job functions, cockpit workload, and required knowledge sources. In the future, as artificial intelligence technologies continue to advance alongside information technology, automation systems are expected to play an increasingly prominent role in decision-making processes during flight operations, potentially bringing about fundamental changes in the future of the civil aviation sector. In this context, significant alterations to the pilot's role, job description and functions are being evaluated based on different flight concepts developed for the future. One fundamental element that will remain constant for pilots is the necessity for lifelong learning. The dynamic nature of the aviation sector, the rapid pace of information change, evolving aircraft types to meet operational needs and advancements in cockpit and other aircraft systems drive pilots to continuously seek information. Pilots swiftly access accurate and reliable sources to keep their knowledge up-to-date and in line with their information requirements. Building on these points, the assumption of this study is that "Pilot's ability to access to real-time knowledge by using cockpit systems based on information technologies and automation systems, and evaluating this knowledge they possess with explicit/tacit knowledge as a whole, apart from contributing to flight safety, will affect dramatically the pilot's future role, task description and functions" has been made. To establish the theoretical background for the study, a literature review was conducted, encompassing historical processes in civil aviation worldwide and in Türkiye, developments in the civil aviation sector, information technology-based cockpit systems and the information sources essential for pilots. The information and data obtained from structured interviews conducted with participants were analyzed and evaluated during the research process. Based on the information and data gathered from the research, a pilot-centered knowledge management model proposal was developed and the assumption was confirmed.