The effect of cultural factors in the perfomance of Filipino pilots

• Main Authors: Chandumal, Michael Sanjay P., Flores, Aubrey Kristie L., Yuhico, Emmanuel Joseph L.
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Animo Repository 2006
• Subjects: Pilots and pilotage > Philippines; Navigation > Philippines
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/etd_bachelors/9630
• Institution: De La Salle University

Establishing the effects of cultural factors to performance is more effective and manageable by selecting a sample from a particular industry where this study is of greatest impact, relevance and significance: the aviation industry. This is such because pilots routinely handle human lives in their everyday tasks. Commercial flights carry around 300 individuals (plus flight crew) back and forth flying thousands of feet in the air. It is then necessary to come up with certain dimensions of culture that allows for linkage to the different behavioral practices and performances. Hofstede's Value Survey Module 94 is a questionnaire that enables researchers to compare culturally determined values of people across varying regions. This survey is modified for it to fit in the nature of Filipino aircraft pilots along with their culture. This modified survey questionnaire is subjected to data reduction through factor analysis to determine the main cultural factors that affects pilot performance. Pilot tasks that are most crucial are those of Approach/Landing having the most accidents, 51% according to Boeing Statistical summary, which is also validated by the Air Philippines Chief Pilot Safety and Security/Training Officer. As such, performance related to this area of flight is measured and tallied. The grades obtained from the Simulator Training are linked with the results generated by each pilot in answering the modified value survey module. There are four cultural factors identified. These are Pakikisama, Galang, Bahala na, Hiya. Multiple linear regression is used to interpret the results acquired from the Factor Analysis. It identifies which among the cultural factors are significant in predicting performance. Calibration data is used to build the model and an independent sample is used to validate it. Two out of the four cultural factors came to be significant in the Linear Regression Model, these are Pakikisama and Galang. It is found that having good Pakikisama or working relationship is desirable as it reflects higher performance. This is also true for Galang or recognition of authority, possessing this would lead to higher performance. The study was able to come up with a model that predicts pilot performance with the Filipino cultural factors present in the Philippine aviation industry.