Sociology of Commercial Flight Crew

There are numerous psychological studies of pilots and piloting, but little has been done in the way of sociological examination. Commercial aviation is one of the world's biggest industries, yet there are few studies of pilots as social beings and of their place of work, the flight-deck. Developing a sociological understanding of front-line staff and of pilots' working environments is an important step to developing a more detailed understanding of this increasingly important sector. This book performs such a function and also adds to our understanding of pilots in general, from those who work for flag carriers to those who fly for regional or corporate jet operators. The readership includes the general public, industry legislators, regulators, managements, employees, trainers, journalists, academics and students of sociology, psychology, organisation theory and business management. Contents: Chapter One: Introduction and basic concepts. Chapter Two: Pilots' history. Chapter Three: Pilots' socio-economic origins and motivations. Chapter Four: Pilots' lifestyle and socio-economic status. Chapter Five: Pilots' commercial flying careers and perceptions of the industry. Chapter Six: Pilots' concerns and professional culture. Chapter Seven: Pilots' aspirations and future plans. Chapter Eight: Conclusions. Chapter Nine: An agenda for managers. Appendices; Appendix 1: Questionnaire; Appendix 2: Interview questions; Appendix 3: Pilots' socio-economic origins and motivations; Appendix 4: Pilots' lifestyle and socio-economic status; Appendix 5: Pilots' commercial flying careers and perceptions of the industry; Appendix 6: Pilots' concerns and professional culture; Appendix 7: Pilots' aspirations. Bibliography; Index.