Which Passenger Emotions Mediate the Relationship Between Type of Pilot Configuration and Willingness to Fly in Commercial Aviation?

There have been a few studies that have examined how different pilot configurations affect aviation consumer perceptions about trust, comfort, and willingness to fly (e.g., Rice et al., 2014, Int J Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace , 1, 1–12; Winter et al., in press, J Air Transp Management ); however, to date, no study was found that has examined how the relationship between pilot configuration and willingness to fly might be mediated by different emotions. The purpose of this study was to fill this gap by examining how affect (emotion) mediates this relationship, and more specifically, which emotion(s) mediate. In two studies, participants were presented with different pilot configurations and asked to rate how they felt about them and how willing they would be to fly under those circumstances. Both studies revealed strong evidence that affect was a mediator in this relationship, and that anger, fear, and happiness were the significant emotions in play. The findings from this study provide information on how consumers view modifying the number of pilots that may be on board the aircraft compared with controlling the aircraft remotely. It also identifies that emotions play a significant role in these relationships.