SELECTION CRITERIA REQUIREMENTS AND CURRENT QUALIFICATIONS OF AVIATION FACULTY IN HIGHER EDUCATION (UNIVERSITY ASSOCIATION, AIRCRAFT INDUSTRY, MANPOWER PLANNING)

The purpose of this study was to determine the current status of aviation departments and their faculty. The study also sought to determine current manpower needs in aviation and human resources management methods utilized in the recruitment and selection of fulltime faculty of four-year aviation degree-granting institutions of higher education.;The population outlined for this study included administrative heads of collegiate level aviation departments granting a minimum Baccalaureate degree in some aspect of aviation. A questionnaire was mailed and 86 responses were received, an approximate 83% return rate. Questionnaire items were based on a review of the literature, interviews with a variety of aviation department heads, and input from a pilot survey instrument.;The findings of this study revealed the following major findings: (1) The aviation industry was on an upswing and projections for employment within the industry were high due to anticipated shortages of personnel. (2) Over half of the departments who participated had aviation faculty positions available for the 1984-85 academic year in the areas of aviation administration, professional pilot, and aerospace engineering. (3) The Baccalaureate was the highest degree offered by 80% of the aviation departments. Fifteen offered a Master's in aviation and nine granted doctoral degrees (all were in aerospace engineering). (4) There were significant differences between aerospace engineering and nonengineering aviation faculty regarding job responsibilities and educational levels. (5) Current minimum selection requirements for aviation faculty included possession of a Baccalaureate degree, less than three years previous full-time college level teaching experience, and a FAA commercial/instrument rating with less than 1,000 pilot in command hours. (6) Aspects of recruitment determined as most attractive to aviation faculty were flexible scheduling, salary, health benefits and vacation times. (7) Recruitment methods deemed most successful by aviation administrators were professional journals and referrals.;Recommendations were that the University Aviation Association should develop curriculum guidelines for the establishment of a doctoral level program in the field of aviation other than engineering; that departments of aviation should raise their faculty selection requirements; that high school guidance counselors should emphasize opportunities available in aviation; and that salary levels of aviation faculty should be raised.