HUMAN-FACTORS ON THE FLIGHT DECK - THE INFLUENCE OF NATIONAL CULTURE

Pilots from the United States, the Philippines, and Taiwan as well as flight attendants from the United States, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, Tha iland, Singapore, and Taiwan completed a 20-item attitudinal questionn aire about group processes on the flight deck. A three-dimensional IND SCAL analysis revealed one dimension, used primarily by the eight Asia n groups, which reflected high power distance and collectivism. The se cond dimension, reflecting individualism and moderate power distance, was used by the U.S. flight attendants. The third dimension, individua lism and low power distance, was used almost exclusively by the U.S. p ilots. The attitudinal similarity among the eight Asian groups was att ributed in part to the questionnaire's monocultural bias. A new study is outlined, and training recommendations are offered.