Work-Related Views of Pilots and Flight Attendants: Turbulence Ahead?

Abstract

Since September 11, 2001, the Wilson Center for Public Research has conducted several hundred surveys among pilots and flight attendants, involving about 110,000 total respondents. Previous studies in other economically distressed industries have shown almost negligible militancy and a strong desire to protect jobs at almost any cost. In 2005, attitudes among pilots and flight attendants are starkly different. Their job-security concerns are significantly lower, and militancy is substantially higher is than typical. Militancy at bankrupt companies is especially high. This is unprecedented.