Job satisfaction among South African aircraft pilots

Abstract

The importance of job satisfaction to human beings is a widely studied phenomenon, due to the assumption that job satisfaction is a major contributor to the well-being of employees and to several organisational outcomes. Most of these studies have focused on the influence of organisational variables on job satisfaction. Few studies have investigated the relationship between pilot-related factors and the job satisfaction levels of aviators. In a study of 704 South African pilots, significant differences were found in job satisfaction levels with regard to the nature of a pilot's flying duty, area(s) of operation, type(s) of licence and level of command. AFRIKAANS: Werkstevredenheid en die belangrikheid daarvan vir die mens is 'n onderwerp waaroor navorsing dikwels gedoen word. Die rede hiervoor is die aanname dat werkstevredenheid 'n belangrike bydraende faktor is tot werknemerswelsyn en verskeie organisatoriese uitkomste. Die meeste van hierdie studies het gekonsentreer op die invloed van organisatoriese veranderlikes op werkstevredenheid. Min navorsing is egter gedoen oor die verband tussen vliegverwante veranderlikes en die vlakke van werkstevredenheid van vlieëniers. In 'n studie van 704 Suid-Afrikaanse vlieëniers is beduidende verskille gevind tussen die werkstevredenheidsvlakke van vlieëniers met betrekking tot die aard van vlieëniers se vliegtaak, area(s) van werksaamheid, soort(e) lisensie(s) en vlak van bevelvoering.