Joel Fehr

December 6th 2015

ECF 40S

Aviation and Flight Survey Results Response

(Grade 9,10,11,12, Other)
The Aviation and Flight survey that I conducted as part of my English major individual
project went well. I made a 12 question/statement survey on paper, using the 5 point Likert scale
system. It was all about aviation because that is my topic for this project, and I was interested to
know what various people thought of flying. To get a wide range of opinions for the most
accurate results, I surveyed a total of 100 students in grades 9,10,11,12, and others
(teachers/adults). I put all the results together to make the percentages out of 100%, so that on
the pie charts it is easier to know what people thought of each question/statement, and pulled the
highest percentage out a bit to show it was the highest. Most of the surveys were conducted in
school, with school age students, and then the rest were at home, or work. I wanted to learn how
often people fly, if they like air travel and flight physics, and also if they would be interested in
flight school. For this response I am going to analyze and compare this data I got to my answers
and opinions to the questions, and how I expected the answers to turn out.
How often do you travel by air? 32% of the 100% said they travel once every few
years, which formed the highest percentage of the total. However never and rarely were traveling
close behind with 26% rarely and 21% never. These results were what I was expecting. I also
answered once every few years. Many people do travel by air sometime in their life, but the most
only go every now and then for a Christmas vacation, summer vacation, or mission trips. 9%
travel by air more than once a year, which can get expensive but may need to travel by air for
work purposes, or just like going away a few times a year. And the other 12% said at least once a
year. Depending on what deals you find, or what time you travel, it can either be expensive or
not quite as expensive, which I think is why many go once every few years so after one time they
can save up for a while again.
Service on airplanes is great. 44% were neutral about this statement, and 35% agreed to
it. The 44% that were neutral show that the service isnt bad but it is also not great. I expected
more to disagree, because sometimes the service can be bad and other times its great. I agreed to
this because most times the service is truly great when I have flown, however then there have
been some times that are bad, and then you whole flight is awful. Im glad that there are 35%
that agreed, because that shows that a good chunk that werent neutral about it have been happy
with their service while flying. 12% strongly agreed that the service is great, 8% disagree, and
1% strongly disagreed. Depending on how many times the person has flown, they may have only
flown once, and just had bad service that time, so may think that the service is always bad with
that airline company. But overall the results are quite positive towards the service, which is really
great.
Food on airplanes is high quality. I was really surprised to find that 42 people (42%),
went with neutral for this statement. I expected the majority of respondents to disagree or even
strongly disagree. 37% of the people disagree, and think that the food isnt high quality, and only
8% out of 100% said that they strongly disagree, and think the food is absolutely disgusting.
Personally I disagree along with the 37%. I think that it is alright, however whenever I have
flown I usually just eat my own snacks, or dont eat. The food that I have tried, or my family has

Joel Fehr
December 6th 2015
ECF 40S

got has definitely not been high quality though. The 9% that agreed, and the 4% that strongly
agreed, at first glance I wondered why they said that if most were neutral or disagreed. I was
thinking maybe they thought that it is high quality considering its an airplane, not a 5 star
restaurant, or they just really like the food that is can be ordered.
Airplanes are comfortable. For this statement I wasnt sure what to expect. I thought
that either lots of people would say disagree, or strongly disagree. Because most teens are
usually antsy, and dont like to sit so close to that many people, and sit in the same spot hours on
end. Or it could be the opposite and the majority would say agree, or strongly agree. Because
since it was mostly teenagers that I surveyed, teens arent full grown adults, therefore it can
possibly be more comfy and spacious. In the end the highest percentage was neutral. 34% didnt
agree, nor disagree, and sat on the fence. Along with the 29% that agreed, I also agreed, and
think that they are quite comfortable. If need be you can always get up and walk to the
washroom or something. 9% strongly agreed, 24% disagreed, and 4% strongly disagreed.
Depending on the age of the survey population, my results could have been way different if I
only surveyed adults and older people.
Airplanes are the safest mode of transportation. From the previous research that I have
done on aviation, I already knew that air travel is the safest way of travel, so my answer was
strongly agree. After adding the results, I was pleasantly surprised to see that 61% of people
surveyed, agreed that air travel is the safest mode of transportation. 44% agreed, and 17%
strongly agreed. Then there was 29% who didnt agree or disagree to it being the safest method,
so at least they dont think that it is unsafe, theyre just not sure what the actual answer is. And
the last 10% disagreed or strongly disagreed, and consider air travel unsafe. At least its not a
huge number of people, and Im sure that they will hear that air travel is actually the safest
method to travel eventually. I was expecting to see a large percentage in the disagree categories
because of show like mayday, where they show air crashes and investigate them. Its good to see
that people dont worry about that happening, and trust the airline company with their lives.
Air travel is the best method of transportation. 36% couldnt decide between if they
liked road trips, or flying to their destination, and stuck with neutral. 33% agree that air is the
best method of travel, 14% strongly agree, 13% disagree, and 4% strongly disagree. This
statement depends solely on the type of person you are. One of the surveyed individuals made a
good comment, on how they personally liked road travel, because they like to site see. So the
47% that said agree and strongly agree, may be the people who just want to get to their
destination fast so they can enjoy more of it. I agreed because I like airplanes, and find the view
above even more breathtaking then from ground level. And the 17% who responded with one of
the disagree answers, may be the people who enjoy taking time to see amazing creations, and
sites along the way.
The science behind flight principles is interesting. I thought that quite a few people
would have said disagree for this. I said strongly agree because its something I find interesting
and enjoy. I figured many people would find the principles boring. In the end only 13%
disagreed, and 4% strongly disagreed. Usually the only people interested in it are people who
enjoy aviation, or physics. 44% said agree to this, and 12% strongly agreed. This shows that a

Joel Fehr
December 6th 2015
ECF 40S

good portion of teens at least find flight principles somewhat interesting. And 27% were neutral,
and dont find them interesting or boring.
Attending a flight school would be of interest to you. I answered strongly agree,
because I think no matter how old I am, I will still want to attend a flight school because it would
be so cool to learn to fly. I thought that many would say disagree to this, because usually it takes
a certain type of person to want to attend a flight school. Some want to go to college or
university, but flight school is something different to try. The highest was neutral with 33%, who
werent sure if they would want to or not. Then agree and disagree were almost exactly even,
24% disagree, 23% agree, and then 14% strongly disagree, and 6% strongly agree. This is good
that 29% of people agree, because in the next few years airlines are going to be in need of many
pilots, so the more the better. Even the people who were neutral may decide to attend flight
school, and then even more could find jobs in the aviation industry.
Airline tickets are affordable. These results ended mostly how I expected. 40% were
neutral, and I also was neutral. I think it depends on when and where you travel. Sometimes there
are deals, and other times it can get very pricy, which I think the neutral people were thinking.
46% chose one of the disagree options, and find that airplane tickets are always expensive. And
14% chose one of the agree options, and find that tickets are affordable. It all depends on the
family, and person. Some can afford them others cant, however it would be nice if everyone
could afford them.
The option to select your seats is good. It was good to see that so many people agree to
this. 38% agreed, and 24% strongly agreed. Even though it adds a small fee to your total, I
agreed also because sitting by random people isnt very fun, especially when you could be sitting
by the people youre traveling with. So it looks like most people agree and dont mind the extra
fee. Then 11% chose a disagree option, and find that the option isnt good. I dont know why, but
maybe they travel alone, and it is useless to them and the extra fee is just wasting money. 27%
stuck with neutral, and dont find it good or bad, or they just dont care where they sit.
Airports go overboard on security these days. I thought with the newer machines that
airports have, that can scan people and their clothes, and then lots of people would say that it is
overboard and too personal. Only 16% of respondents took an agree position, and think it is
overboard. 63% took one of the disagree sides, and say that airport security isnt overboard, I
also say disagree, because if we can stay safe, its worth it. Neutral had 21% who are fine with
how security is, or dont know how it is. Having so many people disagree can be good because
then airports can keep air travel as safe as possible, without people feeling violated by security
measures.
An airplane pilot is a respectable profession. I was really interested to find out the
results for this one, because I have heard people say that pilots jobs get easier and easier, and
that the technology does everything for them. It was good to see that 87% chose agree or
strongly agree. This shows that it is a respectable profession, and that you cant just get in and
know everything. It is like any other thing, if you want to be good at it, and do a proper job you
still need to train and learn. This is helpful for if I ever would want to become a pilot, because
then I know that people respect the job, and dont think that it is something useless. Not that I

Joel Fehr
December 6th 2015
ECF 40S

should worry about what others think anyway, but its nice to see. There is 11% neutral, and 2%
that chose a disagree option, some may find it useless, and easy but thats their opinion.
I learnt many things from the results of my survey. My goal was to learn how mostly
teens, and some adults felt about air travel and aviation in general. I was interested to find out
how often people fly, because air travel is supposed to continue and get more popular in the
coming years. Most said once every few years, but since they were mostly teenagers, many
havent flown much yet. I learnt what they thought about airline services, the method and safety
of air travel, flight school and flight physics, and if a career as a pilot is a respectable profession.
I think the survey went well, and I am happy with how the results turned out. My goals and
objectives to get into the respondents heads worked well, I found their many opinions very
informative to my project.