Beyond YouTube Tutorials: How Online Communities and Failure Experiences Shape Digital Engineering Skill Development among Aviation Communication System Technicians

Digital transformation has reshaped how aviation technicians acquire knowledge, with YouTube and online professional communities becoming important sources for developing digital technical competencies. However, their effectiveness in enhancing digital skill mastery remains insufficiently understood. This study examines the effects of YouTube-Based Learning, Online Community Engagement, Learning from Failure, and Self-Regulated Learning on Digital Skill Mastery among aviation data communication system technicians. A quantitative cross-sectional survey was conducted involving 100 technicians in Indonesia, and the data were analyzed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM). The results show that Online Community Engagement significantly enhances Learning from Failure and Self-Regulated Learning, while Learning from Failure also positively influences Self-Regulated Learning. Furthermore, Self-Regulated Learning is the only significant direct predictor of Digital Skill Mastery and mediates the relationship between Learning from Failure and Digital Skill Mastery. These findings suggest that digital technical competence is developed primarily through reflective and self-regulated learning rather than through passive consumption of online tutorials. The study highlights the importance of integrating community-based learning, reflective practice, and self-regulated learning into aviation technician training programs.