Pilot Trust in Synthetic Co-Pilots: Can Code Be Crew?

This study examines how pilot characteristics influence multiple dimensions of trust in synthetic co-pilot systems. As aviation increasingly explores reduced-crew and single-pilot operations, understanding trust in advanced cockpit automation has become critical. A total of 160 licensed pilots completed an adapted Trust in Automation questionnaire and a measure of self-efficacy. Trust was examined across six dimensions: reliability, predictability, familiarity, trust in developers, propensity to trust, and overall trust. A multivariate multiple regression approach was proposed to examine whether age, years of experience, total flight hours, and self-efficacy predict these trust dimensions. It was expected that pilot characteristics would influence trust differently across dimensions, supporting a multidimensional conceptualization of trust in automation. Specifically, greater operational experience and higher self-efficacy were hypothesized to predict lower trust in performance-related dimensions. Findings from this study may inform the design, implementation, and trust calibration of future synthetic co-pilot systems in aviation.