Digital Preflight Planning in General Aviation: The Role of Pilot Self-Efficacy and Information Quality

Preflight planning is a critical phase in general aviation (GA), increasingly supported by digital tools. However, limited research has examined how pilots’ self-efficacy and perceptions of information and technology quality affect preflight planning effectiveness. This study explores the relationships among self-efficacy, information quality, technology characteristics, and perceived preflight planning effectiveness. A survey of 135 GA pilots was conducted, and data were analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modeling. The findings reveal that traditional experience indicators—flight hours, years licensed, and flying frequency—do not significantly predict self-efficacy. Technology characteristics significantly influence self-efficacy, while information quality significantly predicts digital tool use. Contrary to expectations, self-efficacy does not significantly influence perceived planning effectiveness, although digital tool use has a marginal effect. These results emphasize the importance of high-quality, usable information over traditional experience measures or general confidence in predicting planning success. Implications for pilot training and digital tool design include shifting focus toward user-centered systems and structured support for preflight decision-making.