Date

11-13-2025

Department

School of Aeronautics

Degree

Doctor of Philosophy in Aviation (PhD)

Chair

Anton Cihak

Keywords

augmented reality, aviation maintenance, perceived ease of use, perceived usefulness, technology acceptance

Disciplines

Aviation | Education

Abstract

This quantitative study examines the perceived ease of use (PEU) of augmented reality (AR) technology among two key groups: aviation maintenance students, representing workforce readiness, and professional aircraft maintenance technicians, representing field expertise. This approach offers a comprehensive understanding of AR’s role in maintenance training by accounting for varying levels of participant experience. Addressing the need for innovative methods to improve task accuracy, efficiency, and knowledge retention, this study emphasizes user acceptance as a critical factor for AR adoption. Guided by the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), this research investigates how technician experience influences perceptions of AR’s usability and whether PEU correlates with perceived usefulness (PU) and behavioral intention to use (BI). An expected minimum of 100 participants, including students and experienced technicians, completed a Likert scale survey assessing PEU, PU, BI, and demographic factors. Statistical analysis included Pearson’s correlation to assess relationships among PEU, PU, and BI along with simple and multiple linear regression to examine how experience and other factors predict BI. Findings may inform AR adoption by highlighting user perceptions in technology integration, supporting improved training, program design, and AR deployment in aviation maintenance. Future research may explore AR integration with artificial intelligence (AI) and predictive maintenance training capabilities.

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