Sharma, Vivek
Vivek Sharma
Assistant Professor | College of Aeronautics
| College of Aeronautics
Division Director and Online Program Chair, College of Aeronautics
Contact Information
Personal Overview
Dr. Vivek Sharma is an Assistant Professor in the College of Aeronautics (COA) at the Florida Institute of Technology and serves as the COA Division Director and Chair of Online Programs. He holds a Ph.D. in Aviation Sciences with a concentration in Human Factors and Safety. Dr. Sharma has extensive research experience in aviation safety, human factors, aviation data analytics, Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), Advanced and Urban Air Mobility (AAM/UAM), and user experience (UX). Dr. Sharma teaches graduate and undergraduate courses in Aviation Statistics, Human Factors, Multiple Regression and Correlation, Aviation Data Analytics, Aviation Research Methods, Unmanned Aircraft Systems, and Aviation Safety.
His research portfolio includes analyzing operational data generated through Flight Operations Quality Assurance (FOQA)/ Flight Data Monitoring (FDM) programs. Applying supervised and unsupervised machine learning (ML) approaches, including linear and logistic regression, Random Forest, Support Vector Machine (SVM), Gradient Boost (XG Boost), and K-means Clustering, to large-scale aviation datasets to support proactive safety decision-making. He has served as a lead researcher on several projects for the THRUST Aviation Research Lab, ATLAS Lab, and the Federal Aviation Administration’s PEGASAS Center of Excellence, applying advanced statistical methods and Tableau-based data visualization to translate complex aviation datasets into actionable safety insights. Additionally, his focus on Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) research involves addressing human factors and safety considerations for Part 107, recreational, public, and newly emerging BVLOS operations
Dr. Sharma is an FAA Part 107 Certified Remote Pilot and serves as an FAA Safety Team (FAAST) representative with a drone specialization, supporting aviation safety outreach and education. Dr. Sharma is also a certified Tableau Desktop Specialist and Google-certified Data Analyst.
Educational Background
Education
Ph.D. Aviation Sciences, Florida Institute of Technology, 2023
M.S. Applied Aviation Safety, Florida Institute of Technology, 2018
B. Tech. Aeronautical Engineering, Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University, 2015
Certifications
FAA Certified Part 107 Remote Pilot
Certified Tableau Desktop Specialist
Certified Google Advanced Data Analyst
Professional Experience
COA Research Experience
Analyzing Trends in UAS Accidents
Human Factors Considerations in UAS BVLOS Operations
Building Prediction Models for Airport Operations
Using Machine Learning Techniques for detecting Aviation Accidents
Analyzing Wildlife Strikes in the U.S.
Student pilots' Academic Workload and Willingness to Fly
Research Experience at ATLAS Lab
Measuring Trust in Human Automation Teaming
Battery Display Design for eVTOL aircrafts
Training Implications for AAM/UAM Operatots
Building Human Factors Considerations for Advanced Air Mobility
Flight Deck Usability for UAM/AAM cockpit
Factors predicting Students pilots success
Research Experience at FIT’s – FAA PEGASAS Center of Excellence
Weather Information Representativeness Project
Pilots Perspective on Avian Threat
Current Courses
Aviation Statistics
Research & Statistics 1
Research & Statistics 2
Intro to Human Factors
Aviation Safety
Aviation Research
Studies/Topics in Aviation Sciences (Tableau and Power BI)
Selected Publications
Journal Articles
Shaun, K., Sharma V., Kashyap, G. (2024). Evaluating the Impact of Airport Design and Operations on the Efficiency of Part 139
Certificated Airports in the South and Southeast United States. Journal of Airline Operations and Aviation Management.
Sharma, V., Glick, K., Kim, Y., Carroll, M.C., Wheeler, B.E. (Accepted, 2024). Flight Lesson Cancellation Trends Based on Type:
2010-2019. Industry, Engineering, & Management Systems Conference. Human Factors & Cognitive Engineering Section,
Hybrid Conference.
Hanrahan, D., Angelo, A.C., McFarland, J.S., Sharma, V. & Wheeler, B.E. (2024). Measuring Willingness to Fly Onboard Aircraft
Equipped with Two Pilots, a Single Pilot, and a Single Pilot with Artificial Intelligence. Industry, Engineering, & Management Systems Conference. Human Factors & Cognitive Engineering Section, Hybrid Conference.
Alharbi, M., Meechan, C., Sharma, V. & Wheeler, B.E. (2024). Industry, Engineering, & Management Systems Conference. Wildlife strikes by damage category in the U.S. Human Factors & Cognitive Engineering Section, Hybrid Conference.
Morales, V.E., Sanchez, J., Escalera, J., Wheeler, B.E., & Sharma, V. (2024). Artificial Intelligence & Aviation: Content Analysis of
Research Publications from 2013-2023. Industry, Engineering, & Management Systems Conference. Human Factors &
Cognitive Engineering Section, Hybrid Conference.
Carmody K., Sharma, V., Addis, A., Nguyen, D., Ficke, C., Thayer, A., Wildman, J., Carroll., M. (Sep, 2024). Behave yourself!
Behavioral indicators of trust dynamics in human agent teams. Paper accepted to the 2024 Human Factors and Ergonomics
Society Annual Conference, Phoenix, AZ, United States
Splitt, M., Sharma, V., Caldwell, B., & Hought, N. (June, 2022). Weather Information Representativeness for Pilots in Low Altitude Operations. American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics.
Chaparro, M., Sharma, V., Ficke, C., Mehta, R., Wheeler, B., & Carroll, M. (January, 2023). Predicting Pilot-in-training Success in a Private Southeastern United States University. Collegiate Review Aviation International.
Chauhan, B., Namukasa, M., Sharma, V., Carmody, K.,& Carroll. M. (Accepted, May 2023). Key Constructs, Measures, and Considerations for Human Factors Researchers in the Advanced Air Mobility Domain. Human Factors and Ergonomics Society.
Carmody, K., Sharma, V., Chauhan, B., Namukasa, M.,& Carroll. M. (Accepted, May 2023). Training Implications for Future Advanced Air Mobility Operations. Interservice/Industry Training, Simulation, and Education Conference.
Sharma, V., Carroll, M., & Mehta, R. (Under Review). Flight instructors safety behaviors at flight training schools: A theoretical model. Collegiate Review Aviation International.
Professional Conferences
Shaun, K., Sharma V., Kashyap, G., & (Accepted, 2025). Evaluating the Impact of Airport Design and Operations on the Efficiency
of Part 139 Certificated Airports in the South and Southeast United States. Industry, Engineering, & Management Systems
Conference. Human Factors & Cognitive Engineering Section, Hybrid.
Kashyap, G., Sharma V., & Carmody, K. (Accepted, 2025). Trust in Automation: Examining the Relationship with Decision-making
among Adult Drivers in the United States. Industry, Engineering, & Management Systems Conference. Human Factors &
Cognitive Engineering Section, Hybrid.
Glick, K., Kim, Y., Carroll, M.C., Wheeler, B.E., & Sharma, V. (March, 2024). Flight Lesson Cancellation Trends Based on Type:
2010-2019. Industry, Engineering, & Management Systems Conference. Human Factors & Cognitive Engineering Section,
Hybrid Conference.
Hanrahan, D., Angelo, A.C., McFarland, J.S., Sharma, V. & Wheeler, B.E. (March, 2024). Measuring Willingness to Fly Onboard
Aircraft Equipped with Two Pilots, a Single Pilot, and a Single Pilot with Artificial Intelligence. Industry, Engineering, &
Management Systems Conference. Human Factors & Cognitive Engineering Section, Hybrid Conference.
Morales, V.E., Sanchez, J., Escalera, J., Wheeler, B.E., & Sharma, V. (March, 2024). Artificial Intelligence & Aviation: Content
Analysis of Research Publications from 2013-2023. Industry, Engineering, & Management Systems Conference. Human
Factors & Cognitive Engineering Section, Hybrid Conference.
Carmody K., Sharma, V., Addis, A., Nguyen, D., Ficke, C., Thayer, A., Wildman, J., Carroll., M. (Sep, 2024). Behave yourself!
Behavioral indicators of trust dynamics in human agent teams. Paper accepted to the 2024 Human Factors and Ergonomics
Society Annual Conference, Phoenix, AZ, United States.
Addis, A., Carmody, K., Thayer, A., Sharma, V., Nguyen, D., Akib, M., Wildman, J., Carroll, M. (2024, April). Trust in
heterogeneous human-agent teams: Applying multilevel and unobtrusive approaches. In Orvis, K. (Chair). (2024). Research
Incubator: Unobtrusive Measure Development. Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology Annual Conference,
Chicago, IL, United States.
Sharma, V., Carroll, M., Mehta, R., Gallo, M., & Wildman, J. (May, 2023). Examining the effects of Big Five factors, affective domain, and organizations safety climate on safety behaviors of flight instructors in the United States. International Symposium on Aviation Psychology.
Chauhan, B., Namukasa, M., Carmody, K., Sharma, V., Berkel, G., & Carroll. M. (June, 2023). Guidelines for Information Display
and Characteristics for eVTOL Pilot Interfaces. International Symposium on Aviation Psychology.
Sharma, V., Carroll, M., & Mehta, R. (September, 2023). Trends in personality traits of Flight instructors: Analyzing impact on Self-efficacy and risk perception. University Aviation Association.
Chauhan, B., Namukasa, M., Sharma, V., Carmody, K., & Carroll. M. (October, 2023). Key Constructs, Measures, and Considerations for Human Factors Researchers in the Advanced Air Mobility Domain. Human Factors and Ergonomics Society.
Carmody, K., Sharma, V., Chauhan, B., Namukasa, M., & Carroll. M. (November, 2023). Training Implications for Future
Advanced Air Mobility Operations. Interservice/Industry Training, Simulation, and Education Conference.
Splitt, M., Sharma, V., Caldwell, B., & Hought, N. (July, 2022). Weather Information Representativeness for Pre-flight and En-route
Advisories for Pilots in Low Altitude Operations. American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautic (Presentation).
Sharma, V., & Carroll, M. (2022). CFIs safety behaviors at flight training schools: Understanding the effects of personality, self
efficacy, risk perception, and safety climate. National Training for Aviation Symposium.
Chaparro, M., Sharma, V., Mehta, R; Wheeler, B; & Carroll, M. (Dec, 2021). Predicting Pilot-in-training Success in a Private South
Eastern United States University. International Symposium on Aviation Psychology.