Implementing Drone Technologies in the Logistics Industry: An Innovation-Focused Study on UAV Pilots

Authors : Talha Burak Çalışkan, Ramazan Erturgut

Pages : 64-76

Doi:10.51534/tiha.1830795

View : 86 | Download : 151

Publication Date : 2025-12-27

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :The twenty-first century, often characterized as an era of rapid technological progression, has ushered in notable transformations across the business landscape, particularly within the field of logistics. As technological capabilities continue to advance, firms have increasingly directed their investments towards sophisticated logistics systems, contributing significantly to the expansion of international trade. Among the prominent technologies shaping this transformation, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have emerged as a key element of the broader digital shift. Widely recognized for their potential to enhance operational speed and reduce costs, UAVs are progressively being integrated into the strategic investment plans of numerous national and international companies. This study explores the relationship between the use of UAVs and logistics activities within the context of air transportation, drawing on the professional perceptions of licensed UAV operators. UAV utilization, as the independent variable, was assessed across the dimensions of Design, Perceived Ease of Use, Perceived Benefit, Performance Expectation, Safety and Job Relevance, while Logistics Effectiveness was identified as the dependent variable. Since the items related to Job Relevance loaded under the Design dimension during analysis, this dimension was removed from the model. The research sample comprised 301 UAV0–UAV1 pilots certified by the Turkish Directorate General of Civil Aviation. The findings demonstrate a positive relationship between UAV usage and logistics activities. In particular, the strongest relationship was observed between the Safety dimension of UAVs and the Logistics Effectiveness variable. The results indicate that UAV use within the logistics sector is generally perceived as safe, and existing operational procedures in the country are regarded as sufficient. Nevertheless, as UAV technologies continue to evolve, the necessity for ongoing enhancement of safety measures remains clear.
Keywords : Drone teknolojileri, İnsansız hava araçları, Lojistik, Hava kargo

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