For Ruth Calix, a passion for aviation has become a pursuit with purpose: using research to help make the industry safer.
A safety analyst at Endeavor Air and recent recipient of a Regional Airline Association (RAA) Scholarship, Ruth is pursuing a PhD in aviation safety at the University of North Dakota.
Ruth’s passion for aviation has grown through every step of her career. Her experience as an intern, a gate agent, and now a safety analyst at Endeavor has deepened her desire to understand the factors that influence aviation safety.
“The more I learned through my different roles, the more questions I had,” Ruth said. “I wanted to better understand the human factors and operational challenges within aviation. This program allows me to explore those questions in a meaningful way and contribute what I learn back to the industry.”
Ruth was drawn to the RAA Scholarship because she recognizes the vital role regional airlines play in connecting communities and developing the industry’s next generation of professionals. For her, the scholarship represents both an investment in her career and an opportunity to contribute to an industry she is passionate about.
“I am a first-generation college graduate, and I am grateful to have had the opportunity to pursue my passion,” Ruth said. “This scholarship helps remove financial barriers as I work toward my aviation goals. It also reinforces my commitment to aviation safety and supports my continued growth as a safety professional at Endeavor.”
Outside of her work analyzing safety data at Endeavor, Ruth spends much of her time studying, conducting research, and attending virtual lectures. She plans to take two classes each semester and complete her degree within five years.
Her academic interests center on how data, human performance, and operational decision-making influence safety outcomes across the aviation industry.
“I hope to conduct research that is both academically rigorous and applicable to real-world airline operations,” Ruth said.
Ruth plans to build on the knowledge she gains from analyzing safety metrics each day at Endeavor. She also holds an aircraft dispatcher certificate, which has further shaped her interest in the connection between operations and safety.
Although her dissertation is still a few years away, she is exploring potential research topics.
“I’m considering research on how airlines manage ambiguous safety signals and how public accident data can help determine when potential warning signs require action,” Ruth said. “I also want to explore ways to strengthen communication between pilots and aircraft dispatchers, who share operational control of flights.”
Ruth hopes her research will lead to meaningful improvements that help make aviation safer for everyone.
“I want to develop practical solutions to aviation safety challenges,” Ruth said. “My goal is to help improve safety decisions and prevent incidents.”
“My manager once told me that the next incident could already be visible in the data we have today,” Ruth said. “Finding better ways to analyze that information, recognize warning signs, and determine when to act is critical. That is the work I hope to advance through my research.”
