The Pilot Personality and Individual Differences in the Stress Response

Abstract

Everyday many pilots are able to successfully perform in stressful, high demand, high workload environments under conditions of time pressure and uncertainty. These capable pilots are attributed with having the personality characteristics, coping strategies, and skills necessary for dealing with such difficult situations. The present discussion will review current theorizing on the factors that may mitigate the stress response and identify the prevalence of these variables in pilots, as compared to the general population, in an attempt to gain a better understanding of pilot performance under stress. Implications for personnel selection and training will be discussed in the context of cognitive appraisal.