Aero Neurosis

“Lays bare the grim reality of life on a frontline squadron . . . the comprehensive physical, emotional, and mental decline these aviators endured.” —Donna’s Book Blog The young men who flew and fought during the First World War had no idea what was awaiting them. The “technology shock” that coalesced at the Western Front was not envisaged by any of the leadership or medical establishment. Despite the attendant horrors many men experienced, some felt that the dynamic context of aerial combat was something that, after the war, they still longed for . . . Doctors argued over best practice for treatment. Of course, the military wanted these men to return to duty as quickly as possible; with mounting casualties, each country needed every man. Aviation psychiatry arose as a new subset of the field, attempting to treat psychological symptoms previously unseen in combatants. The unique conditions of combat flying produced a whole new type of neurosis. Terms such as “Aero-neurosis” were coined to provide the necessary label yet, like shell shock, they were inadequate when it came to describing the full and complete shock to the psyche. Mark C. Wilkins finds the psychology undergirding historical events fascinating and of chief interest to him as an historian. He has included expert medical testimony and excerpts where relevant in a fascinating book that explores the legacies of aerial combat, illustrating the ways in which pilots had to amalgamate their suffering and experiences into their postwar lives. Their attempts to do so can perhaps be seen as an extension of their heroism. “An original and absorbing study of the psychological factors of the first air war.” —Firetrench

Aeromedical psychology is that branch of psychology pertaining to the assessment, selection and evaluation of aviation personnel. This book, Aeromedical Psychology, is designed to provide the means for a variety of clinicians to carry out sound assessment and selection procedures, perform informed evaluations and make subsequent recommendations regarding flight status and treatment strategies geared to the aviation environment. To facilitate a dynamic understanding of the field, the book emphasizes an integration of applications and theory, case examples and research. The book is divided into three parts. The first presents assessment and selection procedures for aviation personnel (i.e. air traffic controllers, flight officers and pilots) and astronauts and the many ways in which both psychologists and psychiatrists are involved in these roles. In the second part, the waiver standards put forth by both the FAA and the various branches of the military are presented, as well as the waiver decision process. Clinical issues unique to aviation - notably fear of flying, motivation to fly and airsickness - are addressed, as well as possible courses of intervention, treatment and disposition. In the final part, more specialized issues pertaining to aeromedical psychology are dealt with, namely the psychopharmacological research and regulations applicable to recreational pilots and aviation personnel, managing the aftermath of aviation mishaps and the psychologist's role in accident investigations.

Fear of flying is a growing problem among both passengers and airline crews. Recent terrorist attacks have heightened the levels of anxiety and fear when boarding a plane. In this volume, one of Britain's leading aviation psychologists explores passenger behaviour when faced with anxiety towards flying, the mental health of pilots and the possible treatments for people suffering from fear of flying. Includes contributions from Brett Kahr.

While stress and fatigue are often dealt with in other books on aviation performance and human factors, these realities of human vulnerability are now increasingly seen as central to the effective conduct of flight operations. Flight Stress provides a comprehensive treatment and a better understanding of stress and fatigue as they relate to aviation. It clarifies and distinguishes the concepts of stress and fatigue as they apply to flight, and expounds sufficient theory to provide a principled basis for the consideration and amelioration of stress effects in aviation. The authors examine what is known of the effects of stress from both laboratory and operational studies and detail the aspects of this knowledge to which aviation professionals should pay most attention. They go on to discuss the implications of stress and fatigue for performance in a range of aviation contexts, from air traffic control to aerial combat. Physiological, cognitive and medical sequel are explored. The book locates aviation related work, in its broader research context, critically reviewing and illustrating the work, with examples from accident and incident reports. It is substantive but accessible, since it both sets out the research base and provides plenty of 'real world' examples to leaven and illustrate the narrative. It thus provides an authoritative handbook for aviation professionals and a comprehensive source book and reference work for researchers. The readership includes aviation professionals and researchers, including medical personnel and registered Aviation Medical Examiners; psychologists and Human Factors specialists; training captains, senior pilots and engineers; air traffic controllers, dispatchers and operations staff.

‘Father of the Flying Corps’ and ‘Father of Australian Aviation’ were two of the unofficial titles conferred on Oswald (“Toby”) Watt when he died in tragic circumstances shortly after the end of the First World War. He had become the Australian Army’s first qualified pilot in 1911, but spent the first 18 months of the war with the French Air Service, the Aéronautique Militaire , before arranging a rare transfer to the Australian Imperial Force. Already an experienced combat pilot, he rose quickly through the ranks of the Australian Flying Corps, becoming a squadron leader and leading his unit at the battle of Cambrai, then commander of No 1 Training Wing with the senior AFC rank of lieutenant colonel. These were elements in a colourful and at times romantic career long exciting interest and attention—not just during Watt’s lifetime but in the interval since his death nearly a century ago. His name had been rarely out of Australian newspapers for more than a decade before the war, reflecting his wealthy lifestyle and extensive and influential social and political connections. But this focus has enveloped Watt’s story with an array of false and misleading elements verging on mythology. For the first time, this book attempts to establish the true story of Watt’s life and achievements, and provide a proper basis for evaluating his place in Australian history.