Aviation Psychology Program Research Reports

The report describes the records, analysis and testing procedures of the AAF psychology program. It deals with three broad fields: (1) air-crew classification and testing procedures; (2) records and machine techniques; and (3) statistical analysis.

Contents: Origins and development of the aviation psychology program; Official directives on the organization and functions of the program; Selection and classification of air-crew personnel; Studies on the problem of evaluation proficiency; Findings regarding instructional problems in the flying training schools; Research on problems regarding operational procedures; Studies of individual reactions to combat; Individual differences and trait differences; Education and training and the evaluation of effectiveness; The design of equipment; Techniques of prediction and experimentation; List of official directives; Intercorrelations of tests and other variables in the experimental group and in samples of United States Military Academy Cadets.

The report describes the records, analysis and testing procedures of the AAF psychology program. It deals with three broad fields: (1) air-crew classification and testing procedures; (2) records and machine techniques; and (3) statistical analysis.

In the well-established aviation system, the importance of sound human factors practice, based on good aviation psychology research, is obvious from those incidents and accidents resulting from its neglect. This carefully structured book presents an up-to-date review of the main areas in the field of Aviation Psychology. It contains current thinking mainly from Europe, but with input from Australia and North America, from specialists involved in research, training and operational practice. Spanning six parts, the book covers: Human Engineering, Occupational Demands, Selection of Aviation Personnel, Human Factors Training, Clinical Psychology, Accident Investigation and Prevention. Looking at the six parts - in human engineering, the reader learns about human-centered automation as well as human factors issues in aircraft certification. Results derived by job analysis methods are presented in the next part and serve as basic information in the design of selection and training programs. In selection, computerized testing or behaviour-oriented assessments are challenging approaches for personnel recruitment. Cost-benefit analyses in selection reveal convincing results, enabling organizations to save huge amounts of inappropriate training investment by the application of proper selection tests. The NOTECHS method is described which helps to assess CRM capabilities in training and can also be used to measure training effects in systematic validation studies. Although operational personnel in aviation are usually able to cope with stress more efficiently than other occupational groups, individual problems might develop as reactions to traumatic influences. Either a psychological evaluation or a proper treatment or both is then required as described in the 'Clinical Psychology' part of the book. The readership includes: aviation psychologists and flight surgeons, training, selection and recruitment specialists, instructor pilots, CRM facilitators, personnel managers, accident investigators, safety pilots, air traffic controllers, aircraft engineers and those dealing with human-machine interfaces.