Aeronautical psychology: what it is, history and functions

What does psychology have to do with flying? How has psychology, after painstakingly conquering scientific status, managed to place itself among the most suitable sciences for the development of flight safety, aircraft construction, training in aviation? Wanting to review the history of aviation psychology is a cyclical work. What we call today Aviation Human Factors is a kaleidoscope of knowledge of medicine, physiology, psychophysiology, psychology, ergonomics and, more recently, cognitive science and its multidisciplinarity. Therefore, in this online Psychology article we are going to discover together what is aeronautical psychology, its history and the functions of a / a expert in aviation psychology.

Index

1. What is aeronautical psychology
2. History of aeronautical psychology
3. Functions of the expert in aeronautical psychology

What is aeronautical psychology? Aeronautical psychology or aviation psychology

What is the What is aeronautical psychology in charge of? Aeronautical psychology studies the human being and his cognitive processes, his actions and his behaviors in the field aeronautical and aerospace, considering cultural aspects and applying psychological science derived from the fields of the Psychology of work and organizations, the Social psychology and the clinical psychology. For example, aeronautical psychology studies the psychological aspects of aviation, in order to increase its effectiveness and improve the selection of candidates for the different professions related to this field, in order to identify the psychological causes of the plane crashes, to understand human behavior, actions, cognitive and emotional processes in aviation and interaction among employees.

The number of people wanting to fly is increasing rapidly and for this reason is putting additional pressure on pilots, flight crews and airlines. This added pressure, as well as the need to control human error and improve operations of airlines, it translates into increased work-related stress and, therefore, in the need for more aviation psychologists working on the ground.

The entire aeronautical community, both at European and international level, recognizes the importance of the psychological well-being of the personnel who participates in aviation and assistance support for reconnaissance, addressing and overcoming any issues that may affect their ability in order to practice the profession safely.

Topics such as the human factor, the study of errors, the development of programs on the resources of the teams, the fatigue of the work in aviation and others, have been present for a long time in aeronautical regulations, due to the impact they have on safety. Commission Regulation 2018/1042 of July 23, 2018, published on 07.25.2018 in the Official Gazette of the European Union, has established the technical requirements and administrative procedures for the introduction from support programs and psychological evaluation of the flight crew and the flight deck. All of these topics, known as Psychological Assessment Activity and Support Programs, were then incorporated into the regulations in force in commercial air transport and that provide for the figure of the Mental Health Specialist and the Aviation Psychologist.

The aviation psychologist is a professional who applies the knowledge and methods of psychological sciences to the world of aviation, helping to maintain high standards and improve safety standards, supporting professionals and organizations to improve their performance and support their health mental. Let's see the functions of the aeronautical psychologist:

• Advise pilots and flight crew. They can help prepare staff members for potential threats and teach them how to cope with high stress situations. After periods of crisis, such as a plane crash or a terrorist threat, a psychologist can offer emergency counseling to pilots and airline crew, as well as passengers who have suffered any type of traumatic event. Mental health support can also be offered to family members of those who may have died during a flight.
• Research work. They can assist in the investigation process after an unforeseen event, helping authorities understand the behavior of the pilots, the flight crew and any threats that were on board before the event. They can also conduct aviation safety studies and inform airlines.
• Design training programs. An aviation psychologist can help design and plan training programs for airlines to improve the performance of their staff.
• Collaborate with engineers. Sometimes experts in aeronautical psychology will work alongside engineers during cockpit and cockpit design. flight, ensuring that all functions and mechanisms are easy to use and safe for passengers and the crew.
• Offer mental health and wellness services. A psychologist can provide guidance and training to staff members to improve their performance, to help cope with jet lag, and to maintain their overall well-being.
• Hold administrative or political positions. Sometimes aviation psychology experts can work with government agencies or airlines to ensure that employers are complying with health and safety regulations. Investigative work can also be done to improve laws and security on the ground.

In the following article you will find information about a related phobia: the phobia of flying.

This article is merely informative, in Psychology-Online we do not have the power to make a diagnosis or recommend a treatment. We invite you to go to a psychologist to treat your particular case.

If you want to read more articles similar to Aeronautical psychology: what it is, history and functions, we recommend that you enter our category of Cognitive psychology.

• Piro, A. (2019). Brevi cenni storici sulla psychology applicable to flying. Recovered from: https://www.itapa.it/WP/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/approfodimentibrevicennistorici-1.pdf
• Rea, A. (2019). Who’s the Aviation Psychologist? Recovered from: https://www.itapa.it/WP/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/psicologodellaviazione.pdf.pdf