Aviation is an incredibly exciting but particularly demanding field. Knowledge of weather, aerodynamics, propulsion, navigation and all other technical disciplines is crucial to ensuring the safety and comfort of everyone in the air. But there’s more than that: for flight operations to run smoothly, there also needs to be a comprehensive understanding of what is both their most fragile and most resilient component: the human being.
In their very specific and little-known subspecialty within psychology, aviation psychologists explore how human factors affect the performance and well-being of aviation professionals. As Agne Novikiene, an aviation psychologist at Avion Express, says, her job is not only to select the right people for pilot training, but also to help airborne personnel open up about their challenges at work.
Secret about struggles
Pilots are the face of aviation, but stress can dull the glamor of their job. After all, it is their responsibility to get everyone on the plane safely to their destination. However, according to Agne, pilots can remain discreet about the anxieties they face.
“When you talk to pilots about mental health, they all nod and agree that it’s important and that they, like all of us, may face psychological difficulties. But because it is a subject closely linked to a pilot’s ability to exercise their license; it is a challenge for them to talk about their difficulties.
When a person has difficulty recognizing their vulnerability, the situation deserves a sensitive approach. Agne says simple questions work best in such cases.
“I approach stressed drivers with genuine interest. If I see someone is emotional or concerned about something, I just try to ask them questions. We cannot encourage people to open up, but rather gently lead them there.”
In Agne’s experience, cabin crew tend to be more open about their difficulties than pilots. But in their customer-facing work, passengers can become an additional source of stress.
“Passengers can sometimes be a difficult crowd to manage. This becomes particularly tense in emergencies, when they must calmly handle highly stressful situations and help others do the same.
Constant training builds confidence
A job with no room for error seems to be a very stressful job. Yet when asked about stress at work, experienced pilots can give surprising answers, says Agne.
“The majority of experienced pilots I speak to would say their job is not particularly stressful. Their job is quite unique because it involves constant training, and I think that gives you better confidence at work.
Regardless of how many thousands of hours a pilot has flown, aviation safety requirements require that they prove their knowledge and skills every year. Annual training includes, among other tests, simulator practice for emergency situations, technical tests to ensure a high level of technical proficiency, and crew resource management training. Additionally, depending on the type of flight they perform and their age, pilots must undergo health and mental fitness tests.
According to Agne, pilots train consistently and rigorously, so some things that seem very stressful to passengers are not to pilots:
“For example, an engine failure. Many pilots would say this is a completely manageable situation. If the other engine works, you can still fly, so you’re good.
Although the aviation part of the job doesn’t make it too stressful, the lifestyle of aviation professionals can be somewhat difficult overall. These careers require long periods of time away from home and loved ones, as well as numerous time zone changes throughout the day.
It’s important to understand that being a pilot or cabin crew member means building your life around your work, explains Agne, and sometimes aspiring pilots forget this:
“If we look at the information available about careers in aviation, particularly piloting, we see mostly how exciting they are and very little about their challenges. The fact is that working in aviation, you often have to adapt your life to the schedule and miss spending holidays with family. In a recent interview, a pilot told me that he has been celebrating his birthday alone in his hotel room for many, many years now. So, this lifestyle can sometimes feel quite lonely.
What does it take to be a pilot?
Despite all the occupational hazards, people are attracted to flying planes to make a living. Thousands of airline pilot certificates are issued each year, alleviating the pilot shortage caused by the growing demand for global air travel.
During her more than a decade-long career in aviation, Agne has selected many aspiring pilots. And while the list of qualities a person needs to become a pilot is long, Agne believes that responsibility, ownership and a willingness to accept one’s mistakes are all crucial to getting into the game of aviation.
“In my opinion, we are all human and we all make mistakes. But it is very important that we are able to recognize our mistakes and inform others if necessary.”
For Agne, taking responsibility for a mistake is not a sign of incompetence, nor an opportunity to blame herself if something goes wrong. Every mistake is a chance to learn – to fill the gap in skills or knowledge, to become better and to never repeat the same mistake.
“For me, one of the scariest things is people denying their mistakes, just not accepting that they did something wrong. Then there is no chance of development because they already think they are perfect. In a field like aviation, this carries a lot of risk.
The pilot selection process Agne is working on aims to weed out these unsuitable candidates. She says deciding, as it’s called, whether or not to recommend a candidate is one of the hardest parts of her job.
“It is sometimes difficult to make the final decision because there is always a mixture of different elements at play. People have certain strengths, certain weaknesses, and finding the right answer can be difficult.
But in aviation, it is crucial to avoid any possible risks at every stage of operations. So, even if the person Agne interviews is likeable and has interesting experiences, the human sympathy she feels for her cannot obscure the lack of fundamental qualities.
“I sometimes feel like a really bad person, having to make a decision that won’t make her happy, even though I love her very much. But that’s the industry we’re in.
Why is aviation not like other sectors?
Despite the challenges, Agne enjoys working in the field of aviation psychology. As someone who likes complex things, she says aviation is sometimes as complex as it gets.
“In this area there is a need for precision and ownership from everyone involved so that we can maintain the same high level of safety that we are so proud of. From an HR perspective, we need to make sure the right people are working here and that they understand why they need to work a certain way. Just thinking about the possible consequences if we start skipping things makes your heart race.
The inclusive and international nature of the field is also a positive point. Agne says that in aviation there is always a great willingness to listen and truly understand everyone’s opinions and ideas.
“At work, I speak with people from all over Europe and beyond, and they bring their attitudes and values, and somehow it all finds its place. The atmosphere, I would say, is beyond democratic.
And although Agne works primarily on the ground, being part of the aviation industry allows her to experience at least some of the fascination that surrounds planes and flying.
“For many people who don’t work in aviation, these careers are something extraordinary. When I tell people about my work, they usually find it very interesting. Of course, the fascination is five times more intense when you’re a pilot, but I like to think that I too can feel the magic of aviation.
