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FEATURE SAFETY

One pilot (Hamilton 2005) said that out of which combat operations were world renowned, USC Aviation Safety
“aviators are notorious for avoiding flight being conducted. The fifth squadron was and Security Program, after reviewing an
surgeons and would disavow the very a composite of pilots from two stateside early draft of this article opined that it be
existence of mental health professionals bases who were not involved in combat considered as “a bold and unprecedented
if given the opportunity. Both occupations missions at the time of the survey. The pilot study of pilot stress.
(flight surgeons and mental health study came up with disturbing results. For He also notes that different people
professionals) represent a threat to a example of 57 fighter pilots, 89 per cent handle stress differently and some
pilot‘s flying status.” reported insomnia, 86 per cent irritability, “better” than others, but we need to
Of great concern, a number of 63 per cent reported dissatisfaction, minimise the amount of stress pilots are
research papers have found that those 61 per cent fatigue, 58 per cent self- subjected to. “And there is a wide variation
pilots experiencing life-stressors may be accusation, 47 per cent work difficulty, in conditions and workload at LCCs,” said
more liable to commit errors because they 38 per cent pessimism, 38 per cent guilt, Professor Meshkati.
are likely to be thinking about the stressor and 35 per cent loss of libido. But there The final words go to famous US writer
rather than devoting all of their cognitive was a fascinating twist. The results were and producer Jane Wagner who said;
resources to the task at hand. A senior no different between the pilots in combat “Reality is the leading cause of stress
U.S. Air Force flight surgeon (Neubauer, and those stateside! And disturbingly the amongst those in touch with it.”
1999) suggests that, while pilots may have results indicate low levels of depression. The “reality” is that being a pilot is
some ability to keep life-stressors from And depressed is how Captain Lindsay one of the most stressful jobs, most LCCs
entering the cockpit and interfering with typifies the mood of pilots with LCCs. are under time stress, the industry is
performance, each also has a level of “Pilots are saying they are burnt out. I constantly under financial stress and life
stress or a specific stressor that is likely hear guys saying ‘I don’t care anymore. I is far more stressful. Not a good cocktail.
to significantly interfere with this ability to don’t care if I take too much fuel; I don’t Which begs the question has the
compartmentalise. care if I am running late – I am over it.’” inexorable drive for lower and lower fares
A fascinating study done by Parsa and Captain Lindsay however adds “our gone too far?
Kapadia (1997) attempted to document professionalism is what keeps us going
the occurrence of symptoms of excessive but is the price our sanity?”
stress by surveying a group of U.S. Air Prof Meshkati, who has been teaching Aircraft vapour trails across
Force fighter pilots from five squadrons, and conducting research on human factors the sky over Frankfurt.
four of which were stationed at bases in aviation safety for last 25 years at the PHOTO: Geoffrey Thomas
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