Effect of Psychological Training on Pilot’s Performance

Abstract

There is a great emphasis on safety in the field of aviation. Advanced technologies open new possibilities and allow objective measurements of specific safety factors. One of these factors is undoubtedly human performance which is already a significant element within a training of aviation personnel. The area of the highest interest is focused on pilot training. The aim of this study is to examine whether a specific psychological training can be considered as a positive performance influencing factor. Subjects underwent an experimental training schedule which was designed for the purpose of this study. Subjects were divided into control (n=20) and experimental (n=20) groups. The experimental group underwent Jacobson progressive relaxation psychological training. Both groups were evaluated during the experimental training schedule; accuracy and precision of piloting was measured during the second and eleventh hour of training. This study focused on basic flight maneuvers, i.e. straight and level flight, 360° horizontal turn with 30° bank and 180° climbing/descending turn with 15° bank and vertical speed of ± 500 ft/min. For the purpose of maneuver identification, Density-based spatial clustering of applications with noise algorithm was used. Each maneuver was evaluated for precision and accuracy and at the same time and used for a performance comparison between groups. Paired and between subject statistical testing were performed using appropriate statistical methods at the level of significance p<0.05. The results indicated that the implemented psychological training did not affect the performance of pilots in terms of precision and accuracy.