Aviation Psychology

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Aviation Psychology

Bor, Robert / Parker, Justin / Papadopoulos, Linda

Air travel is associated with some stress often starting when a journey is planned, leaving home, crowds at airports, restricted space on the aircraft and other factors. Relative to other phobias, fear of flying affects a large proportion of the population (up to 20% of airline passengers at any one time) and is related to four elements: heights, fear of crashing, instability and confinement. Psychological interventions are designed to introduce new information with the aim of increasing perception on the ability to cope. Programmes that include behavioural interventions, such as systematic desensitisation, have a success rate of 88%. A small proportion of passengers has psychiatric problems and may become disruptive; a sense of entitlement, resentment of the authority of the crew and stress associated with air travel appear to trigger aggression in a wider group of passengers. The overuse of alcohol to manage stress has been linked in some cases to ‘air rage’. Environmental conditions associated with noise, vibration and restricted space add to stress and may lead to irritability and increasing conflict between the flight crew and passengers. Fatigue and sleep deprivation are additional factors. Jet lag is closely associated with daylight changes as the passenger moves across time zones, and the symptoms can be both intense and long lasting and can be cumulative in frequent travellers. Strategies are available to reduce the effects of jet lag. Other topics that are discussed include the impact of travel on relationships with non‐travelling members of the family; risk‐taking behaviour among travellers; passenger and aircraft safety, and flight crew behaviour.