Personality factors in selection and flight proficiency.

Personality development is a dynamic process involving life forces, instinct drives, growth processes, life stresses, reactions to significant persons, both in and out of the family, and reactions to the environment in general, along with the mastery of methods and techniques for coping in solving problems and in providing for the satisfaction of one's needs. The love and fear of flying and the motivation and conflicts in flying involve many personality factors which deserve careful evaluation in selection of pilot and other flight personnel. These personality factors, variations, and traits also require close surveillance of pilot personnel by flight surgeons, aviation medical and operational personnel in predicting and preventing potential breakdown or difficulties and, more importantly, in the interest of maintaining optimum personnel effectiveness, proficiency, and safety in aviation.