Testosterone and cortisol levels in crewmen of U.S. Air Force fighter and cargo planes.

Serum levels of cortisol and testosterone were measured in 39 United States Air Force personnel on active duty flying status. The subjects selected belonged to one of the following categories: pilot of a fighter-type aircraft, nonpilot on a fighter plane, pilot of a cargo-type aircraft, or nonpilot on a cargo plane. Blood samples were taken prior to and after a routine flying mission. Cortisol levels prior to the flight did not differ across groups. However, postflight samples of cortisol were elevated in the nonpilots, in comparison to the pilots, regardless of aircraft type. Conversely, while testosterone levels were unaffected by crew position, the men flying on fighter-type planes had lower serum levels than did those on cargo planes. These results suggest that hormone levels may be differentially affected by the stressors of routine military flight.