Introduction To Aviation Psychology and an Aviation Psychologist
Aviation psychology is the study of the human factors that lead to safe or unsafe aviation behavior and can be used to create strategies that improve pilot performance in the cockpit. A career as an aviation psychologist can be quite rewarding, though there are many steps to take before you can even begin taking an aviation psychology course. Read on to learn more about what an aviation psychologist does and what it takes to get started in this exciting new career!
Define Aviation psychology Give Examples
The term aviation psychology encompasses many disciplines including aviation human factors, psychophysiology, cognitive psychology, engineering psychology, and behavioral sciences. It’s basically a catch-all term for the study of mental health from a variety of different angles.
People who practice aviation psychology come from different backgrounds and might have studied clinical psychology or experimental psychology in college. Regardless of your degree though, you’ll probably want some other qualifications too such as an EASA Part-66 examination in Human Factors. One way to get this qualification is by enrolling in one of CAA’s Human Factors courses. Find out more about these courses here.
Reasons for becoming an aviation psychologist
With an Aviation Psychology degree, you can expect to learn about human factors, organizational behavior, and individual decision-making skills. And your aviation psychology courses might include data processing, aviation safety, and maintenance theory.
Plus the mix of managing interpersonal relationships while maintaining workplace boundaries may be just what you’re looking for! But if not, it’s still possible to have a fulfilling career in this field by working in other related fields such as industrial or health psychology. If this sounds like a career that would suit you well, keep reading on!
Education options
Most aviation psychology degrees will teach you the human factors principles. This means that many of your aviation psychology courses will have names like Human Factors Principles in Aviation, Aviation Safety, and Human Factors, or Human Factors in Aviation. Aviation psychology degrees may also come with the option of an aviation psychology minor or certification.
Human Factors vs. Psychology Education
Some aviation psychologists may have a Ph.D. in Human Factors Engineering or Experimental Psychology, while others might have a Ph.D. in Counseling or Social Work. While this list isn’t exhaustive, it can help you narrow down what kind of aviation psychologist you might want to be. Keep in mind that the field is always changing and evolving as new developments are made. It’s important to think about which type of aviation psychology best suits your interests, strengths, and needs.
As more people become interested in human factors engineering, for example, there will be more jobs available for those with these qualifications. A high-level summary of different types of aviation Psychology Degrees:
Counseling -This type of degree focuses on how people interact with each other and themselves when dealing with anxiety, stress, depression, anger management issues, etc. If you want to work at a university counseling center or similar setting then this degree is perfect for you.
Career Pathways in Aviation Psychology
The National Committee on Aeronautics (NACA) studied the human side of aviation. They found that pilots must be, physically and mentally able to withstand the pressures of flying at high speeds in turbulent weather in order to maintain a successful flight. In response, the NACA increased its focus on the human element in aviation.
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Today, it’s the International Society for Aviation Psychology (ISAP). ISAP has more than 600 members from 45 countries around the world who study aviation psychology and related areas such as organizational psychology and ergonomics. Members conduct research, give presentations at conferences or universities, teach courses and write articles for peer-reviewed journals like this one.
Skills required by a practicing psychologist
Aviation psychologists have training in both psychology and aviation. They specialize in human factors, which include the study of how the mind interacts with technology. They often work as either a therapist for pilots or passengers, perform safety audits on airplanes, or study how stress affects decision-making in aviation.
A certification process supervised fieldwork, and licensed practice is requirements for employment as an aviation psychologist. Airline companies are more likely to hire candidates who have experience in air travel, such as frequent flyers or military personnel. The Bureau of Labor Statistics expects the number of job openings for all psychologists will grow by 22 percent between 2016 and 2026.
The International Journal of Aviation Psychology
It also publishes reports of applied research designed to provide guidelines for the safety and effectiveness of aviation operations, policies, regulations, procedures, air traffic control practices, and education programs related to human factors engineering and aviation psychology.
The articles are targeted toward a broad audience including members of international, national, and regional governing bodies that regulate or provide funding for aviation-related activities; engineers who design aircraft, aircraft parts, or systems; manufacturers who build these products; educators who train professionals in this field; and psychologists who treat patients with problems associated with flying.
A Day in the Life of an Aviation Psychologist
Every day, I meet with different clients for sessions that last anywhere from 45 minutes to two hours. I take detailed notes during each session so that I can update my case notes at the end of the week. My longest day usually consists of four or five sessions, though it isn’t uncommon for me to have just one session in a day. Some days are more hectic than others.
It’s easy to tell when someone is having a bad day because they’re not as engaged and active in their session as they should be. On those days, it takes more time for them to open up about what’s going on in their lives outside of therapy. It’s really important that they get this opportunity even if we don’t make progress on whatever issue brought them into therapy today.