Aviation psychologists provide counseling and support to airline pilots and flight crews to ensure their mental wellbeing and safety. They may also organize support groups and evaluate employees after traumatic events. Military aviation psychologists specialize in helping fighter pilots deal with the trauma of combat.
An aviation psychologist provides counseling and other related services to airline pilots and flight crews. Many major airlines require their flight personnel to meet regularly with these specialists to address any work-related issues, anxieties or stress. An aviation psychologist who works for a country’s military often spends counseling fighter pilots, helping them deal with the trauma of combat. Likewise, psychologists are usually also on hand to advise all victims, but particularly employees, in the event of plane crashes, terrorist threats, and other calamities.
There are many arenas in which an aviation psychologist can work, but almost all professionals have the same training and perform the same types of tasks. The psychologist’s main job is to ensure the safety and tranquility of those who operate aircraft. This usually involves a combination of individual counseling and group therapy.
Flying an airplane, even with advanced technology and autopilot capabilities, is often stressful work and requires a lot of focus. Commercial airlines have an obligation to provide passengers with pilots who are not only physically healthy but also mentally sharp. Anxiety, stress and frustration can lead a pilot to perform poorly, which can have disastrous consequences. One of the main ways airlines support their pilots is by providing access to aviation psychology services.
The duties of the aviation psychologist in this context are many. First, they must maintain a safe space where they can advise airline professionals. They must also work to establish a relationship with the employees who have been assigned to their services. This requires the aviation psychologist to take the time to get to know each patient and ask not only about work-related stress but also questions of personal concern. Physicians often need to have an understanding of the whole patient to effectively help them manage stress and avoid labor taxing conflicts.
Depending on the airline’s needs, a psychologist may also be responsible for organizing support groups or group counseling sessions for employees in a similar situation. These types of programs may be needed on an ongoing basis, but they are especially useful after some type of trauma – an accident, a threat to safety or the death of a crew member, for example. The aviation psychologist will help each affected professional process the trauma. He or she may also be responsible for evaluating individual employees to ensure they are mentally fit to return to work following this event.
Aviation psychologist jobs in the military setting are similar, although the training required is usually a little more specialized. Fighter pilots often have a unique set of mental obstacles, particularly those involved in active combat. Armed forces units around the world often require their pilots to attend regular therapy sessions with specially trained aviation psychologists to process the burdens of what they do every day, as well as to calm anxiety. Aviation psychologist requirements for this type of position often include certifications in post-traumatic stress disorder and military family counseling.
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