Subjective stress assessment: a new, simple method to determine pilot workload.

Charged with the preparation of an expert opinion concerning psychophysical workload on pilots, the Aviation Psychology Branch of the GAF/IAM studied the "Subjective Stress Assessment" in which 217 Army, Air Force and Navy pilots filled in a standardized questionnaire. This questionnaire included 170 items to force the pilots into rating their on- and off-duty life; the answers of these people (117 jet, 41 multiple-prop, 14 single-engine, and 45 helicopter pilots) were evaluated quantitatively and qualitatively. It may be said--with all reservations towards subjectivity of pilots' opinions---that the pilots' image certainly requires some corrections, in particular as it relates to the ideal and material assessment of the activities of the separate groups of jet, helicopter, and prop pilots. It was the purpose of the study to show that the evaluation of pilots' workload by means of subjective interviews is a valuable method, aside from the assessment of difficulty of tasks by experts, aside from registration and evaluation of certain physiological parameters, and aside from the application of the Second-Task-Method-Registration.

Sex ratio in offspring of pilots: a contribution to stress research.

An old rumor - lately substantiated by statistical examinations from England - to the effect that pilots of high-performance military aircraft are "girl-fathers", could be reduced to absurdity through a comprehensive questionnaire investigation in the German Federal Armed Forces. Spermiogenesis does not seem to be disturbed by professional-specific influences (Radar radiation, G-forces etc.), as implied by the questionnaire findings. In times of high flying and personal stress (first 1000 flying hours) military jet pilots are even "boy-fathers". As soon as flying becomes a routine matter (after the 1000th flying hour) and thus less stressful, jet and helicopter pilots even become "girl-fathers". The pilots of military transport aircraft show no deviation from the control group of the male population of the Federal Republic of Germany with respect to the sex ratio of children procreated by them. The intention of this somewhat curious study was established by considerations that pilots would be entitled to protection and/or compensation for damages incurred in cases where their procreative capacity had been detrimentally affected by activities in the line of duty.

Medical flying fitness--a routine affair--but who examines and assesses psychic health.

The regular physiological check-up of pilots pretends to be a thorough diagnosis and yet the psychological aspects are ignored almost completely sometimes. As an excuse for this procedure, it is stated that in his psychological aptitude test prior to flying training, the pilot had already been classified as suitable and fit. It is hoped that this paper will show that the flying fitness examination procedure presently oriented towards the physical status of the individual is by no means sufficient to determine the actual degree of flying fitness.