Aviator Adaptation/Career Challenges

CDR Mark Mittauer

Enabling Objectives

• Discuss how aviators are selected

• Discuss the student aviator training path

• Discuss stress coping skills used by successful aviation students

• Discuss signs of poor adaptation to aviation

Enabling Objectives (cont.)

• Discuss interventions for aviation adaptation problems

• Discuss unique challenges advanced aviation training and operational flying

How are Naval Aviator Officers Selected?

• Aviator Selection Test Battery (ASTB):

- measures personality style, motivation for

military and aviation, and cognition

- minimum score required

• Flight Physical - no formal questions to

assess suitability for aviation (“AA” __ )

• Selection Boards for ROTC, USNA, OCS applicants

How are Enlisted Aircrew/Air Traffic Controllers Selected?

• Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) - minimum score needed to enlist in the Navy/Marine Corps

• You are selected for the aviation rate if there is as position available (quota system)

Student Naval Aviator (SNA) Flight Training

• OCS, USNA, ROTC• Aviation Preflight Indoctrination (API)• Ground School• Primary Flight Training (16% attrition)• Intermediate Flight Training• Advanced Flight Training• WINGS!• Replacement Air Group (RAG)

Student Naval Flight Officer (SNFO) Flight Training

• OCS, USNA, ROTC

• Aviation Preflight Indoctrination (API)

• Basic NFO Training

• Intermediate NFO Training

• Advanced NFO Training

• WINGING!

Successful Aviator Needs:

• Ability• Motivation• Stability:

- PQ - no Axis I diagnosis

- AA- no Axis II diagnosis (personality

disorder or maladaptive personality traits

that adversely impact aircrew coordination,

mission execution, or flight safety)

Stress Coping Defenses for Student Aviators

• Flight (withdrawal coping mechanism):

- “drop on request” (DOR),

- somatization

- conversion reaction

• Fight (aggressive coping mechanism):

- denial (I didn’t make a mistake”)

- projection (“It was the instructor’s fault”)

Stress Coping Mechanisms (cont.)

• Compromise (healthy coping mechanism):

- suppression (of fear of death or of making a mistake)

- denial (“I won’t get a down”)

- rationalization (“If I get a down, it was the

instructor’s fault. I will still get jets!”)

- magical thinking (“I won’t get a down”)

• Compartmentalization - total of above

Student Aviator Adaptation

• Most adapt to flying within 5 flights, or less

• Goal is to achieve comfort in (and ability to excel in) a multidimensional environment

Signs of Poor Adaptation

• Discomfort flying (fear, severe anxiety)

• Anticipatory anxiety (before the flight)

• “Thrill is gone” (does not enjoy flying; prays for rain)

• “Behind the aircraft” ( slow responses, lack of anticipation, “brain lock”)

• Impulsive (but incorrect) control inputs

Poor Adaptation (cont.)

• Chronic fatigue (often occurs when the student eschews exercise , socializing, proper nutrition - and despite adequate sleep)

• Airsickness:

- initially physiologic (vestibular response)

- performance anxiety component

- conditioned response (e.g., fuel smell)

Interventions for Poor Adaptation

• Stress Management Training (e.g., NOMI

Psychiatry Department)

• Self-Paced Airsickness Desensitization (SPAD) - at NOMI Internal Medicine - 80% success rate (after unsuccessful trial of phenergan, ephedrine)

• Performance Enhancement Program - uses stress management training, relaxation, etc.

Proposed Study

• NEO-PI-R (personality inventory) given to all Student NFOs (and some winged NFOs for comparison)

• Certain response profile will result in assessment by the Flight Surgeon - and possible referral to NOMI Psychiatry for stress management and evaluation

• MAY reduce DORs and attrites

• NOT a “select out” tool

Challenges in Advanced Student Training

• Resuming junior student status - may be difficult for narcissists

• Solo flights - cause anxiety in dependant students who need excessive reassurance

• More complex aircraft (e.g., prop to jet)• More complex mission (e.g., carrier ops, night

and adverse weather, more challenging mission)

Challenges in Advanced Training (cont.)

• Increased responsibility (e.g., aircraft commander, section leader, flight leader, mission commander)

Challenges in Operational Flying … and Beyond

• “Nugget” - the junior aviator in his/her first fleet assignment

• Collateral duties

• More frequent deployments - but fewer flight hours

• Supervisory and leadership challenges

• “Dissociated tour” - nonflying tour (“fly a desk”)

Challenges in Operational Flying (cont.)

• Military flying vs. civilian airlines (“drive a bus”)

• Military career vs. family

Challenges for the Flight Instructor

• Constant “caretaker” responsibility

• Personal problems (e.g., marital strife, career disappointments)

• Nostalgia for the Fleet

• Narcissistic students - argue about undesired grades

• Dependant students - need excessive nurturing

Questions? Comments?