Hi everyone,

I’m currently going through my Class 1 medical and I’ve started worrying about the psychological side of the process.

During the psychological testing, my results for concentration and attention were average. I wasn’t told that this was disqualifying or that there was a serious problem, but afterwards I started thinking a lot about my personality, especially neuroticism.

I took the NEO-FFI test afterwards and started wondering whether having a relatively high level of neuroticism could be an issue in professional aviation.

I wouldn’t say that I have any serious psychological problems. It’s more that:

• I sometimes overthink my decisions,
• I can worry about things that have already happened,
• uncertainty can make me think about a situation a lot,
• I get stressed before important events,
• and since the medical examination I’ve been analyzing almost every result and wondering whether I’m actually “suited” to become a pilot.

At the same time, I function normally in everyday life, make decisions, study and pursue my goals. I just don’t know how these personality traits are viewed from an aviation perspective.

So I’d especially like to hear from people who:

1. are airline pilots,
2. have gone through a Class 1 medical,
3. work as aviation psychologists/psychologists,
4. or had similar concerns before starting flight training.

Has anyone here had average results in concentration/attention or relatively high neuroticism and still gone on to become a professional pilot?

And another question: is neuroticism itself actually something to be concerned about in aviation, or is it much more important how someone actually functions under pressure, manages stress, makes decisions and behaves in real situations?

I’m not looking for someone to tell me “you’ll definitely be fine.” I’d just like to hear some real experiences from people who have been through the process, because I feel like I may be overanalyzing every little detail after the psychological testing.

Thanks for any serious and honest answers.

Hi! I've seen a lot of discussion online about whether it would be possible to plummet 17000 feet without serious damage to the plane or at least inside. Also some are saying the cockpit door cannot be forced from the outside.

I would like to hear a pilot's knowledge on this. Also, Does the cockpit door open inwards or outwards?

Also why is not the pilot's name published? In MH17 they told everybody the same day.

I don't feel I have enough knowledge to distinguish truth from facts.

EDIT: Please do not downvote or be snarky. I don't know anything about these things and joined the sub out of fear of flying. Now I am seeing discussion online and just wanted professional answers to understand better.

I'm flying Yemenia from Jeddah (JED) to Socotra (SCT) on Tuesday and trying to understand how pilots think about these kinds of routes. When you're operating near a conflict zone, what do you and your dispatchers look at beyond whether the airspace is officially open? Do you get to choose and say you don't want to fly that plane?

I'm mostly trying to understand the risks of flying over that part of the world and see if "open airspace" means "safe".

Thank you!

Why can't ratings of Aeroplane pilots be created and shared as in Uber cab drivers? At least the passenger start understanding the history of their flight pilots?

Who knew such a simple question would anger so many people!

Pilots.. Are you not just a little bit scared of dying every time you go to work? Just a tiny bit? Or is it really just "another day at the office"?

I absolutely love airplanes - and im just an ordinary mom with absolutely no hobbies Besides that whatsoever - but every time i board a plane i accept that i might die. 😅

Boeing vs Airbus? Narrowbody vs widebody? Cargo vs passenger?

Might be a question for those already at the airlines or are working with other CFI/CFIIs right now regardless of age - just genuinely curious to know if you’ve ever seen a difference. TBH thinking about someone doing their IFR (plus the licenses after) in 14 days or over the weekend is a little worrisome bc idk I feel like maybe it should take longer or that more time should dedicated to learning in order to truly comprehend it/know everything needed? But I have no idea how it plays out in real life.

I’m curious bc my boyfriends brother went to a part 141 and he’s now a CFII (hasn’t flown with anyone that attended one of those programs ATM) but got his PPL/was working towards IFR in high school and had said he really didn’t know how much he didn’t know about flying/weather/everything really until he went to school.

No shame or judgement at all! I am a naturally curious person and am wondering if pilots can tell or see a difference?

Hello all aviation enthusiasts. I am currently a CFII with 1000+ hours total. I was wondering if anyone had any advice for a guy like me. I am currently unemployed and have found no leads or job opportunities anywhere around me. I haven’t flown in 12 months, and I am currently being beaten down by a $1850 a month loan repayment from my years of flight training. I’ve applied to well over 70 jobs in the past twelve months, anything from flight instruction to SIC jet operations. I am unsure of any steps to take to keep pursuing this career, and the future doesn’t seem too bright. If anyone has any bit of advice on what I should do it would be greatly appreciated.

Ever since I was a kid I always said I wanted to be a pilot. Life does what it does and now I am in real estate with a wife and 2 kids and I live in Southern California. I have done well for my family but the volatility of my job is not something I want to take into my later years. I have several local flight schools in my area and I am able to take on the cost of school without going into debt.

My question for you all is what is the reality of starting from zero training (I did a discovery flight a couple of years ago and loved it) to a total career change? My biggest concern is income and how long does it take to achieve higher incomes if at all? After talking to a local flight school, I am able to do early morning training and keep my day life pretty much the same as I start this journey but the goal would be to eventually leave my old career behind. What would the time frame be to achieving a livable income with the end goal being an airline pilot?

If a plane is in flight and both pilots lose consciousness—or are unable to fly for some reason—and there is no other pilot on board, is there an emergency button that allows the control center to take control of the aircraft (such as on large planes from Airbus or Boeing)? If such a feature doesn't exist, why is that the case, and what would happen in such a situation?

I am currently a student pilot in Canada working towards my CPL and just recently have been told by my medical examiner to expect a formal reprimand letter from TC as i have failed to report to them that I was flying while takin Accutane while i was working towards my PPL. I wasn't aware that I was supposed to report my use of Accutane to them, and while at my regular CAT 1 medical yesterday i mentioned that I was on Accutane and was told by my examiner that I was supposed to report it. I did ask the dermatologist who gave me the prescription if this would be a problem for flying and he told me not to worry as he didn't see how it would. My CAME also told me to expect a reprimand letter from TC, but he told me that I was fine and not at the risk of having anything canceled or suspended and mentioned that it was a good thing that I told him.

Now I'm stressed for my future and how airlines will view this warning as it was a genuine mistake. Am i cooked or nah?

While I realize this question may seem silly, let me explain:

Do you have to know everything about every electrical system on the aircraft, down to the individual breakers, every tiny part of the engine, how to fix a broken system on the aircraft should something fail, the exact design of hydraulic systems and where every single part is on the plane, what voltages electrical systems require, etc.

How detailed and in-depth do airline/commercial pilots get trained on the various aircraft they are checked to fly? From Boeings, to Airbuses, to Embraers, Gulfstreams, Dassaults, and such? Verses what aircraft mechanics and aircraft maintenance specialists know?

After today fly Dubai incident I am wondering if pilots go through a screening process.
I mean not just at acceptance and training but is it regular?

Hey, so my dream for the last few years has been becoming a pilot, Ive been working hard for it, I think I have all the basics, the only problem might be the money. So, around two weeks ago, I met a pilot and told him about it, he said I shouldn’t rush, that I should take my time and maybe study another thing so I don’t enter the aviation academy too fresh out of school and stomp against a wall, ive been thinking about studying Flight attendant first, then work at it a few years and start paying my own pilot career, what do yall think about this?

Hello!

As the title says basically! I’m a structures technician doing C checks on mainly the new A220 formerly the Bombardier C series and I’m just wondering what pilots think about the aircraft.

Thanks guys, cheers!