ABSTRACT
Understanding, however, the strengths and vulnerabilities of most pilots can be a useful tool in rendering services to this extremely challenged, yet extraordinarily resilient, population. It is useful to understand the strengths and vulnerabilities of this group because when things start turning bad, they may do so in a major way. Unfortunately, the lore of aviators, delineated most elegantly by Dr. Frank Dully, suggests that they are unconnected to their emotional lives, and not
introspective, they will have few or no mechanisms to deal with failure. If this characterization is accurate, the risk is that these so-called "failing aviators" will then be vulnerable to self-medicate or argue with spouse or convert their emotional conflicts to physical problems and present themselves to the flight surgeon with vague medical complaints. Before the flight surgeon orders the million-dollar work-up, it's good to know how these people are supposed to tick.
