ABSTRACT
Aviation psychologists have studied at least three main themes in the last one hundred years (Koonce, 1984). The First World War was the background for the development of personnel selection methods that countered pilot attrition rates in the early years of military aviation. Selection methods that were originally developed for aviation have since been widely adopted by other domains. After the Second World War, a new line of research emerged that was concerned with safety, in particular the role of the pilot in the safe operation of an aircraft. Accident statistics, safety management, human/machine interaction and human error are just a few topics that were advanced as a consequence. Again, the results of these efforts were influential elsewhere and aviation remained a leading industry where ideas on safety have been expanded and investigated. In the 1990s, a third line of research within aviation psychology that studies the interaction of people within a team became known as “crew resource management”. Focus on human interaction, as related to performance, also received major attention in the aviation industry. Despite their successive origins, all three themes have continued to develop within aviation psychology and have not lost their attraction for future research. Selection methods are continuously studied, particularly in the area of air traffic control. Theories on safety are still evolving and many aspects of aviation safety are in continuous need of attention. In addition, research on crew resource management is still gaining momentum.
