ABSTRACT
Pilots undergo continuous selection and training throughout their careers; aerospace medicine supports these processes and by doing so contributes to culture, cost base and safety of organizations in which they work. It is an iterative career-long process that should be understood by medical professionals involved in the process, as they may be called upon for career defining input. Accuracy and consistency of the measurement characteristics of a test is called reliability; when interpreting test scores, they must differentiate the levels of candidate’s ability. Selection inherent in a pilot’s career, from basic training to recruiting a seasoned pilot for a new organization. As pilot population ages and flies beyond 55, the medical component becomes a significant source of anxiety. Most theories agree learning achieved in an experiential fashion; all agree that learning negatively impacted by fatigue, anxiety or poor health. The learning theories include classical conditioning, operant conditioning and cognitive theories.
