Pilots battle growing loss of drive to fly, says IAF study

Vijay Mohan

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 23

A study conducted by specialists at the IAF’s Institute of Aerospace Medicine (IAM) has revealed that loss of motivation for flying among aircrew in the armed forces is becoming more common. 

Based on their findings, the authors of the study have suggested that pilot selection needs to include tests of motivation for flying and emotional stability, with separate tests for stress coping and resilience.

The findings of the study, undertaken by George CS, head of Department of Aviation Psychology, IAM, and NS Reddy, a graded specialist in aviation medicine, have been published in a recent issue of the Journal of Aerospace Medicine.  The rising instances of loss of motivation come in the backdrop of the armed forces facing a severe shortage of junior and middle-rung officers.

In the military, aeronautical adaptability is a complex issue involving motivation to fly, ability to fly and emotional stability for a career. Aeronautical motivation involves the desire to fly, the intensity and direction of which are geared towards flight safety; and is made up of both emotional and cognitive components. 

It is a dynamic balance between such positive factors as joy, emotional meaning and defence-coping skills and negative factors such as fear, anxiety and anticipated or experienced danger, according to the authors.

The study has manifested loss of motivation for flying either as a primary process or secondary process. The primary condition is where there is no accompanying medical problem but lack of motivation is simply due to personal factors. These cases are dealt with administratively. 

The secondary process generally calls for medical disposal as it may include medical, psychological and emotional factors.

Pointing out that motivation, along with the other factors, has a direct bearing on flight safety, crew co-ordination and mission accomplishment, the study adds that loss of motivation due to various reasons may degrade performance.