Staff selection and training are particularly important in the field of aeronautics as some 70% of all flying accidents are caused by human error. The increasing computerization and automation in the fields of aviation and air traffic control has led to a change in the distribution of roles between humans and engineering systems. Although new technologies have brought about a change in the professional requirements of pilots and air traffic controllers, at their actual place of work their main task will, as ever, involve bearing the responsibility for the entire system and thus ensuring the reliability and safety of air traffic. Automatic control and monitoring systems as well as different forms of information transfer can make this task considerably easier; however, they still do require an essential personal involvement changing from pure operational demands to a high degree of systems management.
In order to prepare pilots and ATC staff for this new situation, special effort has to be invested in psychological aptitude assessment and in behavioural training. Apart from having to process information at a high level of abstraction, personality factors are becoming increasingly important professional criteria for operational staff, as well as the non-technical skills. These include decision-making and problem-solving in situations involving high stress, clear communication and cooperative team management. PC technologies are becoming more and more common when devising new evaluation methods for aerospace psychology as they enable aptitude assessment and training to be designed more precisely and economically than has previously been the case.
The findings of the DLR research related to selection and training can be directly implemented in practice. Continuous scientific research and development activity guarantee the high quality of the work carried out at DLR and ensure that consideration is given to the latest trends in aeronautical technology and changing requirements for operational staff.