This is why a helicopter pilot is so different a being from an airplane pilot, and why in general, airplane pilots are open, clear-eyed, buoyant extroverts, and helicopter pilots are brooders, introspective anticipators of trouble. They know if anything bad has not happened, it is about to.
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While there are many extroverted pilots, there are even more that are introverted. Most are very enthusiastic about talking about their passion. But, that does not mean they are necessarily extroverts. What pilots have in common are their intellect and a mission oriented personality.
Did you know that introverts make great pilots? One pilot wrote on Reddit: “Yes, I'm introverted. Plenty of alone time to be had as an airline pilot. Sometimes you don't even have to talk to the guy next to you if you don't want.”
While there are many extroverted pilots, there are even more that are introverted. Most are very enthusiastic about talking about their passion. But, that does not mean they are necessarily extroverts. What pilots have in common are their intellect and a mission oriented personality.
Pilots generally only work with one other pilot at a time, so they tend to hang out together on the over nights. While we do not fly with the same pilots frequently, many do make friends in the industry.
For many, working as a pilot is an exciting career choice. You may enjoy working as a pilot if you enjoy flying and traveling, but there are also some elements of this profession that may not be suitable for everyone.
Introverts are good at understanding their emotions and regulating their behavior. They're also particularly skilled at reading other people, an emotional intelligence skill that serves them well in relationships.
Being a pilot can be stressful at times. It requires immense concentration, quick decision-making, and a lot of patience. A pilot is responsible for the well-being of all crew members and passengers on board, and they sometimes have to fly under unpredictable conditions.
Current tests consistently rate extroverts higher on the happiness scale than introverts. However, many of these tests measure degree of happiness using activities like socializing and interacting with the outside world, both of which extroverts need to thrive!
FAA policy on depression and other mental health conditions. To fly, pilots must have a medical certificate approved by an FAA aviation medical examiner (AME). Under the current guidelines, depression, anxiety, and similarly categorized psychological conditions don't lead to automatic disqualification.
There is a lot of energy in the systems we operate. So, yeah, it can be a bit stressful, even before we add scheduling pressures, time away from family and constant changes due to weather and customer demands. Almost every “most stressful jobs” list has “commercial pilot” listed in the top 10.
Pilots go through a very rigorous training process, followed by years of personal and career development. Most airline pilots are very regimented and have a high level of self confidence due to the fact that they have worked diligently to develop a high standard of performance that the job requires.
One of the main advantages of being a pilot is the ability to constantly learn something new everyday and to challenge yourself. With so many flights departing airports every single day, no two flights are ever the same - even when you're a pilot.
Like many professional people, pilots have to deal with complex information, make decisions and deal with people. Thus, they tend to be bright and capable of good social interaction when called for.
The highs in the life style of a pilot include the fun and excitement of flying, variety, opportunities to travel, and cheap/free air travel. The downside is being away from home a lot. It's important that your family members know and understand the nature of this profession.
The second came from the US Airline Pilots Association and looked at pilot deaths after the age of 60. Analysing these two sources, the study's authors deduced that the average age of death for pilots was 61, compared to the average age of death of the general population, which was 63.