Musselman 1

Personality Profiles and Behaviors Of

Helicopter Pilots: How a Helicopter
Pilot Can Use this to their advantage.
Smith Musselman
Independent Research GT
Ms. Chawkat
May 14, 2022

Advisor: Sean Moretz

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Abstract:
This research paper is the study of how helicopter pilots have certain personality traits.

The study examines how these personality traits are used in an in-flight performance. The traits

are found in novice and experienced pilots. The traits are also found universally throughout the

military and other organizations. The study also examines how anxiety is not necessarily a bad

thing in helicopter pilots. The research provided will show how anxiety is used by experienced

pilots. The researcher began his research by studying single-engine failure which is why he

knows a lot about how pilots handle engine failure. The researcher later began studying what this

paper is about: personality traits and behaviors of helicopter pilots.

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Table of Contents
➢ Introduction 4

➢ Literature Review 5

➢ Data Collection 11

➢ Conclusion 15

➢ Works Cited 18
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Introduction
Would a helicopter pilot want to crash? Of course not. The causes of helicopter crashes

vary. Engine failures are a huge reason that helicopters crash, although the pilot’s performance

can cause a crash or even prevent one. Helicopter Pilots train for emergency situations like

crashes where they must make certain choices. Helicopter pilots make choices that can help them

during these emergency situations, and even prevent these situations from ever occurring. These

emergency situations cause fatalities. Preventing these situations from happening saves lives.

Completing a flight without any emergency should be a priority number one for pilots. When a

helicopter pilot avoids a situation, it proves they are very skilled. Having helicopter pilots who

are extremely skilled decreases the frequency of helicopter crashes. Decreasing the frequency of

helicopter crashes also decreases the frequency of fatalities due to a helicopter crash. Being a

good helicopter pilot saves people’s lives.

There are certain characteristics or personality traits that helicopter pilots share. These

characteristics stand out during a helicopter pilot's training and in some cases are the reason these

people are selected to be helicopter pilots. These traits directly correlate to a helicopter pilot's

performance. These traits support the pilot's performance and help them make decisions. These

personality traits like conscientiousness, agreeableness, and extroversion make a good helicopter

pilot. When helicopter pilots use the skills that stem from these traits, they execute their job

better. Executing the job as a helicopter is no simple task. A helicopter pilot has their life and

everyone else’s lives on board within their hands. People rely on the helicopter pilot to fly them

safely. This is why it is so important for the helicopter pilot to use their personality traits to their

advantage. Not only do certain traits make a good helicopter pilot, but certain behaviors like

anxiety can help make a better helicopter pilot.

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Literature Review

There are numerous reasons a helicopter stays in the air like the compressor blades which

keep the rotors spinning (Infante and Freitas). Although, the main reason is the helicopter pilot.

There are a select few personality profiles that stand out universally amongst helicopter pilots.

When new recruits join the military, they go through a variety of screenings to figure out what

job they will have. A select few recruits are selected to be Helicopter Pilots. During military

selection, they test recruits and one of the jobs they are testing for is being a helicopter pilot

(Dickens 2014). One of the many things that stand out amongst recruits selected to be

Helicopter Pilots is their personality traits. In a study done to examine veteran pilots, they found

that there are certain personalities that a lot of these pilots share (Dickens 2013). The personality

traits identified in the veteran pilots can be identified and used in the selection process. The same

personality traits that stand out in veteran helicopter pilots are used when identifying new

helicopter pilots in military recruits. These recruits used an aptitude test to discover if any of

these recruits have helicopter pilot personalities (Grice). These aptitude tests have been very

successful. The results from these tests directly correlate to a helicopter pilot's performance. Over

200 student helicopter pilots were tested with an aptitude test that included a personality

questionnaire and the personality scores directly related to their course performance (Feggeter

and Hammond). These student pilots now know that they can exploit their own personality traits

to operate a helicopter. It does not matter if it is a single-engine or a double-engine helicopter, a

pilot’s performance has a lot to do with dealing with an emergency situation. Although
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double-engine helicopters are less likely to crash, both types of helicopters have almost the same

amount of fatalities (de Voogt & Amour). The students can use this new knowledge to better

operate a helicopter. Better operating a helicopter has the potential to prevent a pilot from making

a mistake that could lead to a crash, thus saving lives.

One of the personality traits in the aptitude tests was extroversion. Being an extrovert is

someone who is outgoing and comfortable socializing. The tests showed that Helicopter Pilots

share a level of extraversion (Dickens 2013). Extroversion is one of the traits many helicopter

pilots share. Helicopter pilots are outgoing and sociable which is important because they need to

be able to collaborate without hesitation. Helicopter Pilots do not work alone, they work with the

co-pilot and sometimes additional flight crew. It is important for them to not be shy, so they can

communicate with their flight crew. If the pilot did not communicate with their flight crew then

they would not be able to perform their respective jobs on the helicopter which could cause the

helicopter to malfunction. It is important for these helicopter pilots to communicate, so they can

relay information to Air Traffic Control and other pilots. Communicating can prevent a helicopter

crash, thus saving lives. Being an extroverted person aids their ability to be a helicopter pilot.

Helicopter pilots know that extroversion is a frequently appearing trait in their career field.

During United States Air Force (USAF) flight school, “low Extraversion indicated that an aviator

was more likely to self-eliminate” (Grice). The students know that being an extrovert is a

prerequisite to becoming a pilot, so if they are not outgoing or are introverted they know to find

another career because it will be extremely difficult for them to have a successful career in

aviation. It would have been difficult for those introverted students to be pilots because

communication would have been very difficult for them. If there was a problem with the

helicopter, but the pilot was too shy to share that information with Air Traffic Control, that
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helicopter might crash. The crash could be deadly. Pilots need to remain open, clear-eyed,

extroverts because “if there is any disturbance in this delicate balance the helicopter stops flying

immediately and disastrously” (Jay A. Humphrey's Newly Released). One false move and the

helicopter goes down. Pilots must use their extraversion to keep the helicopter in the air.

Extroversion keeps the helicopter in the air. The more extroverted a helicopter pilot is, the more

skilled they are. With greater skill comes a better understanding of flying the helicopter. It is very

important to be a skilled helicopter pilot because then the helicopter can perform maneuvers like

autorotation to safely land a helicopter that has engine issues (Abell & Hunter). Safely landing

the helicopter prevents crashes and disastrous fatalities. Saving lives starts with one extroverted

pilot at a time.

Also found on the aptitude tests, is that conscientiousness is another repeated theme in

helicopter pilots. Conscientiousness is the quality of wanting to do one’s work well. Who would

not want to do their work well? Well, compared to the average population, US Army helicopter

pilots have a higher level of consciousness (Lewis). Helicopter Pilots aspire to do the work well,

not only because if they do not people die, but because they are conscientious people. Wanting to

operate a helicopter well is crucial to a pilot’s performance. It gives the pilot an optimistic

outlook on a very stressful situation. The pilot becomes confident through optimism and

therefore operates a helicopter better similar to a feel-good play-good mentality. The pilot

operates the helicopter's technology with a stronger grasp. For example, conscientiousness in

Pilots corresponds to electrodermal stability in aircraft (Hidalgo-Muñoz et. al.). Due to the fact

that the pilot has a natural persona of conscientiousness the pilot is able to better stabilize the

aircraft. Stabilizing a helicopter is no simple task. Especially under the wind, stabilizing a

helicopter can be rather difficult to control (Coza and Macnab). Because it is so difficult to
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control it is crucial for the pilot to be wanting to do their job well. Doing the job well does not

come easy, helicopter pilots work meticulously and have to be very smart (Petrovic & Petrovec).

Because pilots have “a very high level of Conscientiousness – they tend to be organized,

methodical, procedure-driven and hard-working” (Dickens 2014). Helicopter pilots have to be

organized in order to fly a helicopter. There are hundreds of different buttons and switches in a

helicopter cockpit. They must know what all of them mean. If not, what would happen if the

helicopter pilot could not recall how to push the throttle down and land the helicopter. Well, if the

pilot could not land the helicopter, the helicopter would eventually run out of gas and that would

cause disastrous problems. The pilot must stay organized, so the pilot can remember how each

utility in the helicopter works. Organization for helicopter pilots is the difference between

knowing how to prevent a simple error or not. A simple error might not sound like that big of a

deal, but a helicopter pilot cannot afford to make a simple mistake. Preventing a simple mistake

could prevent a critical problem from happening to the helicopter which is why being organized

is so crucial. Becoming a skilled helicopter pilot requires that one be extroverted and

conscientious> It is so important to be skilled because of how frequently there are stressful

situations in helicopters. These stressful situations increase a pilot's workload (Zhiming &

Xufei). When workload is increased it is urgent that the pilot is on top of their game in order to

complete the task and provide a safe and successful flight.

On top of being extroverted and conscientious is having a high level of agreeability.

Being agreeable is the ability to get along, and sometimes it means making a compromise.

Overall, it is the ability to work well with others because being agreeable means being

compatible. Universally, Helicopter pilots have a high level of agreeableness (Dickens). Why is it

so important for helicopter pilots to agree? Helicopter pilots must agree with each other and their
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crew because if they do not, there could be lots of arguing. Lots of arguing in the helicopter is a

huge distraction for the pilot. Flying distracted is a lot like driving distracted. There is no good

outcome when you drive distracted, just like there is no good outcome when you fly distracted.

Flying distracted can distract the pilot from the mechanics of the helicopter. IF there is an issue

with the engine of the helicopter, but the pilot is distracted because they are arguing, the engine

issue will not be addressed and the helicopter could crash. Even a simple issue that could be

easily fixed can cause detrimental damage that could lead to a fatal crash. Helicopter pilots need

to be agreeable, which is why compared to the general population, pilots have a higher level of

agreeableness (Dickens). It is crucial for helicopter pilots to have a greater level of agreeableness

than regular people because if the average joe gets into a disagreement, it is most likely that the

disagreement will not lead to any fatalities. On the other hand, if a helicopter pilot gets into a

disagreement while flying there is a huge chance that the disagreement could lead to fatalities.

When a pilot is distracted by a disagreement they ignore their responsibilities of operating the

helicopter. When the pilot ignores the helicopter, who is to keep it flying? The helicopter pilot

must stay on task and work well with their crew. The personality traits that were noted during

selection are seen in both beginner and experienced helicopter pilots (Grice & Katz). All the

personality traits noted are seen from the beginning of the career until the end, their personality

traits were used frequently so they did not go away. If a helicopter pilot does not listen to his

crew they could break the rules and regulations put in place to keep the helicopter safe. If they

exceed the maximum speed, it could be detrimental to the helicopter’s engine (Safran Helicopter

Engines). Helicopter Pilots must be compatible with their crew and all the regulations put in

place.
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Although being anxious is typically seen through a grim lens, it can be used in a good

way (Gu and Ge). For helicopter pilots, anxiety is very normal behavior. Helicopter pilots are

frequently diagnosed with bruxism, grinding of one's teeth typically during sleep, it may not

necessarily be a complete concern (Lurie et. al.). Obviously, grinding one's teeth is detrimental to

their oral health, but it only proves that these helicopter pilots care about their performance.

When helicopter pilots worry about their job and their ability to fly it goes hand and hand with

being conscientious. Being conscientious is the want to do one's job well and thoroughly. Being

conscientious is a helicopter pilot wanting to fly to the best of their ability, so the helicopter and

everyone in it can be safe. It is okay to be anxious. Even veteran helicopter pilots get anxious.

During an extremely realistic helicopter training, a study was conducted measuring all the

participants, pilots, and their crews. The study measured the vitals of all the participants to

monitor people's heart rates. Based on how fast someone’s heart rate is, the examiners could

monitor how anxious everyone was. Compared to the rookie helicopter pilots, the veteran pilots

had a higher heart rate, thus the veteran helicopter pilots felt more stressed and had a higher level

of anxiety (Vicente-Rodriguez et. al.). The veteran pilots had a higher level of anxiety than the

rookies. The helicopter pilots who had more experience with helicopters were more anxious

about flying than the rookies. Anxiety persists in these veteran helicopter pilots, but the veteran

helicopter pilots understand how to use the anxiety to their advantage. Stressful situations

increase a helicopter pilot's heart rate (Gallego). The experienced helicopter pilots have been

flying for long enough to know that their job is stressful and hectic. The rookies have not been

flying long enough to realize how stressful each second flying helicopters is. During

single-engine failure, it is true how important the height and speed at which the helicopter is

traveling to complete autorotation and safely land, but it is super important on how the pilot
 Musselman 11

performs (Okuno, & Kawachi). It is ok that the helicopter pilot is stressed and anxious to

perform auto rotation because even experienced pilots are anxious under stressful situations.

Unlike experienced pilots, rookies do not know how to use anxiety to their advantage. The

rookies must realize how dangerous their jobs are if they want to become like the veteran

helicopter pilots. The veterans understand how frequent helicopter crashes are. Alongside an

increase in heart rate, there is an increase in cognitive activity, meaning that the helicopter pilots

are making smart decisions (Taber) These helicopter pilots may be anxious, but they know what

they are doing. That is why they have made it this far in their careers. Helicopter Pilots get very

tense and stressed out during their jobs. Even if their vitals are abnormal, they still get the job

done (Bustamante-Sánchez & Clemente-Suárez). Getting the job done while being stressed just

makes someone a better helicopter pilot.

Data Collection

Source (with the author, Study design: Criterion 1 (this is the Criterion 2 (this is the Ultimate Assessment
publication date, etc. methods, participants, thing you are thing you are
timeframe, results in comparing/contrasting comparing/contrasting
/ evaluating across the / evaluating across the
five sources) five sources)

Looking for Chuck 4% Female Used the Big Five This study was used to This source is similar
and PT: An 96% Male Inventory test find if certain traits to the other resources
Ages 20-61 could be noted during because it discusses
Evidence-Based The same 5 Selection the personalities and
Researchers found
Approach to personalities a lot of provides background.
that there is a high
Assessing Helicopter studies are using It also shows how
level of they conducted the
Pilots
conscientiousness study.
Paul Dickens 2013
and agreeableness
in helicopter pilots.
- there is a low
 Musselman 12

level of
Neuroticism.
-there are average
levels of
extraversion and
openness

The study
suggested that these
findings can be
used in selection
and training

Pros Cons
● get comprehensive and historical information ● time consuming
● already exists ● may not be generalized to all populations
● few biases about information ● may not be available for research question of interest
● can provide insight into what people think and do ● Not a lot of female pilots studied
● provide useful background data
● use for exploration
● often are reliable and valid
● can study trends
● easy to analyze data

Source (with the author,
publication date, etc.
Study design: Criterion 1 (this is the Criterion 2 (this is the Ultimate Assessment
methods, participants, thing you are thing you are
timeframe, results in comparing/contrasting comparing/contrastin
/ evaluating across the g/ evaluating across
five sources) the five sources)

Personality Profiles -The study was Used the Big Five This study was used to This source is similar
of U.S. Army Initial made up of Inventory test find if certain traits to the other resources
could be noted during because it discusses
 Musselman 13

Entry Rotary Wing
Students Versus
Career Aviators
Robert Grice 2007
pilots-in-training. The same 5 Selection and compare the personalities and
Eliminated the personalities a lot of those traits to traits of provides background.
studies are using career aviators It also shows how
female proportion they conducted the
of findings because study.
there were too few
-Military Rotary
Wing Pilots
- Who scored in the
Average range on
Neuroticism,
Openness, and
Conscientiousness.
They scored High
in Extraversion and
Low in
Agreeableness.
- The study believes
that this indicates
that these trainees
are outgoing,
confident,
excitement-oriented
, and assertive.
They are more
concerned with
individualism and
improving
individual
competence than
maintaining social
relationships.
The goal of this
study was to use
during selection in
the future.

Pros Cons
● get comprehensive and historical information ● time consuming
● information already exists ● may not be generalized to all populations
● few biases about information ● may not be available for research question of interest
● can provide insight into what people think and do ● Not a lot of female pilots studied
● provides useful background data
● use for exploration
● often are reliable and valid
● can study trends
● easy to analyze data
 Musselman 14

Source (with the author,
publication date, etc.
Study design: Criterion 1 (this is the
methods, participants, thing you are
timeframe, results in comparing/contrasting
/ evaluating across the
five sources)
Criterion 2 (this is the Ultimate Assessment
thing you are
comparing/contrasting
/ evaluating across the
five sources)

Big 5 Personality This study Used the Big Five This study was used to This source is similar
Profiles of compared Inventory test find if certain traits are to the other resources
compared from because it discusses
Rotary-Wing personality of The same 5 aeronautical engineers the personalities and
Aircrew aeronautical personalities a lot of to helicopter pilots. provides background.
Paul Dickens 2014 engineers and studies are using It also shows how
helicopter pilots they conducted the
-it found both study.
groups are different
significantly from
the general
population in being
higher on the
factors of
Extraversion,
Agreeableness, and
Conscientiousness,
and they were
lower on the factor
of Neuroticism. No
significant
differences were
seen in
Open-mindedness
in either group.

Pros Cons
● get comprehensive and historical information ● time consuming
● already exists ● may not be generalized to all populations
● few biases about information ● may not be available for research question of interest
● can provide insight into what people think and do ● Not a lot of female pilots studied
● provides useful background data
● use for exploration
● often are reliable and valid
● can study trends
● easy to analyze data

Source (with the author, Study design: Criterion 1 (this is the Criterion 2 (this is the Ultimate Assessment
 Musselman 15

publication date, etc. methods, participants, thing you are thing you are
timeframe, results comparing/contrasting comparing/contrasting
/ evaluating across the / evaluating across the
five sources) five sources)

Personality Profiles Purpose of the Used the Big Five This study was used to This source is similar
of Experienced US study was to see if Inventory test see if traits differed in to the other resources
pilots depending on the because it discusses
Army pilots across there were certain The same 5 mission. the personalities and
different Mission personality traits personalities a lot of provides background.
Platforms that were good for studies are using It also shows how
Robert Lewis 2006 helicopter pilots to they conducted the
have. Also to see if study.
the personality
profiles changed
based on what type
of mission these
pilots carried out.

The study found the

pilots had a high
level of
Conscientious and
Agreeableness.
There was an
average level of
openness and
extraversion. There
was also a low level
of Neuroticism.
 Musselman 16

Pros Cons
● get comprehensive and historical information ● time consuming
● information already exists ● may not be generalized to all populations
● few biases about information ● may not be available for research question of interest
● can provide insight into what people think and do ● Not a lot of female pilots studied
● provides useful background data
● use for exploration
● often are reliable and valid
● can study trends
● easy to analyze data

Discussion and Conclusion

By all accounts, helicopter pilots have a unique job with a unique life. Whether they are

combat, rescue, news, or recreational helicopter pilots, a helicopter pilot has the lives of themself

and everyone else on board. Being a helicopter pilot is no easy task which is why it requires a

prerequisite of certain personality traits and behaviors. Their personality traits like being

extroverted, conscientious, and agreeable, are part of the unique persona of helicopter pilots. The

uniqueness of these traits is what conforms to their unique personality. As their careers advance

they become better at what they do and come to understand how to use their tendencies to their

advantage.

Alongside personality traits, there is a set of behaviors. One of the behaviors is being

anxious. Anxiety is typically a bad thing, but it can be something that someone can use to their

advantage. In helicopter pilots, anxiety increases as their career advances. Helicopter Pilots

become more experienced when they become more anxious.

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Whatever the cause of a Helicopter crash, it is safe to say a good helicopter pilot can

navigate through the crash better if they know how to use their personality traits and behaviors.

Being a helicopter pilot is no simple task, you need to be conscientious, agreeable, and an

extrovert. These personality traits and behaviors such as anxiety make an experienced helicopter

pilot. It is not an easy task to become an experienced helicopter pilot. Helicopters crash all the

time alongside their pilots.

The sources studied gave a broad, but a specific understanding of the research topic.

Helicopter pilots have a high level of agreeableness, extroversion, and conscientiousness. The

sources were all reliable and trustworthy. They all noted their biases and explained when they

needed to eliminate a section of their research due to specific reasons. The research conducted

was done via meta-analysis. Sources were examined to determine the information in this paper.

Meta-analysis was chosen because the research required was not quantitative. The research was

conducted through facts and was document-based.

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night and instrument helicopter flights. Ergonomics, 63(4), 399-406.

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Coza, C., & Macnab, C. J. (2006, June). A new robust adaptive-fuzzy control method applied to

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Grice, R. L., & Katz, L. C. (2007). Personality profiles of US Army initial entry rotary wing

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Hidalgo-Muñoz, A. R., Mouratille, D., El-Yagoubi, R., Rouillard, Y., Matton, N., & Causse, M.

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simulated flights under social stress. Safety, 7(2), 49.

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xid=616fec80
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