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CHAPTER ONE

1.1. Introduction Flying fitness is not merely a physical entity. The other
crucial element is the psychological fitness and aptness. It includes the ability of a pilot to
perceive, think, and act to the best of his ability without effects of anger, worry and
anxiety. However, the focus on psychological aspect is not that momentous when it
comes to military pilots.

1.2. Problem analysis/statement According to the statistics from the Flying

Training Wing of Sri Lanka Air Force and reviews from the flying instructors, termination
of flying training has increased. Majority of the students being failed to achieve the
minimum standard to become a military pilot

1.3. Purpose of the study/Objective (s)

1.3.1. To identify the difficulties faced during the ground school phase.
1.3.2. To identify the psychological readiness for military flying.
1.3.3. To identify the factors affecting towards stress in the flying environment.
1.3.4. How to overcome the difficulties during flying phase through psychological
readiness.

1.4. Research question Flight cadet courses which were conducted during last five
years, 30% of student pilots were unable to make the required standard to complete their
training. During the monthly interviews from the trainees and remarks by the instructors,
majority of the student pilots were not being able to cope up the stress and not
psychologically prepared for the training.

1.5. Statement of research hypothesis Psychological development of the flying

trainees will overcome the training related stress.

1.6. Scope of the study Research will be focused on student pilot groups who are
undergoing training and junior pilots of Sri Lanka Air Force. Researcher will touch the
background of aviation psychology with training related factors and will not give the total
understanding of aviation psychology. Data collection will be via questionnaire for the
trainees and junior pilots.
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1.7. Significance of the Research This research will help the future training
pilots to focus more on their psychological development. Furthermore, it may assist to
overcome the fast termination rate among the flying trainees.

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2. CHAPTER TWO

2.1. Overview This chapter discuss the theoretical and empirical studies, books,
journals, articles on World Wide Web with regard to stress and flying performance. In
addition to theoretical studies researcher discuss the accident and incident investigation
records published by Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to emphasize the significance of
stress in skilled job performance. Further in this chapter researcher intended to elaborate
the key components of the research such as Psychological development, Flying
performance, How to measure flying performance, Trainee psychology, Stress factors and
Occupational Health and Safety using available literature.

2.2. Introduction This chapter gives you an opportunity to launch yourself into the
class/club of experts in the field of your research. You are expected to review the views of
other expert, to show that you are very conversant with various views on the problem at
hand. You trace the historical trend of the thought, review the models and theories that
relate to the problem, as well as construct any model for the variables. You should review
current literature on the issue from journals articles (most ideal because they are more
current), books, Internet, newspapers etc.

2.3. Theoretical framework/models building During the research The available

sample is limited since the number of fighter pilots are limited. Pilots are reluctant to
accept that they are stressed due to personal or social matters. Effect of stress in skilled
performance is demanding to measure accurately. It is difficult to categorize stress due to
primary and secondary duties, since there are many other factors contributing to stress level
of a pilot.

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3. CHAPTER THREE – METHODOLOGY

3.1. Research design: To achieve the objectives mentioned in chapter one, data will be
collected via questionnaire for student pilots as well as junior pilots in various squadrons.
Conceptual framework is the basic guide or plan for this study and it comprises of simple
framework or methods of collecting and analysing data related to the purpose of objective
of the research. Independent and dependant variables were identified and illustrated the
affiliation with hypothesis.
3.1.1. Independent variables – Stress due to challenging performance requirement,
Fear of termination, Pressure from instructors, Pressure from ground instructors,
Task work etc.
3.1.2. Dependent variables – Flying performance

3.2. Characteristics of the study population The population of the study is the
trainees at the Flying Training Wing and all pilots in the ranks of Flight Lieutenant and
below.

3.3. Sample design and procedure Whole population will be taken since there are
58 junior pilots and 12 Student Pilots at FTW (Flying Training Wing).

3.4. Data collection instrument Above mentioned independent variables will

be tested through a questionnaire to build a relationship with the dependent variable (flying
performance) to test the hypothesis.

3.5. Administration of data collection schedule Questionnaire will be

distributed among the pilots via Google documents and the hard copy will be distributed
among the Student Pilots at FTW.

3.6. Data processing procedure As the primary data collection instrument,

seventy (70) numbers of questionnaires will be distributed and their feedbacks will be
neatly recorded and entered in Microsoft Excel computer application in the tabular data
format. These data will be used in generating some graphical figures with visualizing the
similarities and differences of all obtained data set.

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3.7. Limitations of the methodology The available sample is limited since the pilots
are limited. Pilots are reluctant to accept that they are stressed due to personal or social
matters. Effect of stress in skilled performance is demanding to measure accurately. It is
difficult to categorize stress due to primary and secondary duties, since there are many
other factors contributing to stress level of a pilot

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4. CHAPTER FOUR - PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS OF DATA

4.1. This chapter will present systematically gathered data through questionnaire and
interview on regard to stress due to secondary duties towards flying performance. Further
the same will be critically analysed.

4.2. Received feedback from the questionnaire will be entered in Microsoft Excel work
sheet. Tables and graphs will be generated using the same software. Visual comparison of
data will be done through the graphs created by Microsoft Excel. Further the percentages of
results will be calculated in order to compare and data analysis.

5. CHAPTER FIVE - CONCLUSION

5.1. Summary of Findings: Will comprise of the the analyses of all findings which were
made according to the population.

5.2. In the end of this chapter Conclusions, Recommendations for action and
Recommendations for further studies will be presented according to the data presentation
and analysis. Research report will be concluded with the hypothesis is been proven or null.