Mental Preparation for Flying

FEATURE AT A GLANCE: In this article, I contend that an often-overlooked aspect of preflight preparation is mental preparedness. Specifically, I discuss chronic stress and the negative effects of such stress on human performance abilities in complex situations. I conclude with a recommendation that aircrew training and procedures should incorporate some of the stress management techniques developed by clinical and counseling psychologists. At the very least, pilots should be encouraged to set aside quiet contemplation time prior to every flight to consider their mental preparedness.