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vii

EDITORIAL FOREWORD

At the request of the Civil Aeronautics Administration, the National Research Council Committee on Aviation Psychology is conducting an investigation designed to reveal the critical requirements of the job of airline pilot, with particular reference to those aspects of pilot performance which may contribute to accidents during flight, and with the view of developing improved practical procedures for upgrading, selection, and certification of airline pilots.

The first phase of this investigation, involving an analysis of CAA records on airline transport pilots, was described in a report entitled "Analysis of CAA Records on Airline Transport Pilots," by H.O. Preston, published as Report No. 72, Division of Research, Civil Aeronautics Administration.

The second step in this investigation has included interviews with pilots, CAA inspectors, and company check flight personnel, as well s an examination of airline company personnel records. This survey throws considerable light upon critical situations in which airline pilots becomes involved; pilot characteristics; operating conditions; aspects of equipment design; and other factors which appear to contribute to accidents during flight.

The results of this analysis support the opinion that the improvement of practical flight test procedures for evaluating pilot proficiency represents a promising approach towards increasing flying safety. During the past few months progress has been made in initiating the next phase of the research program, which is concerned with the development of more objective and more adequately standardized flight test procedures for checking flight proficiency of air transport pilots. Steps have been taken to enlist the active support and interest of the Air Line Pilots Association as well as of individual companies in order to make use of the wealth of practical experience and practical judgment within the representatives of such organization can supply.

The research program described in this report was conducted by the American Institute for Research under the general direction of Dr. John C. Flanagan and under the immediate supervision of Thomas Gordon. Detailed acknowledgements to many individuals and organizations who cooperated in the project are found on pages v and vi of this report.

Morris S. Viteles, Chairman
Committee on Aviation Psychology
November 4, 1947