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6. Reasons for termination (eliminated pilots)
7. Previous ground training
8. Previous flying hours
9. Scores on standard tests
10. Scores, rating and comments on achievement in ground training and flight training with the company

The method employed at each of the companies whose files were examined was to obtain the records of all pilots eliminated from the company during the period between initial hiring and time of checking out as an airline captain. All pilots eliminated in the past three to five years were to be included in the sample. This group of eliminated pilots constituted the experimental group (E-group). Then the files were obtained on a group made up of an equal number of pilots presently employed as co-pilots or captains and matched with the E-group on the basis of approximate date of employment with the company. These pilots constituted the successful or the control group (C-group). The same information was extracted from the files of both of the groups. The names of the pilots whose records were examined were not used, and extreme caution was taken to delete any identifying information. All of the work of recording the information from the files was done in the offices of the airlines, and no materials were removed from these offices.

3. Data Collected. The records of 432 pilots from five different airlines were examined and recorded. Of these 288 were eliminated pilots. Records could be obtained for only 144 controls. This was due to the reluctance of local company chairmen of the Air Line Pilots Association to having the files for presently employed pilots examined by individuals outside of the company pending negotiations for further clarification of the project.

ANALYSIS OF RESULTS

The Critical Requirements of the Job of the Airline Pilot

Information pertaining to the critical requirements of the airline pilot's job was obtained from the interviews with pilots and check-pilots, from the analysis of the Civil Aeronautics Board accident records and from the study of the pilots' personnel files. This information will be presented under three separate headings: (1) critical components of the job of airline pilot and critical pilot behavior, (2) critical pilot traits and characteristics, and (3) critical selection requirements. 

1. Critical Components of the Job of Airline PIlot and Critical Pilot Behavior. Questions #1 and #2 of the pilot interview provided specific examples of critical incidents and the behavior of pilots in those situations. The following examples of such critical incidents will illustrate the kind of material obtained from pilots in response to these questions:

"Flying at 6,000 feet between Newark and Pittsburgh in a DC-3A. It was winter and there was moderate snow. We were on instruments. The outside temperature was -5° C. The manifold pressure dropped and the airspeed fell from 160 to 120 M. P. H. We held 120 M. P. H. and be-