Crucial Abilities of Pilots and Weapon Systems Officers

Abstract

Abstract: The first objective of our study was to identify the common and specific crucial abilities for fighter pilots, transport pilots, fighter weapon systems officers (WSOs), and transport WSOs. The second aim was to prioritize clusters of abilities. We used an online questionnaire to survey 479 expert pilots and WSOs in order to assess the level of requirement of 33 cognitive, psychomotor, and perceptual abilities on a Likert-type scale. Two groups of abilities were identified: a common group and a specific one composed of abilities that are crucial for specific jobs. The prioritization of clustered abilities indicated differences in the level of requirement within the so-called crucial abilities. This study led to the identification of four specific profiles of ordered abilities.