Personality and Somatotype of Trainee Pilots

Abstract

Personality and somatotype studies of pilots have mostly been restricted to military pilots and experienced airline crews. In this investigation the 16 PF and Heath-Carter somatotype method were utilized to study 31 male aviation majors, aged between 18 and 38 yr., who had earned their Private Pilots’ Licenses and were working toward more advanced ratings. The pilots varied significantly from the male college student norm on Factors E, F, F, H and Q3 of the 16 PF. They were also significantly less ectomorphic.