HUMAN PROBLEMS IN AVIATION — BRONK 409 



It is, accordingly, possible to select, with appropriate tests, the indi- 

 viduals who are naturally qualified for exacting night duty, and to 

 eliminate the unfit. 



This is but an instance of one of the most important responsibilities 

 of the flight surgeon in a technological war. By nature all men are 

 not equal ; the more exacting their tasks, the more important does it 

 become to select those best fitted for specific duties. And so the med- 

 ical services of the Air Forces have during the last 30 years developed 

 searching tests to determine the physiological fitness of an individual 

 to meet the stresses of aerial combat. But even these fail at times 

 to reveal some subtle incapacity, and we have accordingly added to 

 those tests certain realistic examinations under actual conditions of 

 environmental stress. Such is the observation in an altitude chamber 

 of each prospective airman for abnormal reactions to high altitude. 

 If he reacts unusually to mild lack of oxygen, he may be rejected ; for 

 temporary emergencies arise with even the best oxygen supply equip- 

 ment. Or an individual who is especially susceptible to pain during 

 decompression is limited to low altitude operations. 



Beyond these more obvious physiological characteristics of his con- 

 stitution are the mental, emotional, and temperamental aptitudes of 

 the candidate. The demands of constant attention to exacting opera- 

 tions, the frequent necessity for quick decisions of vital importance, 

 and the constant threat of disaster place a severe nervous strain on 

 an airman. Those who are considered to be incapable of withstanding 

 these stresses are eliminated. But even those who must be judged 

 mentally normal ultimately face severe threats to their endurance. 

 To ease their strain, the medical examination of airmen has been 

 broadened to include a psychological assessment of a candidate's intel- 

 lectual qualifications and his special aptitudes. Thus, the fitness of an 

 individual for the highly technical work of aerial war is judged by an 

 appraisal of the man as a whole — physically, mentally, and tempera- 

 mentally. The chances of his success in his job depend upon the accu- 

 racy of this appraisal. Even more important to the flight surgeon 

 is the fact that the chances for good mental health are better if the 

 man is given the work for which he is best fitted, and the danger of 

 accidents or sickness is less. 



In a series of psychological research units each trainee is carefully 

 assessed by interviews, written examinations, and psychomotor manip- 

 ulative tests. Those who demonstrate good judgment, facility in learn- 

 ing eye-hand coordinations, and a high degree of emotional stability, 

 with qualities of leadership, are preferred as pilots; accuracy of motor 

 coordination in the execution of precise manipulations and a quick 

 reaction time meet the requirements for a bombardier ; an interest in 



