An analysis of psychological assessment data from more than 350 business aviation professionals1 reveals a significant facet of the typical “pilot personality,” overlooked or misconstrued in earlier studies, that can explain the so-called boomerang effect — an unanticipated response to crew resource management (CRM) training in which the attitudes of some participants remain unchanged or even move in the direction opposite the one intended.
The analysis examined responses from pilots, maintenance technicians, managers, cabin crew and schedulers who operate, maintain and manage corporate aircraft and other transportation; it was conducted using the Birkman Method, a psychological assessment tool designed to measure personality characteristics that influence behaviors, motivations and perceptions.
More than 25 percent of the Birkman sample (far in excess of the general population…
