Locus of control, self-serving biases, and attitudes towards safety in general aviation pilots

Of the three related survey studies that were conducted, two are summarized and one, which characterizes all three, is reported in detail. The studies attempted to determine how aviators compared with the general population on the personality dimension--locus of control (internal vs. external) and how this was related to aviators' attendance at FAA Safety Clinics. In addition, aviators were surveyed regarding their attitudes towards safety, their flying skill, and the likelihood that they would have an accident during the remainder of their careers. Results showed aviators to be significantly more internal in locus of control than the general U.S. population and to have strong self-serving biases regarding their skill and safety levels. Pilots who attended FAA Safety Clinics tended to have a more internal locus of control than those who did not.