Testing for the existence of the pilot personality profile in collegiate professional pilot candidates and its validity as a predictor of program completion

This study was conducted in order to explore the existence of the so-called pilot's personality profile, based on selected factors of the Edwards Personal Preference Schedule, in collegiate professional pilot candidates. Students enrolled in the professional pilot curriculum at Middle Tennessee State University were tested to develop a profile which was compared by means of statistical analysis to that of licensed pilots and to the norm for college students developed by Edwards. In addition, the scores of male and female candidates were analyzed for significant statistical differences based on gender. Finally, the profile exhibited by the subjects was examined in terms of its validity as a predictor of success as defined by successful graduation with appropriate flight ratings. A stepwise multiple regression was used for this analysis.;The results of this study indicated that collegiate professional pilot candidates at Middle Tennessee State University did not display the expected profile. While the profile exhibited was distinct from the general population and there were significant differences from the college norm, these differences did not constitute what has been identified as the pilot profile.;The results of this study with regard to gender differences indicated that although the male and female professional pilot profiles demonstrated some similarity, the female profile more closely resembled the female collegiate norm.;The value of the Edwards Personal Preference schedule as a predictor of success in the collegiate flight training curriculum is, at best, questionable. This study discovered limited correlation between scores on various subscales and grade point averages or program completion.