Unscientific survey - why are you a pilot?

"Doug Semler" wrote in message
ups.com...
(Trying to steer a thread to the topic of the group g)

A response of mine in another thread got me to thinking (dangerous, I
know) about what makes a person *want* to become a pilot. This has
probably been asked umpteen times before, and will be asked umpteen
times in the future, but I am trying to get a feel for the
psychological aspect that causes a person to WANT to be a pilot. So
this is directed towards non-pilots and students as well. Of course,
every individual is different, but these 2 newsgroups are pretty
directed towards pilots so can be taken as an unscientfic
representative sample.

In some cases looking in Jay's general direction it's because it's
an opportunity for family bonding and whathaveyou. Some cases are
probably your run-of-the-mill "cool factor" cases. And, of course, I
am sure that there are the cases of the "I'm better than you because I
can do something you can't do" syndrome. But I'm wondering if there
isn't some deep commonality amongst most pilots to which we can
point?

Do you have a "family history" of aviation/piloting?

Father was an Army Air Corp Cadet, training ended by end of war.

Are you an adventure seeker (anything from "true" adrenaline junkee to
"every day is different and brings a new challenge")

Not really, always interested in machines. (paticularly drivable
machines)

Are you constantly seeking new challenges?

They seem to find me.

(subpart) Do you find that you get bored easily?

Yes.

Do you have a "thirst for knowledge" (e.g. would you rather be in
school than working)?

Thirst for knowledge, absolutely. School? Hell no.

(subpart) Do you find yourself constantly seeking out new things
about flying regularly or do you only look it up when you run across
something you don't know.

Always seeking.

(subpart - for instructors) Do you enjoy it when your student "gets
it" or has that "aha! moment?"

Yes, absolutely. Sharing a success is fun!

Are you a "control freak" (type-a)?

I feel better when I'm not following an idiot, and there are a lot of
'em, so yes, I'd prefer to be in control.

Do you have hints of "delusions of grandeur?" or is it more like "I'm
on top of the world when I fly"

What delusions?

Are you an introvert or an extrovert?

Introvert, but I stayed in a holiday inn once.

If given the choice, would you rather read fiction or an aviation
oriented book?

Aviation Mysteries.

(For those that use the radio) Do you find that you have always had
good communication skills?

Yes.

Are you left brained or right brained (logic-and-math or Artsy
fartsy)?

right, I guess.

Or am I missing something soooo obvious that I'll die of embarassment
when it's pointed out to me? Or even worse, is there no measurable
psychological correlation to flying and I'm just out to lunch
(wouldn't be the first time g)

Note:
I was thinking about including education history (e.g. are pilots more
likely to be college graduates) but that introduces 2 biases (age and
income) into it. However maybe a question along the lines of "while
in school did you consider yourself to be a good student" would be
better.

No, then yes.


Ok, I've got a question for survey takers:

Are you a self starter? Did you have a paper route?



Al G

Are you left brained or right brained (logic-and-math or Artsy
fartsy)?

right, I guess.

Hmm. What is "fartsy"? Was DaVinci "fartsy"?

If somebody takes the survey and says "Well, gee, I don't know...I don't
know what 'fartsy' means but it doesn't sound like me," would that stack the
results toward the right-brained?

I knew a Lt Commander who was B/N on an Intruder who would ask AOCS types
"Are you fixed-wing or one of those helo-queers?"

-c