IMPACTS OF ANXIETY AND PERSONALITY TYPE ON FUTURE AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL SPECIALISTS

摘要

Air traffic control (ATC) is an extremely demanding job that requires skill and accuracy. With a large percentage of the nation's air traffic controllers retiring within the next five years, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will be hiring new controllers from many of the Collegiate Training Initiative (CTI) schools. Currently, the FAA is hiring new trainees from 14 CTI schools in the United States [1]. Embry Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU) is currently one of 14 CTI schools identified. It is important for the Federal Aviation Administration to have a selection process that accurately selects individuals most qualified for the position. Previous research has suggested that certain types of people are best fit for the air traffic control specialist position. The purpose of this research was to explore the relationships between air traffic management student success and anxiety and personality type. The study examined relationships between anxiety, personality type, and radar performance and final exam grades on ATC student academic success, in a sample of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University ATC students. The results show that students have lower anxiety levels and are more extraverted than the general population of college students but did not support the hypothesis that students with low anxiety levels or extraverted personality types are more successful in the CTI program.