Aerospace Psychology

Luft- und Raumfahrtpsychologie
Department of Aerospace Psychology, Hamburg
Test room for the aptitude test in aerospace psychology

Pilots, air traffic controllers, astronauts, and operators in other skilled professions are, both, an asset and a liability regarding safety in aerospace. Indeed, proper decisions together with functioning human-machine and human-human interactions enhance the reliability of technical system tenfold.

Yet, operators are also responsible for the majority of aviation incidents and accidents. By developing, validating, and implementing comprehensive selection systems, the Department of Aviation and Space Psychology makes a significant contribution to safety in aerospace. Research in the field of performance under (simulated) microgravity, flight cockpit design, flight operation of aircrafts and drones, virtual reality and passenger comfort in trains and aircraft expands the research range of the department and promotes cooperation with operators and manufacturers for the benefit of travelers and crews.

Given the importance of human factors, our work will help attaining the goals of Flightpath 2050, an 80% reduction in accidents. Our safety-related research program is of high scientific, economic and societal value, contributes to employment security and job satisfaction of selected candidates, and supports economic development of aerospace industry by reducing training costs and minimizing errors. An additional part of our research addresses acceptance of new technologies, which is a critical barrier for economic success of novel technology.

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Working Groups

Head working group: Dr. phil. Yvonne Pecena

Air Traffic Control (ATC)

With the work of the Air Traffic Control (ATC) working group, we are pursuing the goal of increasing safety and efficiency in aviation. Since the 1980s, we have been successfully conducting psychological aptitude tests for prospective air traffic controllers in the Aerospace Psychology department...

Head working group: Prof. Dr. phil. Dirk Stelling

Crew Performance and Transport (CPT)

The Crew, Performance and Transport (CPT) group of the Department of Aerospace Psychology has been successfully conducting psychological aptitude tests for prospective airplane and helicopter pilots since the 1950s. The aim was and is to increase safety and efficiency in aviation. Since that time...

Head working group: Prof. Dr. phil. Katharina Utesch, Dr. Dipl.-Psych. Viktor Oubaid

Space Psychology

Assessing the psychological aptitude of future astronauts has been a core competence of the Department of Aviation and Space Psychology since the first West German space missions in the 1980s. In addition to assessing aptitude, this also includes advising space organisations on training measures for future astronauts...

Contact

Prof. Dr. phil. Katharina Utesch

Head of Aerospace Psychology
German Aerospace Center
Institute of Aerospace Medicine
Aerospace Psychology
Sportallee 54a, 22335 Hamburg

Dr. Dipl.-Psych. Viktor Oubaid

Deputy Head of Aerospace Psychology
German Aerospace Center
Institute of Aerospace Medicine
Aerospace Psychology
Sportallee 54a, 22335 Hamburg

Questions about aptitude tests

German Aerospace Center
Institute of Aerospace Medicine
Aerospace Psychology
Sportallee 54a, 22335 Hamburg