The purpose of this research was to determine if students who are enrolled in a professional flight program exhibit significantly higher rates of depression, stress, and anxiety. This study compared professional flight students to non-professional flight students to determine whether professional flight students have higher rates of depression and anxiety. In addition, this study sought to determine if there were higher depression, anxiety, and stress levels in upperclassmen (juniors and seniors) than in lowerclassmen (freshman and sophomore). Finally, upperclassmen and underclassmen within professional flight programs were compared to test if upperclassmen professional flight students exhibit higher rates for depression, anxiety and stress. These groups were compared to each other by using a survey that measures depression, anxiety, and stress. There were no statistically significant results. No singular group is more or less prone to depression, anxiety, or stress.

Hypoxic hypoxia is a physiological condition which can manifest as a result of reduced barometric pressure, resulting in an insufficient amount of oxygen for use by the tissues in the body. Hypoxic hypoxia is of concern to pilots due to dangerous impairment the condition can cause in-flight, such as short term memory loss, incoordination, or incapacitation. Several aircraft incidents and accidents have been attributed to hypoxia in the past ten years. To train for hypoxia recognition, high altitude chambers are used to induce hypoxia in participants, through a reduction of pressure inside a reinforced chamber. The training allows participants to experience their personal physiological symptoms of hypoxia in a controlled environment, in order to be trained in recognition and intervention techniques. This study surveyed 110 participants of high altitude chamber training to analyze perceptions, experience, and attitudes of respondents toward the training. Significant results were found; to include 99% of participants stating they would recommend the training to others, and 96.8% stating they felt they were a safer pilot, crewmember, or other support personnel due to attending high altitude chamber training. Two questions related to formal regulatory oversight revealed non-significant results. The purpose and results of this study are intended to support the improvement of aviation physiological training practices, in an effort to reduce hypoxia-related aircraft incidents an accidents in the future.