The Career Adaptability and Support Structures…
The Career Adaptability and Support Structures of Pilots Losing Medical Certification
Citation: Kurukulaadithya, T., Nair, R., Tariq, W., Wall, J., & Rodwell, J. (2023). The career adaptability and support structures of pilots losing medical certification. Social Sciences, 12(4), 237.
This study focuses on how commercial pilots who lose their medical certification cope with the career shock and navigate transitions in occupational identity and employment. The authors found that having a singular pilot identity amplifies the psychological impact when flying is no longer possible whereas pilots with higher adaptability and more robust support networks were more likely to successfully transition into alternative aviation or non-aviation careers. The paper argues that in highly regulated, identity-intensive professions like aviation, decertification creates a major “career shock,” and that targeted interventions (early counselling, reinvention training, etc.) are essential to avoid negative outcomes.
