Plain English Meaning

A stressor is anything that causes you stress. It is the source of the pressure, not the feeling of pressure itself.

Full Definition

Any event, condition, or demand—physical, physiological, or psychological—that places strain on a pilot and triggers a stress response. Stressors can be external (turbulence, heavy traffic, deteriorating weather, time pressure) or internal (fatigue, illness, hunger, personal worries).

Context Anchor

Used in aviation human factors and stress discussions, especially when identifying what is affecting a pilot’s , , or before or during a .