Plain English Meaning

Stressors are the things that cause stress. They are the triggers, not the reaction. Anything that puts pressure on a pilot — in the cockpit or in life — can be a stressor.

Full Definition

Stressors are the events, conditions, or demands — physical, physiological, or psychological — that trigger a stress response in a person. In aviation, they include factors such as turbulence, heat, fatigue, time pressure, equipment malfunctions, workload, personal problems, and interpersonal conflict.

Context Anchor

Used in aviation human factors and instructor discussions about managing student performance, , and workload.