Psicologia
dell’aviazione:
ambiti di intervento
e prospettive

Alessandra Rea

Presidente ITAPA

Alessandra Rea is an aviation psychologist, President and co-founder of Itapa-Italia Associazione Psicologia Aviazione. She works in air traffic control field, airline operations, maintenance and aviation industry. With 27 years of experience Alessandra has competencies related to different area in which aviation psychology is declined: HF training, selection and personnel assessment, No Technical Skills development, coaching.
Currently she works in air traffic control with activity of Human Factor training and Notechs development with simulator setting. In the field of airline she works for Air Dolomiti where she manage the Support Program with the role of aviation psychologist according to EU Reg. 1042/2018. Alessandra is an expert of helicopters operations and organizations and she has experience as HF Manager and project manager for HF and CRM departments development. Alessandra is an operational psychologist too, she has been working for 10 years in SHL international Company, achieving competencies in selection, Assessment Centre, training and coaching for human resource.
Since 1996 she is an EAAP member and in 1998 participated to birth of AEPA- Asociación Española de Psicología de Aviación. From that time Alessandra is actively involved in the international aviation psychology community, confronting with collegues about HF issues and aviation psychologist role. She is a cognitive-behavioural psychotherapist under training.

Nicoletta Lombardo

Vicepresidente ITAPA e Head of Human Factor Dept. ENAV

Nicoletta is an Aviation Psychologist. She is the Head of Human Factors in ENAV, leading a team of 2 Human Factors specialists, 4 Aviation Psychologist Consultant, 51 TRM Facilitator and 69 Peers minimising human error and maximising human performance in ATC in ENAV. She leads ENAV work on Stress and Fatigue Management, Peers Support, Team Resource Management, Crew Resource management, Automation and Human Performance.
Full member of the European Association for Aviation Psychology, she cared her instruction in the Istitute of Air Navigation Services (IANS), Eurocontrol, and in the Singapore Aviation Academy.
In previous roles, Nicoletta worked as a free lance in a multinational company called SHL. ShL provides workplace talent assessment solutions including ability and personality tests, psychometric assessment. She was an assessor, a trainer and a recruiter, specially for aeronautical profiles (e.g. pilots, air traffic controllers, maintainers, cabin crew).

Micaela Scialanga

Segretario ITAPA e Comandante di linea

Micaela Scialanga is an airline captain with 35 years experience on medium and long-haul passenger flights as well as cargo flights.
She is a psychologist and an expert in Human Factor within the Aviation field. She has co-designed and implemented the Support Programme in fulfillment of the EASA EU 1046/2018 requirement for several Italian Airlines. She is also the volunteers and ITAPA psychologists coordinator in the Support Programme and the ITAPA project leader of design and implementation of psychological free support Program “Here I Am” for Italian civil aviation professionals.
She works as a team member for psychological assessment according to reg. EU1042/2018.

Gunnar Steinhardt

Presidente EAAP (European Association for Aviation Psychology)

Gunnar Steinhardt is an accredited Aviation Psychologist (EAAP) and Human Factors Manager at Cargolux Airlines International, where he focuses on topics such as pilot selection and the development of a Pilot Support Program. As a Psychologist, he also provides coaching and counselling for crews, and works closely together with the operator's Crew Training and Aviation Safety departments to support the effective integration of HF Strategies into Flight Operations.

Gunnar is a member of the Human Factors Collaborative Analysis Group (HF CAG) and chairs the Operations & Training Focus Group to support HF matters at the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). Most recently, Gunnar was involved in the Rule Making Task (RMT) .0411 Crew Resource Management Training and RMT.0700 Aircrew Medical Fitness, implementing the recommendations made by the EASA-led Germanwings Task Force following the accident of the Germanwings Flight 9525.
Gunnar is a board member and President of the European Association for Aviation Psychology (EAAP), a board member of the European Pilot Peer Support Initiative (EPPSI), a member of the ICAO Mental Health Working Group, and holds a private pilot license.

Michaela Schwarz

Accredited Aviation Psychologist Austria & EAAP Board Member (2010-2022)

Michaela Schwarz (PhD) is an accredited aviation psychologist and human factors trainer based in Graz, Austria. Her research interests include safety and just culture with a special focus on influencing safety-relevant behavior in high reliability organizations in aviation and beyond.
Michaela is a former Board member of EAAP (2010-2022).

Adela González Marín

Presidente AEPA (Asociación Española de Psicología de la Aviación)

Francisco Santolaya Ochando

President Consejo General de la Psicología de España

Licenciado en Filosofía y Ciencias de la Educación. -Sección Psicología, por la Facultad de Psicología de la Universidad de Valencia. Doctor en Psicología Psicólogo especialista Psicología Clínica y experto en psicoterapia (EFPA).
Fue Psicólogo Titular de la Unidad de Salud Mental. Consellería de Sanidad, Generalidad Valenciana.
Los cargos que ostenta:

Giancarlo Buono

Regional Director Safety & Flight Operations Europe IATA (International Air Transport Association)

Capt. Giancarlo BUONO is the Director Safety and Flight Operations for Europe at the International Air Transport Association (IATA), based in Brussels, Belgium. In this function he is responsible for the delivery of IATA Safety and Flight Operations Strategy in Europe and for the liaison with European Regulators, the EC and EASA on issues relating to air transport Safety and Flight Operations.

His professional expertise consists of extensive flight operations and quality-safety management experiences. With 30 years of experience in the Air Forces and Airline industry he is currently qualified as a Captain on the Airbus A-320 family. He holds a Master Science Degree in “Air Transport Management“ from London City University and has been involved in a number of international Safety and Quality developments programs.
He is qualified as an Accident Investigator and as an IATA and ISO Quality and Safety Auditor. He has received formal training in Human Factors and Crisis Communication.
Capt. BUONO is visiting professor in Airline Regulatory Compliance at London City University and in Safety Management at Geneva University. He is a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society.

Lorenzo Mezzadri

Italian Flight Safety Committee

Lorenzo Mezzadri is adjunct professor at the University of Rome “Sapienza”, where he teaches Law in Space Activities and Aerospace Psychology and is director of the Human Factor Research Lab of the same university. He is visiting professor at the "MGU" State University of Moscow and has for a long time carried out studies and researches on the human factor in international space flights in the Rosskosmos-Soyuz environment.
He is a consultant on CRM, Human Factor and EASA regulations for numerous Italian and international airlines and maintenance companies. He also holds the position of Accountable Manager of the Urbe Aero Flight Academy, ATO which has its main base at the Urbe Airport in Rome, and is an airplane pilot.
In 2022 he was elected President of the Italian Flight Safety Commettee.

Robert Bor

Director Clinical Team Lead and Subject Matter Expert at CAP (Centre for Aviation Psychology) and EAAP Board Member

Professor Robert Bor CPsychol CSci FBPsS HonFRAeS UKCP Reg EuroPsy is a Clinical and Aviation Psychologist based in the UK and Director of the Centre for Aviation Psychology www.centreforaviationpsychology.com.
He is also a Fellow of the British Psychological Society and an Aviation Psychologist registered with EAAP, (the European Association for Aviation Psychology), where he also serves on the Board. In the UK NHS, Rob is Lead Clinical Psychologist at the Royal Free Hospital, London. He and his colleagues provide support, assessment and treatment services to the airline industry. He teaches on the Aviation Medical Examiners’ courses at Kings College, University of London. He is the Civilian Psychologist to the Royal Air Force and serves on the ICAO Mental Health Working Group and European Pilot Peer Support Initiative (EPPSI). Rob is the co-editor of several core aviation psychology textbooks (Pilot Mental Health Assessment and Support, Pilot Selection and the forthcoming Handbook of Aviation Neuropsychology) and author of numerous academic papers.
In 2017, he received the highest award in aviation, an Honorary Fellowship of the Royal Aeronautical Society. He received a long-service membership award in 2022 of EAAP. He is listed on the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum Wall of Honour in Washington D.C. He is a Liveryman of the Honourable Company of Air Pilots and also holds the Freedom of the City of London. Rob is a Churchill Fellow.

Alessandro Gennaro

Professore associato di Psicologia Dinamica presso Università Sapienza di Roma

Associate Professor at “Sapienza” University of Rome in the Department of Dynamic and Clinical Psychology, and Health Studies.
His scientific interests focus the role of affects, meaning making and cultural models in driving and regulating social interactions in clinical and organizational settings. On these issues he contributed in national and international scientific projects and published more than 60 contributions among volumes, chapters, and international articles.

Stefania Indelicato

Capitano di Corvetta – Ufficiale Psicologo del Corpo Sanitario della Marina Militare

Psychologist Officer of the Italian Navy, in service since 2012 at the Italian Navy Air Base in Sarzana - Luni, where she holds both the positions of Head of the Department of Psychology Services and Flight Safety Officer.

Graduated in psychology in 2004 at the University of Turin and specialised in clinical psychotherapy, she is also qualified to Emdr practice.
She joined the Navy in 2007. From 2008 to 2012 she served at the Italian Naval Recruitment Center of Ancona, where she has been involved in the personnel selection, in the training and in the psychological support for the staff. She has participated as a speaker in various military conferences on occupational medicine, psychiatry and psychology.
In 2021 she acquired the qualification of Flight Safety Officer at the Flight Safety Inspectorate of the Air Force.

Rosa Barbara Tornitore

Capitano di Corvetta – Ufficiale Psicologo del Corpo Sanitario della Marina Militare

Psychologist Officer of the Italian Navy Rosa Barbara TORNITORE in service since 2014 at the Italian Navy AIR Base in Catania, where she holds the position of Head of the Department of Psychology service and Flight Safety Officer.
She gratued in psychology in 1997 at the University of Palermo, specialized in clinical psychotherapy (COiRAG) in 2006, she is also qualificated to EMDR practice.

She joined the Navy in 2001 and during her service she held the position as psychologist at the Italian Navy NCO School in Taranto, for 4 years, and then in Psychology Service in Augusta.
She has been involved every year, in selection of Navy personnel, and she also involved in training and education to leadership, communication and and soft skills, as instructor.
She participated in various missions with the Armed Forces, including Antica Babilonia in Iraq, Operation Mare Sicuro, Mare Aperto Exercitations and civil protection exercitations.
In 2021 she acquired the qualification of flight Safety Officer at the Flight Safety Inspectorate of the Air Force.

Paola Plastina

Tenente di Vascello – Ufficiale Psicologo del Corpo Sanitario della Marina Militare

Lieutenant psychologist, in service since 2014 at the Italian Navy Air Base in Grottaglie, Taranto, where she holds the positions of Head of the department of psychology services and Flight Safety Officer.
Graduated in psychology in 2001 at the Università Pontificia Salesiana of Rome, specialized in clinical psychotherapy, she is also qualified to RMDR preactice.

She joined the Navy in 2009 and during her service, she held the position as psychologist at the psychiatry department of the Military Hospital of Taranto and at the Italian Navy NCO School in Taranto. She has been involved for several years in the selection of Navy personnel, in the training and in the psychological support for the staff. She also cooperates with the Submarine Flotilla Command regarding personnel education and training. She has participated as a speaker in various military psychology and psychiatry conferences and has cooperated with the newspaper "Il Notiziario della Marina" for which she has published some articles on the Human Factor and the CRM.
In 2021 she acquired the qualification of Flight Safety Officer at the Flight Safety Inspectorate of the Air Force. He participated in various missions with the Armed Forces, first of all Operation Mare Sicuro and Operation Sophia aboard Italian Navy ships.

Paola Tomasello

Lead Consultant at Deep Blue srl | Aviation Psychologist (EAAP certified), Psychotherapist, Trainer.

Paola Tomasello (F) is an Aviation Psychologist, certified by the European Association for Aviation Psychology (EAAP) and specialised in Occupational Psychology and Psychotherapy. Paola is Lead Consultant at Deep Blue, where she coordinates the technical activities of EU projects on Human Performance and aviation safety as well as the design and delivery of e-learning and classroom training programs on Human Factors, Human Behaviour and Performance, Crew Resource Management, work-related stress, communication in healthcare. Currently, Paola is the Technical Lead of the MESAFE project, funded by EASA, and trainer for national and international organizations, including EUROCONTROL, ESA, LEONARDO.

Paola co-authored the first European guide on stress management in ATM, available on skybrary, and is the author of several publications on italian and international scientific journals, including Nature-Scientific Reports, about topics related to work-related stress, organisational wellbeing and the relationship between safety and mental health.
In the past, Paola has taught Human Factors within the Faculty of Transport Sciences and Technologies at the Giustino Fortunato University. She has also taught, at the same University, Aviation Psychology and Human Performance and Limitations for Airline Transportation Pilot License (ATPL(A) - theoretical part), in compliance with the EASA requirements.