Pilot Psychobabble
What particular personality trait or thinking process do pilots have that make them different?
Methinks it is the ability to process, or deal with a sudden totally different train of thought without blinking.
Example:
"So John was going through the ECAM while I requested to maintain present altitude and a hold at Delta to deal with the hydraulic problem."
"What was it, the Green or the Yellow?"
"First it was the Yellow but the second failure was the Green - high temp."
"That new girl in back's got a nice pair!"
"Pretty face too! Wouldn't mind having her for dinner."
"And breakfast!"
"So now we had a dual hydraulic just past the TMA at one seven zero."
"Good thing weather wasn't an issue."
"Yeah, CAVOK all the way."
And while this conversation is going on, the PF is monitoring TCAS and the WX radar, and the PNF the radios. This ability to maintain focus while shifting through different trains of thought is what makes a pilot able to deal with emergencies.
No different from other highly technical professions.