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Not Everyone Can Become an Airline Pilot

Aptitude and cognitive skills testing are being viewed as more important than ever before.

Paying for flight training is not a cheap investment. If a student just doesn’t have the aptitude, money is being wasted. [Image: David Weaver/Adobe Stock]
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Key Takeaways:

  • Airline pilot aptitude testing has evolved from the author's challenging 1980s interview, which involved extensive medical and cognitive exams, to a more distributed approach today.
  • The article advocates for psychometric aptitude testing to be initiated at independent flight schools, rather than at the airline hiring level, to identify suitable candidates early and avoid wasted training investment.
  • Modern assessment companies like Symbiotics evaluate a range of pilot competencies, including personality traits, cognitive reasoning, math, physics, dexterity, and hand-eye coordination.
  • Robust aptitude screening is presented as crucial for ensuring competence in airline cockpits, acknowledging that not everyone is fit to be an airline pilot.
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Being picked and probed during the medical phase of the airline pilot interview process was an anticipated expectation. My understanding was that the airline was not only testing for current health issues but also the possibility that family history might forecast problems that could manifest themselves later.

One of the more challenging portions of the undertaking involved an aptitude test that not only included solving equations but also capacity for retaining and comprehending other information simultaneously. In other words, being tested on multitasking skills.

Les Abend

Les Abend is a retired, 34-year veteran of American Airlines, attempting to readjust his passion for flying airplanes in the lower flight levels—without the assistance of a copilot.

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