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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:

  • The author recounts a challenging 1980s airline pilot interview process that included medical exams, cognitive tests, and multitasking assessments, noting a shift in modern airline hiring.
  • The article advocates for rigorous aptitude and cognitive testing to be initiated at independent flight schools, especially with the rise of ab initio training, to ensure students possess necessary skills before investing heavily.
  • Modern psychometric assessment companies, like Symbiotics, offer comprehensive online tests that evaluate aspiring pilots on personality traits, cognitive reasoning, math, physics, and psychomotor skills (dexterity, hand-eye coordination).
  • Ultimately, the piece emphasizes the critical importance of thorough aptitude screening to ensure competence and safety in airline cockpits, as not all individuals are inherently suited for the profession.
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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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