Airline Pilot Selection

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Airline Pilot Selection
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Overview

• Selection Process
• Minimum Requirements
• Desired Attributes
• Computer-based Aptitude Test
• Validation of Selection System
• Attrition Analysis
• Some Key Considerations
• Challenges
• Questions Answers

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Ab-Initio Cadet Pilot Selection and Training
Overview
Basic Flying Training and ATPL papers (Seletar,
Singapore Jandakot, Australia)
Appointed Second Officer and undergo Line
Training
Advanced Jet Trainer Package (Maroochydore,
Australia)
Type Conversion training on one of SIAs Fleet
Type
Outward Bound School (Lumut, Malaysia)
Check out as First Officer
2 3 wks
2 3 wks
1 3 mths
2 days
12 15 mths
21 days
3 mths
9 12 mths
3-6 mths
Flight Crew Training Department
Flying School
Attend Tea Party
Submit application
Attend Prelim Interview
Medical Check up
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Minimum Requirements

• University Degree
• At least 1.65 m in height
• Not more than 500 degrees myopia and not more
  than 125 degrees astigmatism, fully correctable
  with optical aids. For candidates who have
  undergone corrective eye surgery (e.g., Lasik),
  the pre-surgical visual acuity should meet the
  above requirements as well
• Medically fit

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Attributes

• Personal Qualities
• Leadership
• Interpersonal skills
• Temperament
• Bearing and confidence
• Accountability-Dependability
• Maturity
• Stress management/Emotional Stability
• Integrity
• General motivation/Drive

• Technical Aptitude
• Sound educational foundation
• General intelligence
• Reasoning ability
• Communication skills (language, logic and depth
  of discussion)
• Situational awareness
• Multi-tasking
• Psychomotor skills

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Preliminary Interview

• Applicants who meet minimum requirements are
  shortlisted
• Preliminary Interview panel of 2 members (1
  Management Pilot, 1 ground Staff)
• Yield 20

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Tea Party Round

• Short English essay
• Computer-based Aptitude Test
• Final Interview
• Panel Review
• Yield 45

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Computer-based Aptitude Test Battery

• Developed internally in consultation with
  Aviation Psychologist
• Components
• Cockpit Simulation
• Perception Reaction Time (e.g., eye-foot
  coordination, multi-tasking)
• Cognitive abilities (e.g., 3D perception, short
  term memory, Numerical ability, etc)
• Tracking ability (i.e., tracking movements
  on-screen using a joystick)
• Final composite scores are standardized against
  norming pool of applicants to arrive at
  individual aptitude ranking

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Cognitive Ability
10
Perception Reaction Time
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Multi-tasking
12
Psychomotor Ability
13
Psychomotor Ability
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Attrition Analysis

Stage of Recruitment/Career Success Rate Main Reasons for Attrition
Short-listed for interview 21 Do not meet min. requirements
Passed Preliminary Interview 23 Low situational awareness, lack ample preparation  general knowledge, language
Passed Final Interview 45 Lack of ample preparation, low aptitude test scores, communication skills
Cleared Statutory clearances 93 Do not meet medical requirements
Recruited 91 Decline offer due to personal reasons 
Attain rank of First Officer 89 Lack of flying aptitude, unable to pass ATPL subjects
Attain rank of Commander 99 Command qualities
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Reasons for Attrition of Ab-initial training

• Handling skills 40
• Multi-tasking abilities 40
• Situational awareness 50
• Airmanship 20
• Ground school 10
• Basic aircraft knowledge 10
• Motivation 10

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• Factors Leading to Attrition
• Reserved behaviour
• Lack of group participation
• Stuck in the First Officer Mode
• Wrong perception of command role
• Looking for fixed templates
• Low profile
• Underdeveloped handling skills
• Technical grounding
• Over reliance on FMC
• Composure
• Lack of SA

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Desired Qualities

• Good communication skills
• Appreciates the big picture
• Able to think on his feet
• Confidence and assertiveness
• Takes responsibility

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Personal Qualities

• Focus on developing leadership qualities,
  teamwork, character building, and bonding among
  cadets

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Challenges

• Limited pool of local applicants, in the face of
  increasing global demand for pilots
• Considerable management time required in
  selection process
• Inter-rater reliability in our pool of
  interviewers

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Challenges

• Highly competitive labor market. Job seekers
  today have a range of careers to choose from
• Gen Ys aspirations expectations of a career
• To be able to identify qualities/attributes that
  are required later in the career (e.g, for
  selection of Commanders) at selection
• Projected global shortage of pilots

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