ABSTRACT
Aptitude tests included the assessment of abilities, occasionally personality, and some form of rudimentary psychomotor skills. The selection of pilots became a little more sophisticated during World War II. Airline operators began to realize that different types of flying required different aptitudes, skills and styles and the commercial operators began to use their own methods for identifying those with the potential and the aptitude to operate as safe and efficient pilots. The experience gained by the military in using aptitude tests in pilot selection has spread too many of the world’s airlines. Information about individual strengths and weaknesses, appropriately feed back to the individual in an environment of training and development will enhance the individual’s capacity to meet training and operational standards. Validation involves demonstrating that aptitude assessment bears a clear link to likely future training and operational effectiveness as a pilot.
