If you've been flying for fifteen or twenty years, it can feel strange to sit at a laptop doing mental arithmetic and spatial puzzles against a timer. But for many experienced pilots and direct-entry captains, online tests are now one of the first stages of selection.
I've been flying since 2003 and have gone through more than one airline selection. Here is what the airlines' own published processes say, and how I'd prepare. I don't have access to any test content or scoring, and nothing here is based on confidential material.
What the published processes say
These are examples from public careers pages and job postings, checked in October 2026:
| Airline | Stage | What's listed |
|---|---|---|
| Emirates | Stage one, remote | A short HireVue video interview, psychometrics testing, abstract reasoning testing and a live digital panel interview |
| Emirates | Stage two, Dubai | Simulator assessments, Advanced Compass and an Emirates medical assessment |
| Scoot (DEC) | After shortlisting | Online aptitude tests, then an assessment centre with a group stage and interview, then a simulator and personality assessment over two days |
| SAS (DEC A320) | After CV screening | Online interview with a recruiter, then online tests (cognitive and personality assessments), then assessment days |
Sources: >Emirates Group Careers, pilots FAQ, >Scoot DEC posting, >SAS DEC A320 posting. Processes change; always read the current posting.
Why experienced pilots get tested
Part of the answer is regulation. In Europe, the air operations rules require commercial air transport operators to ensure that flight crew have completed a psychological assessment before commencing line flying (CAT.GEN.MPA.175, introduced by >Commission Regulation (EU) 2018/1042). EASA's related material describes what such an assessment covers, including cognitive abilities and personality traits.
Outside Europe, airlines set their own processes. Either way, the tests sit alongside the interview and simulator, not instead of them.
The kinds of test you might meet
Exact tests differ by airline and provider, and airlines don't always say which they use. In general, pilot selection batteries can include:
- Numerical and mental arithmetic: quick calculations, often without a calculator, sometimes in aviation contexts.
- Abstract or logical reasoning: patterns, sequences and rules.
- Spatial orientation: working out headings, positions or rotated shapes.
- Attention and multitasking: tracking several tasks at once under time pressure.
- Memory: short-term recall of numbers, instructions or positions.
- Personality and work-style questionnaires: how you tend to behave at work, with no right or wrong answers.
- Video interviews: recorded answers to set questions, as in Emirates' HireVue stage.
How I'd prepare
- Read the invitation carefully. Note the provider, the time allowed, whether you can use paper, and the technical requirements.
- Practise the formats, not the answers. If the provider publishes official practice material, use it. Get used to working fast without a calculator again.
- Refresh your mental arithmetic. Many of us haven't done long division in our heads since training. Ten minutes a day for two weeks makes a difference.
- Treat it like a flight. Rest, a quiet room, a stable connection, no interruptions. Do it when you're fresh, not after a night duty.
- Answer personality questions honestly. Answer as the pilot you are at work. Inconsistency is more likely to raise questions than any single honest answer.
- Prepare the video interview like a live one. Short, structured answers with real examples. See the direct-entry captain interview and how to answer "why are you leaving?".
Don't neglect the next stages
Online tests are usually an early filter. The interview, group exercise and simulator still carry the weight later. Plan your preparation across all of them: preparing for the airline technical interview and simulator assessment preparation cover the next steps. And remember that a failed stage can come with a waiting period before you can reapply: see reapply cooldowns after a failed airline assessment.
Next steps
- Take the free Airline Move Readiness Self-Check to find your weak spots before the tests do.
- The Airline Move Playbook gives you a full plan from application to DEC interview.
Selection processes change. This is general guidance from a candidate's perspective, not affiliated with any airline or test provider.
Frequently asked questions
Do direct-entry captains have to do psychometric tests?
Often, yes. Published selection processes for experienced pilots and direct-entry captains at several airlines include online aptitude or cognitive tests and personality assessments, alongside interviews and simulator checks.
Why do airlines test experienced pilots?
Partly because of regulation. In Europe, EASA rules require commercial air transport operators to ensure flight crew have completed a psychological assessment before starting line flying. Airlines elsewhere set their own processes, and many publish them on their careers pages.
Can I practise for pilot aptitude tests?
You can get familiar with the general formats, such as mental arithmetic, reasoning, multitasking and personality questionnaires. Some test providers publish official preparation material. Familiarity helps with nerves; it doesn't replace being rested and focused on the day.
How should I answer a personality questionnaire?
Honestly and consistently. Answer as the pilot you actually are at work. Trying to guess an ideal profile tends to produce inconsistent answers.
