Pilot Assessment: Stages and How to Prepare

SHORT ANSWER

A pilot assessment is the selection process an airline or flight academy uses to choose its pilots. It usually has three blocks: online aptitude tests, an assessment day with group exercises and interviews, and a Class 1 medical. Length varies from four days for each of Jet2's task-based and Aon stages to three to six months at KLM Flight Academy. Checked 25 October 2026.5 6

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Key facts

The main facts, each with its source.

Checked 10, 24 and 25 October 2026
Fact	Detail
Legal basis	EASA.CAT.GEN.MPA.175 has been in effect since 14 February 2021 and requires airlines to ensure pilots receive a psychological evaluation before line flying2
What the assessment covers	At least cognitive abilities, personality traits, operational and professional competencies and social competences, performed or overseen by a psychologist1
KLM Flight Academy total duration	About three to six months, with the Aviation Medical Center phases on three non-consecutive days in Amsterdam6
KLM Flight Academy phases	Preselection, basic capabilities test (about 2 hours), sensorimotor test, core competence test with a psychologist, and an interview with the admissions committee of 30 to 45 minutes6
KLM Flight Academy advice	Do not take selection training; stay yourself, there are no right or perfect answers6
Speedbird Pilot Academy stages	Stage 1 online assessments and a verbal speaking activity; stage 2 in-depth psychometric testing, then a half-day group exercise and multitasking assessment at Waterside; final full assessment day5
Jet2FlightPath 2026	Task-based cognitive assessment up to 50 minutes within 4 days, then a physics assessment, then Aon pilot modules of 5 to 10 minutes each within 4 days; one-way video interview; Jet2 planned its 2026 application window for 17 February to 6 March (13:00 BST), and it may close sooner4
Airline Flight Academy B737 cadet programme for Ryanair	Online Aon pre-assessment (EUR 60); selection day in Dublin or another training centre with a 45 minute simulator assessment, English test, 30 minute technical assessment and about 30 minute interview; results within 7 working days12
Wizz Air Pilot Academy	TestAir360 aptitude test (EUR 130 fee), psychological assessment, then group exercise and personal interview in Budapest13
Generation easyJet (CAE)	Online application, ADAPT test, then team group exercises and a personal interview; results valid for one year15
European Flight Academy	DLR test first (EUR 427), then the Lufthansa Group assessment with interviews, group exercises and psychomotor tests, then the Class 1 medical7
Delta Air Lines direct entry	Aon online assessment, then a panel interview at headquarters, an MMPI-2 personality inventory and a virtual interview with a Delta psychologist10
Emirates Flight Training Academy fees	AED 1,000 online assessment, AED 500 assessment day 1 (maths, physics, COMPASS), AED 4,200 assessment days 2 and 3 (medical and language)16
UK Class 1 initial medical	Can take up to 4 hours at an Aeromedical Centre; covers medical history, eyesight, physical examination, ECG, lung function, haemoglobin and urine tests11
Skywings (Belgium) screening	About 3 days: COMPASS (EUR 245), maths and physics test, personality test, English, simulator test of 3 to 4 hours and a motivation interview; EASA medical about EUR 700 to 800 paid to the medical centre18

Selection stages at six programmes

Compared on tests (online unless stated), assessment day, medical and next step.

Programme	Tests (online unless stated)	Assessment day	Medical and next step
Jet2FlightPath 2026	Arctic Shores task-based cognitive assessment, physics assessment, Aon pilot modules, one-way video interview	-	Jet2 funds the initial Class 1 for successful candidates
Speedbird Pilot Academy	Online assessments and verbal speaking activity; psychometric tests	Half-day group exercise and multitasking assessment, then full assessment day at Waterside	UK CAA Class 1 with no restrictions
KLM Flight Academy	Preselection and basic capabilities test (about 2 hours, at the Aviation Medical Center in Amsterdam)	Sensorimotor test, core competence test, admissions committee interview	3 to 6 months in total
Generation easyJet	ADAPT test (virtual or at a CAE location in Europe)	Team group exercises and personal interview	Class 1 needed before training starts
European Flight Academy	DLR test (EUR 427, in person)	Lufthansa Group assessment: interviews, group exercises, psychomotor tests	Class 1 medical with drug screening
Wizz Air Pilot Academy	TestAir360 and psychological assessment	Group exercise and interview in Budapest	Class 1 before enrolment

Scoring and retakes

There is no single scoring scheme, because each programme combines tests with its own thresholds and then weighs interviews and exercises. Retake rules also differ. KLM Flight Academy describes a three to six month process, CAE states that Generation easyJet allows one re-assessment after a six-month cooldown, DLR recommends waiting 6 months before repeating its test, and the European Flight Academy lets a failed selection be repeated after 24 months. Jet2 states that some online assessments are validated under supervised conditions later, so completing them yourself matters. Read the programme page for the exact rule that applies to you.6 8

What a pilot assessment is

A pilot assessment is the full selection an airline or flight academy runs to decide who trains or flies for them. It is broader than a pilot aptitude test, which is one part of it. Most assessments combine online tests, an assessment day with group and individual exercises, interviews, a simulator check for experienced pilots and a Class 1 medical. The stages and their order are set by each programme, so the first job is to read your own programme's description.

Why airlines have to assess pilots

EASA.CAT.GEN.MPA.175 has been in effect since 14 February 2021 and requires operators to ensure flight crew have undergone a psychological assessment before commencing line flying. The aim is to identify the psychological attributes and suitability of crew for the work environment. EASA's guidance says it should cover at least cognitive abilities, personality traits, operational and professional competencies and social competences, and be performed or overseen by a psychologist, normally within the 24 months before line flying. It is not a clinical psychological evaluation.1 2

Stage 1: application and online tests

Most programmes start online. Jet2FlightPath 2026 asked for an application with eligibility checks, then task-based cognitive assessments of up to 50 minutes within 4 days, a physics assessment, and Aon pilot modules within 4 days. Speedbird starts with online assessments and a verbal speaking activity once you have used its Discover & Prep hub. Candidates for Airline Flight Academy's B737 cadet programme for Ryanair take an Aon pre-assessment for EUR 60. Wizz Air gives you two months from the invitation to pay the EUR 130 fee and complete TestAir360. The European Flight Academy reverses the order: you take the DLR test first and may only apply once you hold the certificate. The test pages on this site explain each system one by one.4 7 11 12

Stage 2: assessment day, group exercises and interviews

Candidates who pass the tests are invited to an assessment day. At British Airways the next step is more in-depth psychometric testing, then a half-day group exercise and multitasking assessment at Waterside and, for those who reach the final stage, a full assessment day. Lufthansa Group's assessment includes interviews, group exercises and psychomotor tests, run by psychologists of Interpersonal GmbH or the SWISS assessment centre in Zurich. KLM Flight Academy's core competence test combines an interview with a psychologist, an individual exercise with an actor or psychologist, and a cooperation exercise with other candidates, followed by an admissions committee interview of 30 to 45 minutes. Airline Flight Academy's posting for its B737 cadet programme for Ryanair says the selection procedure takes place in Dublin or any other training centre used by the airline, with a 45 minute simulator assessment, an English language test, a 30 minute technical assessment and a personnel interview of approximately 30 minutes. Delta combines a panel interview at headquarters, an MMPI-2 personality inventory and a virtual interview with a Delta psychologist.5 6 10

Stage 3: the Class 1 medical

To train for or hold a commercial pilot licence you need a Class 1 medical. In the UK the initial examination takes place at an Aeromedical Centre and can take up to 4 hours, covering medical history, eyesight, a physical examination, an ECG, lung function and blood and urine tests. Some programmes support the cost: Jet2 funds the initial Class 1 for successful candidates. Others, like the Wizz Air Pilot Academy and Generation easyJet, require a valid Class 1 before training starts and not at application. The medical can rule you out whatever your test results, so an early Class 1 medical gives certainty.11

What it costs

Selection fees vary widely. Public figures from the programmes themselves: the Aon pre-assessment for Airline Flight Academy's B737 cadet programme for Ryanair EUR 60, the online cut-e assessment for AFTA's ASL Airlines Ireland mentored programme EUR 79 plus an EUR 300 AFTA assessment fee, Wizz Air TestAir360 EUR 130, COMPASS at Skywings EUR 245, DLR EUR 427 (EUR 327 with the autumn code for appointments to 31 December 2026), and at Emirates Flight Training Academy AED 1,000, AED 500 and AED 4,200 across its three assessment steps. Generation easyJet assessment is free of charge. Skywings estimates the EASA medical at about EUR 700 to 800, paid to the medical centre.2 12 16 18

How to prepare for each stage

For the online tests, find out which system you will meet and practise its formats so the format costs you no time; the pilot aptitude test page links to a page for each system. Work on mental arithmetic, number series, spatial reasoning and memory, and if a joystick is involved, practise coordination. For interviews and exercises, start with the programme's own description of what it assesses. KLM Flight Academy asks candidates not to take selection training, because trained behaviour can hide your real personality, and its main tip is to stay yourself. Reflect beforehand on who you are and how you act in different situations, and use any report you receive after one stage to prepare for the next. Read the assessment guidance carefully and complete tests alone; Jet2 states that some results are validated under supervision later.6

How long it takes

It varies widely. KLM Flight Academy says its full selection takes about three to six months. Jet2 gives four days for its task-based assessment and for its Aon modules, and it planned its 2026 application window for 17 February to 6 March (13:00 BST), with a note that the window may close sooner. Airline Flight Academy says applicants are contacted by phone or e-mail with their assessment results within 7 working days after the selection day. Skywings runs its standard screening over about three days. Plan your Class 1 medical early, since appointments take time and the result is required before training.4 6 18

What you get with the Pilot Pass

The practice hub has selection plans for airlines and academies, with practice for the parts that can be practised online, such as aptitude tests, interview preparation and group exercise practice where a plan has them. Pilot Pass: all questions in study, test and exam mode, as often as you like for the length of your Pass; the interactive aptitude tests are part of the Pass. A free account gets up to 8 free 10-question sets a week.

Frequently asked questions

What is a pilot assessment?

The selection process an airline or academy uses to choose pilots: online aptitude tests, an assessment day with group exercises and interviews, sometimes a simulator, and a Class 1 medical.5 6 7 12

Is a pilot assessment the same as a pilot aptitude test?

No. The aptitude test is usually the first stage of a pilot assessment, which also includes exercises, interviews and the medical.5 6 7

Is a psychological assessment required for pilots?

Yes, in the EU. EASA.CAT.GEN.MPA.175 has been in effect since 14 February 2021 and requires airlines to ensure pilots receive a psychological evaluation before line flying.2

How long does pilot selection take?

KLM Flight Academy says about three to six months in total. Jet2 gives four days for its task-based assessment and for its Aon modules, and Skywings runs its standard screening over about three days.4 6 18

What happens at a pilot assessment day?

Typically group exercises, individual exercises and interviews. At British Airways a half-day group exercise and multitasking assessment is followed by a full assessment day; KLM Flight Academy adds a psychologist interview and an individual exercise.5 6 7 12

How much does a pilot assessment cost?

It depends on the programme. Examples: EUR 60 for the Aon pre-assessment in Airline Flight Academy's B737 cadet programme for Ryanair, EUR 130 for TestAir360 at Wizz Air, EUR 427 for the DLR test, and free assessment for Generation easyJet.9 12 13 15 16 19

How do I prepare for the assessment in Airline Flight Academy's B737 cadet programme for Ryanair?

Complete the Aon online pre-assessment, then prepare for the selection day in Dublin or another training centre: a 45 minute simulator assessment, an English test, a 30 minute technical assessment and an interview of about 30 minutes.12

Do I need a Class 1 medical before the assessment?

You need one to train for and hold a commercial licence, but many programmes only require it before training starts. Check early because it can rule you out regardless of your test results.4 11 15

Can I prepare for the personality part?

There are no right answers. KLM Flight Academy advises candidates not to take selection training and to stay themselves.6

Can I retake a pilot assessment?

It depends on the programme. easyJet allows one re-assessment after six months, DLR recommends waiting six months, and the European Flight Academy allows a repeat after 24 months.3 8 15