I am truly sorry to hear about your son's disappointment, but please tell him to take a deep breath: being told to reapply in 6 months after an 'outstanding' psychometric result is actually a very positive sign.
At 17, he is competing against people who are often 21-25 with more life experience. Flight schools and airlines look for
MCC (Multi-Crew Cooperation) potential even at the cadet level. 'Lacking confidence' in a group assessment usually just means he hasn't yet developed the 'Command Presence' or the communication style needed to lead and follow in a high-pressure cockpit environment.
From an Aviation Safety and SRM perspective, confidence isn't about being the loudest in the room; it's about
Situational Awareness and the ability to voice concerns or decisions clearly.
What he can do now:
- Get a job in a customer-facing role: Nothing builds confidence and 'people skills' faster than handling difficult situations in a busy environment.
- Start PPL theory or some hours: If he hasn't already, getting some actual stick-and-rudder time will boost his confidence in technical discussions.
- Volunteer or join a team: Anything that requires coordinated group effort.
The 6 months will fly by. The industry isn't going anywhere, and a slightly more mature candidate is always a safer bet for an airline. Keep his chin up!