Day 1: COMPASS Test
Here are details on the Computerised Pilot Assessment Screening System (COMPASS).
COMPASS testing forms the basis of the skills assessment system. These tests are designed to assess potential as well as immediate training risk and cover the following 6 areas:
CONTROL- Eye to Hand & Feet Coordination - Flying Aptitude & Motor Skills
SLALOM - Eye to Hand Coordination - Flying Aptitude & Motor Skills
MEMORY - Capacity
MATHEMATICS - Capacity and Technical Capability
ORIENTATION - Instrument Flying Capacity, Logic & Deductive Reasoning
TASK MANAGEMENT - Multi-Tasking & Capacity
Each test is graded from 1-7, giving a maximum achievable score of 42. Those achieving a score in the high 20s can be considered to have a good chance of successfully completing the APPFO course. Higher scores are required to be successful for a mentored airline cadet programme, as these have a limited number of places and are essentially a competition. The tests are theoretically designed for individuals of varying flying experience and a wide range of backgrounds, in practice the results can be conditioned by factors such as English Language capability and there is not, therefore, a fixed pass/fail mark for the APP First Officer assessment process. The results from other tests must be taken into account before any final judgment can be made.
CONTROL - Eye to Hand & Feet Coordination - Flying Aptitude & Motor Skills
This test uses a joystick and rudder pedals. The joystick is used in the pitch channel only, fore and aft. After you read the on-screen instructions, you will get to practice. Use the practice session to get a feel for how the test responds to both the amplitude and rate of your pitch control inputs.
During the test, you will see a simplified diagram for an aircraft instrument known as a Vertical Speed Indicator (VSI). The diagram is a circle (a stick figure for a dial) with a small box overlapping the left edge. There is a needle in the centre of the dial and it will bounce up and down during the test. Your task is to keep the needle centred in the small box.
Beneath the VSI will be a rudder balance ball. In the test, the ball that will bounce from side to side. Your task is to keep it centred by applying rudder pedal pressure.
SLALOM - Eye to Hand Coordination - Flying Aptitude & Motor Skills
This test uses the joystick only. The joystick is used in the roll channel only, left and right. After you read the on-screen instructions, you will get to practice. Use the practice session to get a feel for how the test responds to both the amplitude and rate of your control inputs.
During the test, you will see a blue triangle shaped cursor. If you move the joystick left, the triangle moves left. If you move the joystick right, the triangle moves right. During the test, a row of green squares and a row of red squares will move downward from the top of the computer screen. They will always be about 3/4 of an inch apart and move in sync, snaking left and right, sort of like a downhill skiing slalom course, hence the name of the test. Your task is to keep the blue triangle between the red and green descending squares and not hit any of them.
MEMORY - Capacity
This tests your short term memory and it uses aviation terminology that you will encounter every time you fly. You will be shown a series of information for about 10 seconds, then it disappears and you must type it back in. The data will be anywhere from 1 to 4 pieces of information to memorize and it gets progressively more difficult. The information will be altitude, airspeed, heading and radio frequency assignments and will look something like this:
Altitude: 15000
Heading: 235
Speed: 160
Radio: 175.1250
What you would be expected to type in is:
15000 a
235 h
160 s
175.1250 r
MATHEMATICS - Capacity and Technical Capability
This will be a 24 question mental arithmetic test with a 20 minute time limit. Nothing on the test will be above the UK’s GCSE level of mathematics. It is not a multiple choice test, so you must calculate the answer and type it into the answer box. You can't use a calculator, but pen and paper will be provided. You may skip a question, but you can’t come back to it.
ORIENTATION - Instrument Flying Capacity, Logic & Deductive Reasoning
In this test you will have a row of three aircraft instruments across the top of the computer screen. They are, from left to right, an RBI, an Artificial Horizon and a Compass. Below the instruments, you will have a Plan View of four airplanes located around a radio beacon transmitter represented by a purple plus sign +. One of the airplanes will match all three instruments and the other three will not match at least one of the instruments. Your task is to choose the aircraft that matches all three instruments.
The single most important thing you can do is to read the instructions carefully. When you are offered the chance to read the instructions a second time, you should do so. This task will test your ability to use deductive reasoning, the process of elimination and logic, as well as giving us an idea of how well you understand three dimensional spatial orientation.
TASK MANAGEMENT - Multi-Tasking & Capacity
This test checks to see how well you divide your attention between competing tasks. You will have to cancel alert lights within 3 seconds of their illumination while simultaneously updating the settings on an aircraft Autopilot Panel.
Read the instructions carefully so you understand the keys required during the test and what amount of change each key press implements, mentally calculate the required number of key presses and keep your eyes on the alert light panels as much as you can. The goal is to keep a scan going and never fixate on one task or one part of the computer screen or the keyboard for long.
Day 1: Technical Test
The Technical Test which follows COMPASS is effectively testing basic Physics, Science and Mechanics. Graded out of 15, an ‘average’ score would be 10/11 and approximates to GCSE standard.
The following topics might be useful:
Force, Motion and Energy
Velocity and acceleration
Indestructible energy
How forces behave
Kinetic and potential energy
Resultant forces
Balance and centre of gravity
Stress and strain
Friction
Pressure
Moments and turning forces
Impulse and momentum
Motion in a circle
The Earth and Universe
The Earth in the solar system
The birth of the solar system
The moons of planets
Man-made moons
The life of a star
Astronomical events
The origens and the end of the universe
Electricity
The fundamentals of charge
Electrostatics
Flow of charge
Current
Voltage
Power
Resistance
Ohm's law
Electrical components and circuits
Household electrics
and much more
Magnetism
The fundamentals of magnetism
Electromagnetism
Electric Motors
Electromagnetoc induction
Transformers
Day 1: CPP - Psychometric Profile
The final automated assessment is known as CPP. There is no preparation needed for CPP, as it is not a test, rather a tool that will give us a profile of your presonality. Though temperament is fairly constant throughout adulthood, personality is dynamic and changes as we grow and mature. This profile is only relevant for the aviation industry, especially for the selection and coaching of pilots and is valid for one year.
This instrument seeks to measure core competencies usually found in successful commercial pilots, such as personal stability, conscientiousness, leadership, executive orientation, team orientation, decision making, communication, service orientation and sociability.
CPP is focused on the qualities sought in airline pilots and grades individuals from ‘No Serious Concerns’ to ‘Grave Concerns’ based upon completion of a detailed questionnaire. Overall, the test generally gives a good profile indicator but it is not foolproof. Some judgment is required in assessing the results and the results can occasionally be misleading, particularly for those with a relatively poor understanding of English. Results are balanced with the observations our assessors make in the team exercises and interview.
Day 2: Group/Team Exercises
Candidates undertake 3 Group/Team Exercises:
1. Problem Solving, Verbal Reasoning and Communication
2. Practical Problem Solving
3. Group Discussion
For all these exercises, 4- 7 candidates normally form a group and are monitored by 2 assessors. The exercises take approximately ˝ day to complete with the same assessors then conducting individual interviews, each of which lasts for some 20-30 minutes. Candidates are graded on a conventional scale from ‘well below’ to ‘well above’ average. The assessors will be looking at team skills such as listening well, questioning for clarity and clarifying own statements, helpfulness of suggestions, seeking ideas, leadership, decisiveness and seeking support/concensus. They examine each applicants style of relating for calmness, enthusiasm, positive attitude, energy, cooperation and supportiveness, etc. Focusing on the task and time awareness are important, as are understanding the brief, making a positive contribution to both the discussion and implementation of the tasks.
Day 2: Interview
Candidates are interviewed individually. As for the Group Exercises, there are 2 assessors, who are experienced in the airline industry either as pilots, senior cabin crew members or HR managers. Over a dozen airlines permit their staff to work on our assessment programme. The structured interview lasts approximately 30 minutes and is intended to assess an individual’s preparedness and suitability for a career in commercial aviation. The assessors will examine why and for how long you have wanted to become a pilot and what practical steps you have undertaken to prepare for the training and career. This could include educational preparation, extra curricular activities to develop social skills and personality, acquisition of flying or aviation related work experience, leadership and team working skills, etc., as well as financial planning and preparation and research of the career, lifestyle, industry and career progression of a professional pilot.