Kenya Airways AB Initio Pilot Recruitment
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Nairobi
Age: 31
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Thinking about paying for flying school
Hi guys,
Even though I have applied for the KQ AB Inition program, I am thinking of paying for flying school. I know the cost comes to around KES 3M. The time investment is about 1 and 1/2 years. I would like to know whether I can continue working while still going to flying school. I know skylink have this arrangement for PPL. I am not sure about the CPL. I would also like to know how long I would need to tarmac and fly for food to get to 800hrs. A year? 2 years? This is just so that I can determine whether I can afford to get a loan and pay it off in a period of 5-7years. I would also like to know how the competition for pilot job is out there, and what kind of salary ranges Pilots in Wilson are looking at.
Even though I have applied for the KQ AB Inition program, I am thinking of paying for flying school. I know the cost comes to around KES 3M. The time investment is about 1 and 1/2 years. I would like to know whether I can continue working while still going to flying school. I know skylink have this arrangement for PPL. I am not sure about the CPL. I would also like to know how long I would need to tarmac and fly for food to get to 800hrs. A year? 2 years? This is just so that I can determine whether I can afford to get a loan and pay it off in a period of 5-7years. I would also like to know how the competition for pilot job is out there, and what kind of salary ranges Pilots in Wilson are looking at.
Join Date: Mar 2014
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Applying for ab initio
@yasin17 Just visit the kq website, go to the careers section. Register for an account. Login and search for all open jobs for the last six months. You should see the AB Initio program. Select it and click on the apply button/link. It should take you to the application form. Be careful though, the last part where one is supposed to fill out your height, weight, etc was not working the last time I checked, make sure it is now working before submitting your application. Good luck.
Join Date: Aug 2013
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online tests.
hi guys, let me try to remember the tests we did online.....you cant get the actual ones ( i tried) but any tests you go through will help in preparing for the real ones.
ok, so there were 2 questionnaires - personality,
complex control - flying in a tube with varying obstacles,
numerical - doing simple math from sets of data ( given a statement to check if its true, false or the info given is inadequate),
verbal - simple vocabulary reasoning from sets of data ( given a statement to check if its true, false or the info given is inadequate),
spatial reasoning - a cube with differently marked sides that's blown out and you identify the correct orientation if its put back together,
spatial orientation - get the orientation of a plane using a compass and beacon,
multitasking - land a mock plane while doing simple addition and identifying a repeated letter from a set of 6,
visual - a number of dots bouncing around n you state how many they are,
reactivity - you are given two symbols with some "noise" in between them, they both change randomly and your supposed to click when they match....simple enough....NOT!!!,
cant remember the other 3, will add them when i do.
ok, so there were 2 questionnaires - personality,
complex control - flying in a tube with varying obstacles,
numerical - doing simple math from sets of data ( given a statement to check if its true, false or the info given is inadequate),
verbal - simple vocabulary reasoning from sets of data ( given a statement to check if its true, false or the info given is inadequate),
spatial reasoning - a cube with differently marked sides that's blown out and you identify the correct orientation if its put back together,
spatial orientation - get the orientation of a plane using a compass and beacon,
multitasking - land a mock plane while doing simple addition and identifying a repeated letter from a set of 6,
visual - a number of dots bouncing around n you state how many they are,
reactivity - you are given two symbols with some "noise" in between them, they both change randomly and your supposed to click when they match....simple enough....NOT!!!,
cant remember the other 3, will add them when i do.
Join Date: Mar 2013
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Online tests.
To add onto what Nickmory has said, the other two are:
-Power of observation: Objects are flashed one by one on the screen for a number of seconds then they stop. A grid with random pictures is then shown for a number of seconds and you are meant to identify any of the objects you saw flashing from those displayed. This round is repeated several times.
-Discovering the rules: A series of shapes/patterns/puzzles are shown and you are meant to pick out the one that doesn't follow the same rule as the rest. The test starts off easy and becomes harder as you go along.
There's one more left and for the life of me I can't remember it. If I do, I'll definitely post it.
-Power of observation: Objects are flashed one by one on the screen for a number of seconds then they stop. A grid with random pictures is then shown for a number of seconds and you are meant to identify any of the objects you saw flashing from those displayed. This round is repeated several times.
-Discovering the rules: A series of shapes/patterns/puzzles are shown and you are meant to pick out the one that doesn't follow the same rule as the rest. The test starts off easy and becomes harder as you go along.
There's one more left and for the life of me I can't remember it. If I do, I'll definitely post it.
Last edited by ChegeAviator; 23rd May 2014 at 08:40.
Join Date: Jun 2013
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The Online assessment
There were 13 tests in this battery of tests, just to highlight them in summary as nickmory and ChegeAviator have already mentioned:
1. Measurement of competencies
2. Measurement of behavioral tendencies
3. Power of observation
4. Spatial reasoning
5. Numerical reasoning
6. Verbal reasoning
7. Visual thinking
8. Perceptual speed
9. Discover rules
10. Complex control
11. Spatial orientation
12. Multitasking capabilities
13. Measurement of reactivity
1. Measurement of competencies
2. Measurement of behavioral tendencies
3. Power of observation
4. Spatial reasoning
5. Numerical reasoning
6. Verbal reasoning
7. Visual thinking
8. Perceptual speed
9. Discover rules
10. Complex control
11. Spatial orientation
12. Multitasking capabilities
13. Measurement of reactivity
Join Date: May 2014
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ab initio pilot recruitment again!!!
Hello everyone!
chegeaviator, I have been following your posts very closely and I must say I am not only impressed but wish you the very best, kindly continue keeping the rest of us posted on your progress am so nervous and I have not even started the processes yet. I have a question to anyone who can assist is it possible to prepare for these tests? I really want to make it. Thank you guys for your contribution.
chegeaviator, I have been following your posts very closely and I must say I am not only impressed but wish you the very best, kindly continue keeping the rest of us posted on your progress am so nervous and I have not even started the processes yet. I have a question to anyone who can assist is it possible to prepare for these tests? I really want to make it. Thank you guys for your contribution.
Join Date: Mar 2013
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Hopeful90
Thank you for your kind words. I too was very nervous before each test, but I can tell you that you need to find a way of calming yourself before each test or you might end up making mistakes.
For the first day at KQ HQ, please make sure that all your documents are in order otherwise they will definitely send you home. You have to carry originals for all the documents asked and in the case of a lost ID, a police abstract and a waiting card will do. Passports will not be allowed! You must also have your original University degree, not a signed letter of completion from your department. I saw two guys I was with in JKUAT get turned away with their completion letters signed by the Dean himself. I honestly think that this is unfair, but that's just how KQ operates.
As for the test at DEFTEC, practise on factorising equations, solving quadratics, solving time, distance, speed and relative speed questions, form 1 and 2 Chemistry (they however use outdated chemical terms in most of the questions) I only answered one Chemistry question; form one and two physics, basic mechanical reasoning such as pulleys, gears, levers and loads. If you have Flight Simulator it will help with your speed when solving the aircraft instrument section. It's not necessary that you be familiar with it because they will exhaustively explain how to tackle the section, but if you already know what it's about, you may move quicker.
For Pyschometric and Psychomotor tests, both conducted by Career Connections, you need to be completely rested and I found that avoiding caffeine was the trick to keeping a clear mind in both tests. The email inviting you for the psychometric test tells you there's no need to study for it and it's true that there's no need to study for it. The test used, called The Morrisby Profile, is too wide to be studied for and is designed so that anyone can do it. It's more of a stress test to evaluate how quickly and accurately you can work through the sections under very minimal time. You can google Morrisby Profile and the first find should take you to the test website where you'll find a sample test to familiarise yourself with how the questions and sections are laid out. A rested and clear mind is needed here, I can't stress this enough! You'll come out of the exam room feeling like your brain is dead.
For psychomotor, you also need to be well rested and have cleared your mind. Please avoid caffeine. I found taking glucose was a great help before going in. Among the tests, there are 2 tests that require you to use a very sensitive joystick. The first one is a Flight Director where you're meant to centre crosshairs. Here, continuous and precise motion of the joystick is needed. This test basically depends on how quickly you realise where the crosshairs are heading and what you should do to centralise them. The second is a trax challenge where you fly a plane through hoops. I found that the trick here is to anticipate where the next hoop will be in relation to your plane and nudge the joystick ever so slightly to move the plane into the hoop. Continuous joystick motion might mess you up here. This method gave me 9/10, 10/10 and 10/10. For these two, familiarity with a joystick will be an added advantage. I'd advise you to get Flight Simulator and fly the missions that require you to fly through hoops and ILS approaches. Set your joystick settings to the highest sensitivity.
A friend of mine told me that one can go to the Career Connections offices in Westlands and pay to sit for similar psychometric and psychomotor tests for around Ksh15,000 each. I don't know how true this is but if you feel inclined to go there, feel free.
Next was the medicals. Basically make sure that you're in good health and are completely drug free beforehand. I had a bad cold on the day and I passed, so it looks like they're forgiving on common treatable illnesses.
Then followed by the online tests that are previously described then hopefully the oral interview.
I hope this information is of some help.
For the first day at KQ HQ, please make sure that all your documents are in order otherwise they will definitely send you home. You have to carry originals for all the documents asked and in the case of a lost ID, a police abstract and a waiting card will do. Passports will not be allowed! You must also have your original University degree, not a signed letter of completion from your department. I saw two guys I was with in JKUAT get turned away with their completion letters signed by the Dean himself. I honestly think that this is unfair, but that's just how KQ operates.
As for the test at DEFTEC, practise on factorising equations, solving quadratics, solving time, distance, speed and relative speed questions, form 1 and 2 Chemistry (they however use outdated chemical terms in most of the questions) I only answered one Chemistry question; form one and two physics, basic mechanical reasoning such as pulleys, gears, levers and loads. If you have Flight Simulator it will help with your speed when solving the aircraft instrument section. It's not necessary that you be familiar with it because they will exhaustively explain how to tackle the section, but if you already know what it's about, you may move quicker.
For Pyschometric and Psychomotor tests, both conducted by Career Connections, you need to be completely rested and I found that avoiding caffeine was the trick to keeping a clear mind in both tests. The email inviting you for the psychometric test tells you there's no need to study for it and it's true that there's no need to study for it. The test used, called The Morrisby Profile, is too wide to be studied for and is designed so that anyone can do it. It's more of a stress test to evaluate how quickly and accurately you can work through the sections under very minimal time. You can google Morrisby Profile and the first find should take you to the test website where you'll find a sample test to familiarise yourself with how the questions and sections are laid out. A rested and clear mind is needed here, I can't stress this enough! You'll come out of the exam room feeling like your brain is dead.
For psychomotor, you also need to be well rested and have cleared your mind. Please avoid caffeine. I found taking glucose was a great help before going in. Among the tests, there are 2 tests that require you to use a very sensitive joystick. The first one is a Flight Director where you're meant to centre crosshairs. Here, continuous and precise motion of the joystick is needed. This test basically depends on how quickly you realise where the crosshairs are heading and what you should do to centralise them. The second is a trax challenge where you fly a plane through hoops. I found that the trick here is to anticipate where the next hoop will be in relation to your plane and nudge the joystick ever so slightly to move the plane into the hoop. Continuous joystick motion might mess you up here. This method gave me 9/10, 10/10 and 10/10. For these two, familiarity with a joystick will be an added advantage. I'd advise you to get Flight Simulator and fly the missions that require you to fly through hoops and ILS approaches. Set your joystick settings to the highest sensitivity.
A friend of mine told me that one can go to the Career Connections offices in Westlands and pay to sit for similar psychometric and psychomotor tests for around Ksh15,000 each. I don't know how true this is but if you feel inclined to go there, feel free.
Next was the medicals. Basically make sure that you're in good health and are completely drug free beforehand. I had a bad cold on the day and I passed, so it looks like they're forgiving on common treatable illnesses.
Then followed by the online tests that are previously described then hopefully the oral interview.
I hope this information is of some help.
Join Date: Mar 2014
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Final Stretch. 3rd June the judgement day!
@ChegeAviator and @Lopa, the wait has been long, let's pray all goes well come Tuesday. Congratulations future aviators. To those starting the process, my experience is that one must have extreme patience and a streak of humility with ability to follow instructions diligently. What is being sought out in a candidate is trainability.
Join Date: May 2014
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Congratulatios!!!
chegeaviator,benonyach,lopa,
You are on your home stretch and am dead jealous. Thank you for documenting everything you have been through it will go a long way in helping the rest of us who are aspiring to be where your going to be. God bless and I will start popping bottles on your account, chegeaviator that is a big help, thanks you are fantastic.
You are on your home stretch and am dead jealous. Thank you for documenting everything you have been through it will go a long way in helping the rest of us who are aspiring to be where your going to be. God bless and I will start popping bottles on your account, chegeaviator that is a big help, thanks you are fantastic.
Last edited by hopeful90; 1st Jun 2014 at 10:22. Reason: spelling