aptitude test

[MAT4134]

Hi

Sorry if i've got the wrong forum, been a while since i've been on pprune so be gentle :)

Baisically im having a crisis of confidence. Since i was a few weeks old i've been flying and i've always loved the sound and the feel of aircraft which has made me want to become a pilot since i was just a young kid. I've taken flights at my local flying club and the instructors have been impressed and i am not too bad when it comes to sim work as i have had a go in the CTC A320 sim and had no huge problems as well as good old fs2004 on the pc.

Then i went and took an aptitude test provided by NATS figuring some of the same skills they need would transfer to what pilots need and i tanked :( That coupled with the £89,000 price tag is making me think my dream of being a pilot is fast fading.

Any thoughts or words of encouragement from those of you who have seen people go through the process before would be greatly appreciated.

mat4134

[Crazy Voyager]

The NATS aptitude testing is designed for ATCOs, not pilots. Some skills are similar but there have been cases where people with pilot licenses did not make it through ATCO training (and most likely the reverse has also happened), in other words I wouldn't read too much into it.


I think BA has a cadet scheme now which also includes aptitude testing, have you given that a go?

[wiggy]

in other words I wouldn't read too much into it.


I'd agree, It always seemed to me the two jobs require different skill sets that only overlap in a few places. I'm darned sure that even with 15000 hours plus flying under my belt I couldn't do the Directors job at the likes of LHR.

FWIW in my military "Duty Pilot" days I did once try my hand at providing a GCA (I hasten to add closely supervised, and in CAVOK)....oh how we laughed :uhoh: ...well the ATCers did - I just ended owing my victim many beers....:\

[HEATHROW DIRECTOR]

In my career met a number of people from both professions who had failed one and been very successful in the other. Some who couldn't make ATCO went on to be excellent pilots, including becoming training captains with major airlines. Equally, I have worked with excellent ATCOs who had failed miserably at Hamble.

Unfortunately, aptitude tests are all the rage now; luckily they weren't when I was starting or I would not have stood a chance.

Good luck and I hope you achieve your dream.

[MAT4134]

That's made me feel alot better, i was getting really worried but you guys have put the situation into perspective for me :)

I'll try and get hold of a proper mock test, i've got 2 years till i finish my degree so i've got time to investigate further and start saving up the mammoth amount of cash i'll need :L

cheers once again and thank-you for making my new year slightly less scary

mat4134

[ZOOKER]

Many years ago, I trained as an ATCO. The 3 members of my 'final selection board' were all experienced ATCOs. Many of the instructors at the college and later at my unit were ex-aircrew. My main aerodrome mentor was an ex-Lancaster man who held a DFC. I was in awe of these guys and the things they had done.
A few years later, management invited 2 'psychologists' to spend a fortnight 'plugged-in' with us to help develop aptitude tests for ATCO Cadet selection. I christened these 2 individuals 'Darryl Hall and John Oates', because that's who they looked like. They asked many questions, and we, professionals that we were, gave them truthful, honest answers.
They went away with their notebooks and returned a month or so later with a presentation about the new aptitude tests.
Neither I, my contemporaries, or the ex-aircrew who trained us could make head-or-tail of these selection tests. Some of these things involved assembling 'cubes', and other such irrelevant non-sense.
The tests were duly introduced, and the pass rates at the ATC College fell from 90% to about 20%.
Many years later, I found these tests on the 'psychology company's website. They were no different to the tests the company offered to many other employers, for a multitude of professions.

[HEATHROW DIRECTOR]

Zooker..... How true; how very true. HNY mate.

[ZOOKER]

Many thanks HD, and to you.