Gapan - Pilot Aptitude Assessment

[High Wing Drifter]

Is it worth it? You gotta decide what you will do with the result. If you are prepared to bin any pretentions of becoming a pilot if the score does not match your confidence level then yes. The whole point of the GAPAN thing is to help you judge the value of ploughing all that cash into something that may not be a very realistic proposition.

What is the point of spending £150 to get a bad result and then ignore it?

[gomez]

Agree HWD. Ill have to completley honest with you and say that I beleive that (provided the test are computerised hand/eye based and nothing more) ill do OK in them and will only prove to myself that I do have necessary aptitude for flying. I have about 36 hours of a PPL at the moment so I do have some flying experience (albeit very little!).

I hope this doesn't sound a bit cocky but Id rather keep the £150 if I think that the tests aren't going to prove anything to me that I dont think I know already.............

[pilotpj]

Gapan

Does anyone know (excuse my being naive) what the employment prospects are for graduates of the GAPAN ATPL Scholarphip. i.e. would it be easier go get a job? Are the opportunities different (by that I mean do you get approached by smaller operators/bizjets instead of the airlines?)

Just interested really - any past winners around? Care to share your expereiences post training?

PJ

[Valkyr]

Gapan

Hi all,
I'm not sure if this has been mentioned before but the Guild Of Air Pilots And Air Navigators (GAPAN) are currently handing out scholarships for pilot training funded by themselves. The Guild scholarships provide a unique opportunity for people who would like to become pilots or to further their qualifications as pilots. Available are full Private Pilot Licence (PPL) courses, Flying Instructor (FI(R)Aeroplanes) Rating courses, Flying Instructor (FI(R)Helicopters) Rating courses and J N Somers ATPL Scholarships. They also run Aptitude Test days at RAF Cranwell for £150. These tests may well save a lot of heartache together with the very considerable financial investment.

The website is http://www.gapan.org/ if anyone is interested.

I have decided to apply for the PPL course and an aptitude test day. I was wondering if anyone else had taken the GAPAN route and had any tips or opinions on it. Thanks a lot.

[ATP_Al]

Go for it!

I can't comment on the aptitude tests since I didn't do them, but I was awarded a GAPAN PPL scholarship in 2002. It covered the FULL cost of my PPL - all the flying, all test/exam/issue fees and full set of books and equipment to keep. All I had to pay for was a class II medical and perhaps a few landing fees. Since gaining my PPL I've contacted GAPAN for advice on several occasions, and they've been immensely helpful and supportive. And a scholarship looks great on your CV

What GAPAN are offering is free training with no strings attached, and asany regular on this forum will know, that doesn't happen very often! If you're eligible for any of the awards, get an application in. And make sure you spend plenty of time on it, as getting an interview is the hardest part of the selection process!

Good luck

Al

[High Wing Drifter]

Valkyr,

I did the apptitude test and all can say is it was enlightening. Just hope for a great or a terrible score, them's the only things that make the go/no-go decision easy.

The de-brief was 1st class and just what I needed at that early point. My momentory mentor was an a current corporate Jet captain. We didn't just talk about the test (hardly at all actually), but more about the industry, the way forward, what to concentrate on, what they look for, etc, etc.

Go for it!
HWD.

[Another St Ivian]

I fully back what ATP_Al has said, it is a fantastic scheme and is well worth applying for.
I was awarded a PPL Scholarship by GAPAN last year. It was a great experiance, it allowed me to gain my PPL for very little cost as well as presenting me with numerous other opportunities. They pay for pretty much everything, flying time, study materials, exam and license issue fees, ground school, etc. In fact the only things I remember paying for were the medical and landing fees.
The scheme opened up civil aviation to me in a way that I probably wouldn't have been able to do on my own at the moment, it was an experience that I doubt I will ever forget.
It also got my mug on the local paper and was a great 18th birthday present (my license was issued on my 18th birthday)

As I said....great scheme, apply for it as soon as possible

ASI

[G SXTY]

You'll find zillions of posts on GAPAN, but it never does any harm to give them another mention.

I didn’t manage to get the PPL scholarship, but I did attend one of their aptitude testing sessions, and cannot recommend the experience highly enough.

I did write a long description of what goes on at the sessions – will post a link when Danny gives us search back.

[PPRuNe Towers]

Search is usually quietly popped back on line midnight to 10am UK times - just promise not to tell anyone.

Rob

[G SXTY]

I’ll sneak downstairs in the middle of the night and won’t tell a soul, scout’s honour.

[Valkyr]

Thanks for all your help. Really appreciate it.

G SXTY, I would be interested to see that report on the sessions you wrote if you could send me the link anyway.

Thanks again.

[G SXTY]

Here you go:

http://www.pprune.org/forums/showthr...ighlight=GAPAN

Feel free to PM me if you have any other questions.

[Joe636]

GAPAN Tests - Age Limits

Hi All!

I'm a 16 year old student just finished the GCSE exams (horay!) and moving on into higher education next term (Physics, Chem, Bio and Maths AS-levels if you're interested)

I was wondering if the GAPAN aptitude tests were available to all ages (well... 16 for me) and whether their scoring and accuracy changes depending on the age of the applicant, (rather like IQ tests).

Thanks very much!

Joe

(p.s. secondary question! Do you think my AS Lev subjects are a bit narrow based for airlines (i.e. all sciences)? Apparently these days employers (not specifically aviation related) have a tendency to look for applicants with a broad and interesting qualification... "array".)

[High Wing Drifter]

Joe,

Regarding the GAPAN test, the only source of reliable information for any specific questions will be from GAPAN themselves. I would contact them directly. GAPAN's web address is www.gapan.org.

As for qualifications, the only thing anybody really takes any notice of these days is a degree and, unless you want to be a fashion guru, a science/maths based one. Having a maths or science A level amongst other things always looks good too.

However, as with anything else, get the information direct; from your preferred employer(s) in this case. I strongly advise that you don't make plans or rest on assumptions born from hearsay.

[Joe636]

Thanks very much for the advice!

Joe

[High Wing Drifter]

More Thoughts on the GAPAN Test

Both Flyer and Today's Pilot ran articles about Airline aptitude this month. Both mentioned the GAPAN test. Both effectively said that if you get a high score in a GAPAN test then you are the right stuff.

Now I have done the GAPAN test (and received a high score...sorry had to drop that in) and for the life of me I cannot see anything in the test that actually relates to being a Captain, F/O or anything related to Airline flying specifically. What I think it does do is check that you are likely to get through the IR unscathed...but that is about it.

I think this whole aptitude thing is being a bit too hyped up now and is starting to miss the point. Any other views?

[AIRWAY]

I don't get it either. Maybe im stupid but i have heard stories here @ PPRuNe of people doing these tests, not doing so well during the exam but still got their licences and jobs.

[parris50]

I've never heard of anyone, until now, getting anything but the "high" score!

[scroggs]

The GAPAN test has nothing specifically to do with your prospects as an airline pilot, but it is a good indicator of your realistic chances of making it through your CPL/IR training. Aptitude assessment is not a matter of saying 'this guy's almost an airline pilot already'! It's far more about your ability to absorb information and put your learning to good effect within a very short timescale, as well as basic motor skills, spatial awareness etc.

There are many, many candidates who do not get high scores. Equally, there are many pilot trainees who eventually achieve a CPL/IR without a great deal of aptitude - and if I throw enough money and hours at almost anyone, they will pass eventually. However, they may very well not make good airline pilots. One of the advantages of having that GAPAN assessment is that, along with your history of first-time passes in minimum hours, you will be able to reassure your prospective employer that they will be able to train you on their aircraft at minimum cost and in minimum time. That, believe me, is important!

Scroggs

[G SXTY]

GAPAN scores

From the horse's mouth, aka Chris Hodgkinson, GAPAN Technical Director, 25/02/03:

High: 32%
Average: 42%
Low: 26%

Here's the full thread:

http://www.pprune.org/forums/showthr...n&pagenumber=2