Knowledge Tests for Ab-Initio Pilot Selection in Civil Aviation

A validity study was conducted for two purposes: to evaluate the importance of knowledge tests for pilot selection and to validate the knowledge tests of the German Aerospace Center. The two criteria were a theoretical test given in the Flight Training School and the overall graduation rate. Regression models were calculated to measure the incremental validity of knowledge tests beyond ability tests. A further question addressed the comparison of the predictive validity of knowledge tests and school grades. Knowledge tests contributed 12% incremental validity and thus yielded similar results to school grades (17%). Both regression and dropout analyses revealed knowledge tests to be a better predictor of Flight Training School success than ability tests