The use of a perceptual speed test in civilian pilot selection

Abstract

Perceptual speed is an important attribute for success as a pilot and has been assessed in many pilot selection batteries. The Tabular Speed Test (TST), a paper-and-pencil test of perceptual speed, was administered to 227 ab initio pilots and 152 licensed pilots who applied for employment at a large European airline. The airline had a multi-stage selection process including a computerized battery assessing quantitative and spatial abilities, short-term memory, psychomotor performance, multi-tasking, and personality. The number of correct responses (NC) had significant positive correlations for both ab initio and licensed pilots with measures of quantitative and spatial abilities, visual memory, multi-tasking, and psychomotor performance, but not with personality. The number of incorrect responses (NW) was correlated with Emotional Instability and Openness for licensed pilots but not with measures of cognitive ability.