AirAsia Cadet Pilot Journey

AirAsia Malaysia Cadet Pilot

Introduction

This is a summarised documented journey of AirAsia's Cadet Pilot assessment & selection process.

The purpose of this blog is to provide future aspiring cadet pilots a reference for the upcoming cadet pilot opening by AirAsia Malaysia. (It may vary from airline to airline & subject to airline*)

To ensure equal effort are being contributed by each and every candidate, this blog will not provide any spoon feeding. This blog is just for your guidance to prepare yourself mentally for the upcoming cadet pilot programme opening. (Success is preceded by hard work & self-effort)

Where it all began

Before applying, please ensure that all criteria's are met as per the reference published by the airline & the local aviation authority. Some academically proficient candidates who applied are selected but does not meet the health standards acquired by the local aviation authority will be dropped out of the programme. Therefore, it is essential to refer to the necessary related reference to prevent future disappointment.

Your selection will be reviewed based upon your qualifications & the airlines' criteria.

Be patient and wait for the invitation e-mail to come within one to two weeks (depending on candidates). Expect not to receive the e-mail if you applied without complying with their requirements.

Stage 1 - Academic Assessment (Entry Exam)

This is similar to the government examination based on SPM syllabus. This assessment comprises of 3 subjects (20-25 questions depending on subject)  with a passing percentage of 75. Please be advised that only multiple choice questions are applicable in this assessment and an average duration of 40 minutes per paper.

1) English (Based on MUET examination standards)

2) Mathematics (SPM Syllabus)

3) Physics (SPM Syllabus)

Standard examination rules apply*

Stage 2 - Personality & Psychological Assessment

This assessment will be conducted by the representatives from Harrison Assessment Malaysia on behalf of AirAsia.

This computer based assessment will invigilate an individuals' characteristics based on the career suitability between the candidate and the chosen profession (Pilot). I will not disclose the exact information for this assessment as it only relies on your true self when performing the assessment(Honesty). 

Stage 3 - Interview

A face to face interview will be conducted by a couple of human resource representative together with the head of pilot recruitment whom is a captain himself. Be an organised individual by preparing yourself ahead of the interview day. Your form of self-presentation and the organisation of documents to be presented reflects upon yourself towards the interviewing members.

Basic Interview Skills:

1) Answer tactfully

2) Calmness with a clear state of mind

3) Be knowledgeable about the company and your current field.

Most importantly, be knowledgeable in aviation.

To excel in your job interview (regardless of any profession), research should be done based on external sources.

Stage 4 - QCT & Psychometric Test

This will be the last assessment prior to medical test. It is the toughest assessment of all stages. Both assessments will be done on the same day or two separate days depending on the number of candidates and the availability of serviceable computers.

1) Quantitative Critical Thinking abbreviated "QCT" will be conducted by the members of Harrison Assessment Malaysia on behalf of AirAsia. This assessment will scrutinise your mathematical reasoning ability.

2) Psychometric Test will put your multitasking & multi-numerical memorising abilities to the test. The candidate must carry out four tasks in a very short time duration where response time is critical.

Little to no mistakes should ever occur in this assessment. It is similar to a simulator test but you'll be position in front of a computer together with a joystick & numeral keypad.

     It is important to make yourself comfortable before proceeding with the psychometric test. During the course of the assessment, you'll be memorising various continuous numbers based on your visual & auditory senses while chasing for the flight director cue with your joystick. This is basically a hand-eye coordination test.

Just a tip: Be familiar with the aircraft's Electronic Attitude Director Indicator (EADI) also known as the Primary Flight Display (PFD).

EADI/PDF

To be fair for other candidates, I will not disclose the exact procedure of this particular assessment. A briefing on this test will be conducted before the commencement of the assessment. All candidates will be given a fair & equal chance to get themselves prepared.

Stage 5 - Medical Test

If you've made it to this stage of the selection process, Congratulations! As long as you are in the pink of health and standing taller than 163cm, you should sail through medical test smoothly. AirAsia will allocate their preferred panel doctor to medically assess their potential cadets. Do not attend to any other aviation doctors as AirAsia wants to ensure all of its cadets have gone through a stringent medical examination under a particular doctor.

Prior to medical check-up, an ophthalmology test has to be carried out. AirAsia will instruct its potential cadets on which medical center to head to.

Medical Test consists of: BMI, Blood Test, Cardiogram, Audiogram, Urine Test, Bone Structure (X-Ray), and regular miscellaneous health examinations.

Eye Test: To pass, the eye power must not exceed 500 or have any other major vision defects which may lead catastrophic consequences when performing pilot duties. Optical instruments are permitted as long as within the corrected vision of 6/6.

Stage 6 - Finance

Congratulations on passing your medical! Hats off to the 4 stages of hard work, sacrifice, & perseverance.

This is the time where a cadet has to decide on which avenue he/she decides to finance the flight training. There are 3 financing methods; Self-Sponsor, Study Loan, or Partial Study Loan. The process is tedious but AirAsia will collaborate with a selected bank to organise a finance briefing to all. The particular 'selected' bank will be their finance panel in sorting out loan application for cadets.

Remember: AirAsia does NOT financially sponsor for flight training & type-rating

Due to the ever rising cost of fuel globally, flying schools are constantly increasing their study fees annually on average. This would alter the bank's criteria for flight training loan application.

As of year 2017, the cost of flight training in both flying schools are MYR320,000 & type-rating on an Airbus A320-200 costs RM80,000. These prices are subjected to change*

Feel free to ask any questions by commenting below, I would be more than happy to provide you with the advice needed.

I wish you all the best in your future endeavour.

Here are some photos during my cadet pilot assessment journey