CA N D I DAT E P R E PA R AT I O N

“The Speedbird Pilot Academy will make the ambition of becoming a British Airways pilot a reality for people who’d previously written the option off because of the cost barrier.

Our aim is to attract the very best talent out there for our future generation of pilots.

Whether someone is just leaving school or embarking on a second career they never thought possible, we’re levelling the playing field by removing the initial training cost barrier to make a flying career more accessible to a wider range of people and giving everyone an equal chance.”

Sean Doyle, British Airways Chairman and CEO

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T H E O N L I N E A S S E S S M E N T J O U R N E Y

What’s involved? Why do we use this method?

Our assessment journey aims to understand your suitability for a role with us as a British Airways Pilot.

During the process, you have the opportunity to learn about what being a pilot involves, and you can decide whether this career is right for you.

But remember – great pilots come from all backgrounds and it’s this diversity which brings us immense value, both for our customers and for our colleagues.

Creating your application

Situational Judgement Test*

Maths Test*

Detail Checking Test*

Passenger Announcement Exercise*

• Previewing the Pilot role
• Eligibility questions
• Selecting your Flight School
• A written answer that

describes your motivation

• 20 questions for us to understand your judgement and work approach
• Untimed

• Up to 25 questions assessing your mathematical ability
• 17-minute timer – complete as many questions as you can in this time

• 12 questions assessing your attention to detail
• 6-minute timer – complete as many questions as you can in this time

• An activity where you record some audio, saying a passenger announcement
• Answering short questions about customers and safety

We want you to choose us as a company and as a place for your career.

As part of this, we want to show you what’s involved, as well as understand your motivation and eligibility.

Pilots make lots of decisions when flying, with important implications for safety and our customers. This assessment provides us an insight into your decision-making approach in pilot-related scenarios (no flying experience is needed to do the test!).

Pilots use maths throughout every flight, often using mental maths calculations to help operate the aircraft safely and efficiently.

Attention to detail is crucial for pilots to follow regulated processes correctly. This assessment is timed as this simulates the working style of pilots, showing high detail focus in restricted timeframes.

If you reach this stage, more information will be provided to support your preparation.

This method helps us learn how you communicate, as a pilot’s communication style must be clear, relevant, and with customer and safety in mind.

*You will need to pass each assessment module in order to be invited to the next module.

If you pass all these online modules, we will invite you to an in-person Flight School assessment day. 4

C R E AT I N G Y O U R A P P L I C AT I O N

STEP 1 – ROLE PREVIEW

We recognise that considering a career as a pilot is a huge opportunity. We want

you to have a preview of what could be in store for you.

You will be shown information about being a pilot, including the lifestyle and

what’s involved in flight training.

From a selection of responses, choose which one resonates most with you.

At the end of the module, you’ll receive some feedback based on your answers.

We do not measure or assess this – we cannot see your answers!

This is your own space, and your opportunity to reflect whether a pilot career path is one that you truly want to take.

You can decide to continue with your application or consider one of the many other opportunities we offer at British Airways.

C R E AT I N G Y O U R A P P L I C AT I O N

STEP 2 – CHOOSING A FLIGHT SCHOOL

At the initial application stage, you’ll also need to record your preference for the Flight

School (or ‘ATO’ – Approved Training Organisation) where you’ll be based.

Our only two official ATOs for the Speedbird Pilot Academy are Skyborne Airline Academy and FTEJerez.

You’ll be prompted to select a preference, if you have one.

We will do our best to honour your choice but cannot guarantee this will be granted. You may also need to record a preference of British Airways base, e.g. LCY/LGW/LHR. Check out these links to learn more about the ATOs: https://www.ftejerez.com/ba.php

C R E AT I N G Y O U R A P P L I C AT I O N

STEP 3 – THE SMALL PRINT

Before you get started, we’ll ask you to confirm your eligibility to become a British Airways Pilot, in line with Civil Aviation Authority and BA standards.

To help you prepare, please read through the following eight requirements in advance to check that you meet the criteria become a Speedbird Pilot Academy cadet.

1. The right to live and work in the UK without sponsorship.
2. 17-55 years of age to apply and 18 to start training.
3. 6 GCSEs grade A-C or 5-9 including Maths, English and a Science or

equivalent qualifications.

• Fluent in English (and, if applicable, an ICAO Level 6 on completion of training). For non-native English speakers, you will need to bring a certificate proving you have achieved International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Level 5.5 overall, with no less than 5.5 in any individual area (Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking). This must be the Academic test, not General Training.
• A valid passport which permits unrestricted worldwide travel.
• Your height must be between 1.57m (5’2″) and 1.90m (6’3″). Height is accurately determined during the assessment process. If you’re taller than 1.90m, you may apply, but may be required to undergo a functionality check.
• Able to obtain and hold a UK CAA Class 1 medical with no restrictions and meet British Airways medical criteria.
• Before your training starts, you must have completed our referencing and pre-employment checks to the satisfactory standard and supply satisfactory UK and international Criminal Record Checks.

C R E AT I N G Y O U R A P P L I C AT I O N

STEP 4 – MOTIVATION QUESTION

Once you have confirmed your eligibility, you can create an application. As part of this, we’ll ask you to answer the following question:

(maximum 1500 characters, around 250 words)

S I T U AT I O N A L J U D G E M E N T T E S T

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S I T U AT I O N A L J U D G E M E N T T E S T ( S J T )

PURPOSE AND BACKGROUND

Judgement is critical for the safe and efficient operation of an aircraft,

even in the small decisions that pilots make.

Being a pilot isn’t just about being able to fly a plane and knowing what to do. It’s also about the human being behind the controls – and how that person works and interacts with others.

In the SJT, you must decide on what action to take in response to different situations. It may not be exactly what you would do, but you must choose the option you believe is most effective for working as a pilot.

You do not need any technical knowledge to complete the SJT. What

might help, however, is to learn about ‘Pilot Competencies’.

We encourage you to research a range of pilot competencies online,

to help you understand what we are measuring in the SJT.

S I T U AT I O N A L J U D G E M E N T T E S T ( S J T )

Here are some real examples from the Maths test used in the 2023 Speedbird Pilot Academy. In each of them, imagine that you are a pilot (First Officer) at British Airways.

Activity: Try and select the correct response, then check page 19 to see how you did!

M AT H S T E S T

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M AT H S T E S T

PURPOSE AND BACKGROUND

Pilots rely on their mental maths skills for tasks like distance navigation, fuel calculations, and assessing risks.

The Maths test helps us to understand your ability to process numerical information. It’s a timed assessment, because in a flight environment, you’ll need to work with numbers with time restrictions too.

Here are some links that may help you prepare:

Maths, BBC Bitesize resources

Specifically – GCSE Maths, AQA

SHL Practice Tests – Specifically the Calculation Test

M AT H S T E S T

Here are some real examples from the Maths test used in the 2023 Speedbird Pilot Academy.

Activity: Try and select the correct response, then check page 20 to see how you did!

D E TA I L C H E C K I N G T E S T

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C H E C K I N G  T E S T

PURPOSE AND BACKGROUND

Attention to detail is crucial to operating an aircraft safely and providing your co-pilot and air traffic control with the correct information, down to the last letter.

The Detail Checking test helps us understand your ability to work with information accurately.

Just like the maths test, this is also a timed assessment, as this tries to

simulate the time-sensitive work that pilots undertake. Here are some links that may help you prepare: Online Free Detail Checking Tests, e.g. https://www.123test.com/error-checking-test/ https://assess.ly/en/error-checking-practice/

C H E C K I N G  T E S T

Here are some real examples from the Checking test used in the 2023 Speedbird Pilot Academy.

Activity: Try and select the correct response, then check page 21 to see how you did!

( F R O M T H E E X A M P L E P R A C T I C E Q U E S T I O N S )

S I T U AT I O N A L J U D G E M E N T T E S T ( S J T )

M AT H S T E S T

C H E C K I N G  T E S T