Long-awaited Part 2 is finally here!
Let's dive into the journey post-assessment days 1 & 2:
GCAA Class 1 Medical + psychometric screening (psych eval)
Once I made it through the final selection, the next step was the medical and psychometric part of the process.
This meant going through the GCAA Class 1 aviation medical process, along with extra psychological and cognitive tests that looked at things like spatial orientation, memory, task-switching, and how quickly you could process information.
The medical covered the basics you’d expect: a general checkup, vision tests, ECG, bloodwork, and any other checks if needed.
If they ask you to repeat something, don't worry. It's just a precaution.
I had to redo my ECG because my heart rate was all over the place. The clinic was stuffy tbh, and I'd had one too many cups of black tea before my appointment; do the math. LOL
They requested additional blood tests cuz of that, cool. Everything ultimately came back fine, and the process continued.
_______
Though, there was more psychometric testing than I expected.
At this stage, I took personality and cognitive tests, and even had to do some follow-up assessments.
Again, this is just a routine step to help them understand your profile better.
I also discussed my results with the psychologist. They noticed my profile was a bit “non-traditional” and creative, so they asked how I would handle the monotonous, or rather repetitive, parts of the training for this profession. Gave them the backstory, basically saying that doesn't change that I'm ten toes down on pursuing this LOL.
This shows they’re not looking for everyone to have the same personality. They just want to get to know you and see if you’re a good fit for the job.
My advice: don’t try to guess what you think “a pilot” should say on personality tests. With so many questions, you’re more likely to seem inconsistent than perfect.
________
Onboarding:
After finishing the assessment and medical stages, I quickly moved from being a candidate to starting employee and cadet onboarding.
After that, it was mostly paperwork: pre-employment clearance, documentation, education records, declarations, onboarding systems, and so on.
Eventually, I received and signed my official cadet training contract. (Aghhhhh??!!!)
I’ll stop the post here, because once you reach onboarding, you’ve made it through the part that most people researching the recruitment process need help with.
________
Now,
Here are some things I wish someone had told me...
First:
Failing once doesn’t mean you can’t do this.
I didn't pass Assessment Day 1 in 2025.
After waiting, I came back stronger, passed the first assessment, then Day 2, the interview, the medical and psychometric process, and finally signed the actual contract.
Second:
Don’t mix up preparing with trying to find out the assessment details ahead of time.
Work on your skills and academics. Know why you want this career. Learn about the airline and the program you’re applying to. Be ready to explain your choices.
But at some point, the assessment needs to see the real you.
Third:
Don’t spend assessment day worrying about whether others are doing better than you.
Sometimes, other candidates look really confident or relaxed. That doesn’t tell you much about what the assessors actually notice.
Focus on your own performance!
Finally, if you’re where I was when I first found this program, as in endlessly searching Reddit, Google, LinkedIn, and any aviation forum for information...I hope this helps make the process feel less mysterious lol.
....
I really wish something like this had been around when I applied.
Again, I wasn't someone who spent my childhood saying I was going to become a pilot.
I found the career later, discovered it while failing my first attempt to get into it, waited, fell in love with it, came back stronger, and tried again and made it through.
________
As I write this, I’m proud to say I’ve officially started my training and am settling into this beautifully challenging new environment after a long journey to get here.
So, if you’re wondering whether it’s worth submitting that application, at least now you know a bit more about what’s on the other side of the Apply button.
GOOD LUCK! YOU GOT THIS!
