2003 IMTA Proceedings - International Military Testing Association

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Construct validation studies (noted above) suggest that most tests assess the following six ability
areas - psychomotor, perceptual adjustment, working memory, time sharing, spatial ability and
visual memory. They further indicate that there is some overlap with existing pilot selection
measures in the domains of psychomotor ability, working memory/numeracy, spatial ability and
visual memory/perceptual speed, but not so much as to make the tests redundant.
Current studies are focussing on developing norms for the ADF officer aircrew applicant
population, evaluating them as selection aids for military pilots and a range of other ADF
occupations, and exploring their utility as tools for assessing the impacts of physiological variables
in studies of human cognitive performance.
Initial analyses of the relationships between AUSBAT scores and training outcomes for trainees
participating in, or recently completing, Basic flying Training (BFTS) showed significant
correlations ranging up to 0.34 for some of the tests and/or test factors. Combined with the index
generated by the current pilot test battery, one of the coordination tests predicted 19% of the
variance in BFTS outcome scores.
ADF Pilot Selection
Pilot selection and initial training in the ADF is currently undertaken on a tri-Service basis.
Excluding medical assessments, the selection process for civilian applicants involves six major
steps. These include:
Step 1: Achievement of test cutoffs in the Officer Test Battery (OTB);
Step 2: Achievement of test/pilot index cutoffs in the current Aircrew Test Battery (ATB);
Step 3: Positive recommendations following separate interviews by a psychologist and a
uniformed recruiting officer;
Step 4: Successful selection for flight screening following a file review and rating process;
Step 5: Successful completion of, and positive recommendation following, a two week
Flight Screening Program (FSP) 37,38 ; and
Step 6: Successful selection following an Officer Selection Board (OSB) recommendation
and rating process.
A recent review of this process (Pei In press) suggests that from an initial applicant pool of about
2189 over a two year period (2001-2), only 196 (approx 9%) are recommended for BFTS following
FSP. This figure is only approximate as it is influenced by an unknown but small number of Army
applicants who did not attend FSP, limits on the places available at FSP, and the practice of
selecting only those rated at the top of the applicant pool awaiting FSP selection. Nevertheless it
highlights the quantum of the screen out rate in the selection process.
The ADF Basic Flying Training School (BFTS) has a capacity to train about 100 pilots per annum.
Each intake comprises a mix of Australian Defence Force Academy (ADFA) graduates and Direct
Entry Officers (DEO) officers from each of the three Services. ADFA graduates will have already
completed about 3 years of tertiary studies prior to commencing, while DE Officers will have
completed between 17 and 72 weeks of military training (depending on type of entry and Service) at
single Service officer training schools. While most will have been assessed for pilot aptitude as part
of their selection for the ADF, some will have been assessed as part of an in-service occupational
transfer process.
37 Applicants with 20 or more previous flying hours (PFH) undergo an advanced version, while those with less than 20 PFH undergo a basic version.
38 . Some Army applicants proceed directly to the Officer Selection Board without undertaking Flight Screening.
45 th Annual Conference of the International Military Testing Association
Pensacola, Florida, 3-6 November 2003