DLR What pilot aptitude tests are there?
The best-known pilot aptitude tests are the DLR test (Lufthansa Group, SWISS), COMPASS, PILAPT, ADAPT, Aon (cut-e) and the Vienna Test System, plus SPHAIR, airline procedures such as KLM's and air force selection. Almost all test mental arithmetic, spatial reasoning, memory and attention.
There is no single pilot aptitude test. The airline, flight school or air force you apply to decides which procedure you sit. In German-speaking countries the DLR test dominates, while internationally systems such as COMPASS, PILAPT, ADAPT and Aon (cut-e) are widespread. Many airlines do not name their provider publicly, though, and they switch providers from time to time.
The main pilot aptitude tests at a glance
| Test | Provider / used by | Content according to source |
|---|---|---|
| DLR test | DLR Hamburg; step 1 at the European Flight Academy (Lufthansa Group, SWISS) | cognitive performance, operational competencies, personality, social competencies |
| COMPASS | Aviation Focus | about 2 hours on a PC, modules include COMPASS ab initio, Advanced COMPASS, Verbal Reasoning, Aviation English |
| PILAPT | People Technologies | 8 tests: spatial, psychomotor with joystick, attention, numerical |
| ADAPT | Symbiotics | maths, physics, cognitive reasoning, multitasking, hand-eye coordination, personality |
| Aon (cut-e), Vienna Test System | various clients | assembled per client |
| SPHAIR | Swiss federal programme | screening plus a flying course with 10 flight hours |
| Military selection | e.g. Bundeswehr, Bundesheer, Swiss Air Force | multi-stage with psychology, medicals, simulator |
Sources: dlr.de, aviationfocus.aero, pilotest.com, flightdeckfriend.com, sphair.ch, bundeswehr.de. As of October 2026.
There are also airline-specific procedures. At the KLM Flight Academy, for example, an in-house procedure in Amsterdam reportedly tests personality, reasoning, multitasking, hand-eye coordination, spatial ability and concentration, followed by interviews. Which airlines in the DLR world use which test is covered in Which airlines use the DLR test?. Military routes are described in Military pilot aptitude tests: SPHAIR, Bundeswehr and Bundesheer.
What do all pilot aptitude tests have in common?
Almost every procedure tests the same core skills: mental arithmetic, spatial reasoning, short-term and working memory, attention under time pressure, technical comprehension and English. Many add joystick psychomotor tasks, a personality questionnaire and, later, interviews or group exercises.
That is good news for your preparation. If you train the cognitive foundations, such as mental arithmetic or cube folding, you benefit in any test. Whether a DLR test app is suitable for this is explained on Can I use a DLR test app for other pilot aptitude tests?.
How do I find out which test applies to me?
Read the airline's or flight school's current job posting and wait for the invitation: it usually names the provider, location and schedule. Provider lists on the internet are often outdated or incomplete.
TipUntil the invitation arrives, you can start with the shared core skills. A test-independent 6-week plan is in Pilot aptitude test preparation.
For the route to Lufthansa, SWISS and Edelweiss, the DLR test is confirmed as the first step (for Swiss citizens, SPHAIR is an alternative, for SWISS and Edelweiss only). What it covers is explained in What is tested in the DLR test?. The official information for your procedure always takes precedence.