Group Assessments
Airlines are known for their rigorous selection processes to ensure that only the most competent and skilled individuals become pilots. Other than the one-to-one interview, one of the crucial stages in this process is the group assessment. Candidates are evaluated not only on their technical knowledge but, more importantly, on their non-technical skills. British Airways emphasizes the significance of non-technical competencies and incorporates them into its pilot selection process. In this post, we will look at the British Airways group assessment stage, the importance of non-technical skills, and how they are evaluated during the assessment.
The British Airways Group Assessment
With the announcement of the latest British Airways Cadet Scheme, preparing for the group assessment is now more important than ever. The group assessment at British Airways is designed to assess your ability to work effectively as part of a team and make critical decisions under pressure. During this stage, you will be placed into a group, with up to a maximum of 6 other people.
Each of you will have an assessor, usually a recruitment training captain watching you. It is fairly intimidating but just relax and remember to be yourself. Each of you will be given a scenario pack consisting of about 3 pages of information. The first 2 pages for all of you will be the same, however, the last page of each candidate’s pack will have a specific piece of information relevant to the scenario. Examples include weather conditions, NOTAMS (Notice to Airmen), flight time limitations, and more.
You and your group will have 3 minutes to read and absorb the scenario thoroughly in total silence. It is essential to make notes during this time to ensure you grasp all the necessary information. You then have 20 minutes to make a decision based on the scenario provided collectively. The objective of the exercise is not just to arrive at a decision but to assess how you interact with other candidates, communicate, demonstrate leadership, and tackle challenges as a team.
This post will not tell you the scenario to expect. PilotPrep has the goal of equipping you with the right skills to tackle any scenario that British Airways will give you. By publishing the exact scenario, you will be at a disadvantage in case the scenario changes and also ruins the integrity of the group assessment process.
Importance of Non-Technical Skills
While technical skills are undoubtedly essential for pilots, non-technical skills play a pivotal role in ensuring the safety and efficiency of flight operations. Non-technical skills refer to the cognitive, social, and personal competencies that complement a pilot’s technical abilities. These skills are particularly crucial in complex and dynamic situations, where effective communication, teamwork, problem-solving, and decision-making can make a significant difference.
The British Airways pilot competencies encompass a total of nine key areas, with five being non-technical skills. These non-technical competencies are:
Leadership and Teamwork: The ability to lead and collaborate effectively within a team, fostering cooperation and cohesion to achieve shared goals.
Communication: Clear and precise communication is vital for pilots to relay information, and instructions, to your crew and other stakeholders.
Problem-Solving and Decision-Making: Pilots must be adept at identifying and resolving issues swiftly, making informed decisions that prioritize safety and efficiency.
Situational Awareness: Being aware of the current conditions and factors that may impact the flight is essential for making real-time adjustments and decisions.
Workload Management: Effective workload management ensures that pilots can handle multiple tasks and responsibilities without compromising their performance.
Evaluating Non-Technical Skills in the Group Assessment
The British Airways group assessment provides a system to assess a candidate’s non-technical skills in a realistic and challenging environment. Here’s how each of the non-technical competencies is evaluated during the assessment:
Leadership and Teamwork: The assessors observe how candidates interact with one another. Do they actively participate and contribute ideas? Are they supportive of others’ opinions? Do they take on leadership roles when necessary, guiding the group towards a consensus?
Communication: Clear and effective communication is key. The assessors assess how well candidates articulate their thoughts, actively listen to others, and seek clarification when needed. They also look for candidates’ ability to adapt their communication styles to ensure mutual understanding. If you don’t understand something, or disagree, say so! But do not be rude, be adaptive and empathetic with your communication style.
Problem-Solving and Decision-Making: How candidates approach the given scenario and collectively arrive at a decision is closely monitored. Do they analyze the available information thoroughly? Are they open to considering different perspectives? How do they handle disagreements or conflicting viewpoints?
Situational Awareness: Assessors observe whether candidates pay attention to the new information presented during the exercise. Are they adaptable and willing to modify their decisions based on the latest updates? Can they prioritize critical information? How much time is left?
Workload Management: Managing time and resources efficiently during the 20-minute exercise is vital. The assessors gauge how candidates handle the pressure and distribute responsibilities effectively within the group.
The Importance of Reflection
Following the group exercise, candidates are required to summarize their decision and reflect on their performance. This reflection phase provides an opportunity for candidates to learn from the experience and identify areas for improvement. It also shows how open candidates are to feedback and self-improvement.
The British Airways group assessment stage comprehensively evaluates your abilities beyond technical skills. Non-technical skills, such as leadership, communication, problem-solving, situational awareness, and workload management, play a critical role in the aviation industry. Teamwork and decision-making are crucial for safe and efficient operations. Flying the plane is the easy part, the non-tech skills are the more difficult part, hence why there are more competencies related to non-tech skills!
Candidates who excel in the group assessment demonstrate not only their technical knowledge but also their ability to collaborate, communicate, and adapt in a high-pressure environment. For aspiring pilots, recognizing the significance of non-technical skills and honing them is the key to success not only in the group assessment but also in their future careers as competent and reliable pilots.
In summary, be honest, be open, be nice but be professional, and you will do well at this stage in the assessment process.