The aim of the Flight Grading Programme (FGP) is to provide an assessment of the probability of the prospective cadet passing a Commercial Pilot’s Licence (CPL) and Command Instrument Rating (CIR) in the time, and to the standard, required by airlines.

The Flight Grading Programme requires no preparation or previous flying experience. It is designed to determine the student’s rate and retention of learning in an airborne environment, not to assess the students existing flying skill.

The College originally developed the program for the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) as a means of reducing the failure rate of student pilots from the RAAF pilot training system - a 30% reduction in wasted military flight training was achieved.

The FGP has since been modified, in consultation with a number of our client airlines, to more accurately gauge the suitability of a prospective student for a full course of airline cadet training.

The instructors selected to conduct the FGP are specially chosen by the Flight Grading Programme Manager for their instructional ability, knowledge, maturity and experience in airline pilot training. These Instructors may differ in personality and instructional style, however standardization across the program is assured.

The Flight Grading Programme employs two broad testing techniques - aptitude and flight testing.

This section uses four computer-based tests to measure certain characteristics that have been identified as desirable in a trainee pilot. These include the candidate’s:

Grading flights involve pre-flight briefings, flights involving instructor demonstration & student application of various airborne sequences, and post-flight de-briefings. The grading flights are conducted by highly experienced flight instructors trained to gauge the candidates ability to interpret and apply flight instruction safely and correctly.

Key areas assessed include:

There are two categories of an FGP depending on the students previous flying experience - basic (<20 hours) and advanced (>20 hours). The advanced programme is needed to identify any traits masked by previous flying experience.

Both programs consist of 7 flights in the Grob G115 basic trainer, with the advanced program incorporating 3 additional flights in the Mudry CAP10 aerobatic aircraft. In general, candidates can expect to have two instructors during the Grob phase and a third instructor during the CAP10 phase. Tests are conducted on flights 7 (basic) and 7 & 10 (advanced) with different testing officers.

The programme is two weeks live-in. One day is allocated for familiarization with the College, orientation and an initial briefing. The remainder is allocated to flight testing, mass briefs, aptitude testing and contingencies (i.e. poor weather).

The course consists of: