ADF Pilot/Aircrew flashcards

32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.

Pilot vs non-pilot aircrew

Pilots are commissioned officers who fly the aircraft; non-pilot aircrew such as loadmasters, mission specialists, and aircrewmen operate systems or manage the cabin and have different selection criteria.

Psychomotor aptitude testing

A computer-based assessment measuring hand-eye coordination, control precision, and reaction time, typically using a joystick task that simulates aircraft control inputs under time pressure.

Spatial orientation test

An aptitude task requiring the candidate to track the attitude and position of an aircraft from instrument or perspective cues, assessing the ability to maintain situational awareness in three dimensions.

Instrument comprehension

An aptitude component that tests reading of attitude indicator, heading, and altitude cues to determine aircraft orientation, reflecting the skills needed for instrument flight.

Anthropometric limits

Specified standing height, sitting height, and leg-length ranges that ensure a candidate fits cockpit controls and ejection-seat geometry; candidates outside limits are excluded before flight screening.

Aviation medical category

A stricter medical certification for aircrew than for general entry, covering visual acuity, colour and depth perception, hearing, and cardiac fitness, with role-specific limits.

Group exercise assessment

A selection activity in which candidates solve a problem as a team while assessors score leadership, communication, teamwork, and decision-making behaviours rather than the solution itself.

Flight screening

An early practical flying assessment for pilot candidates, usually in a light aircraft or simulator, used to confirm aptitude and motivation before streaming to aircraft types.

Multi-stage shuttle run

A beep test in which the candidate runs back and forth over a set distance at increasing pace; the level and shuttle reached predicts aerobic capacity (VO2max).

VO2max prediction

An estimate of maximal oxygen uptake derived from the beep-test level and shuttle count, used to compare a candidate's aerobic fitness against role-specific minimum standards.

Push-up test protocol

A timed test (commonly 60 seconds) counting only repetitions performed through the full required range of motion, with form faults such as incomplete extension not counted.

Sit-up test protocol

A timed test of abdominal muscular endurance in which repetitions count only when the movement meets the specified range, such as forearms reaching the thighs.

Aircrew swim standard

A minimum swimming requirement, typically including treading water and a timed distance swim, reflecting the need to survive an over-water ejection or ditching.

Periodic fitness re-testing

In-service fitness assessments repeated at set intervals; aircrew must maintain the standard, and persistent failure can affect flying status or continued employment.

Hypoxia awareness training

Altitude-chamber or reduced-oxygen equipment sessions in which aircrew learn to recognise their own hypoxia symptoms, a requirement linked to medical fitness for high-altitude flight.

G-tolerance training

Physiological training and assessment of the ability to withstand acceleration forces, including anti-G straining technique, required for aircrew flying high-performance aircraft.

Body composition standard

A required range for body-mass index or measured body fat, assessed at the medical; values outside the range can disqualify a candidate or require remediation.

Pilot upper age limit

The maximum age at which a candidate may enter pilot training, commonly in the mid-to-late twenties, reflecting training pipeline length and return on investment.

Security clearance eligibility

The requirement to obtain and hold a security clearance, which depends on citizenship, residency history, and background checks; foreign ties may require additional vetting or a waiver.

Citizenship requirement

A rule that applicants hold the required nationality, and that dual nationality or extended foreign residence may trigger extra checks or disqualify certain roles.

Educational prerequisites

Minimum schooling for entry, generally completed secondary education with strong mathematics and physics for pilots, and a degree for some officer entry pathways.

Criminal record check

A background check for convictions and, in some cases, financial probity; disqualifying findings or later-discovered undisclosed history can end an application or service.

Height and weight limits

Specified ranges for stature and body mass that must be met at the medical, since both underweight and overweight can be grounds for disqualification.

In-service transfer pathway

A route by which serving members apply to move into aircrew roles, typically with different age, education, and service requirements than direct civilian entry.

Conditional eligibility

The principle that meeting criteria at application does not guarantee entry; eligibility is re-verified at medical, security, and attestation stages, and failure at any stage ends the process.

Application sequence

The ordered stages of entry: online application, eligibility screening, aptitude testing, medical, fitness assessment, interview or selection board, then offer and enlistment.

Assessment centre

A dedicated facility where candidates sit aptitude tests, fitness assessments, and interviews, often over one or more days, with results valid for a defined period.

Aviation medical examiner

An approved doctor who conducts the aircrew medical, including vision, hearing, ECG, and lung function tests, and who can recommend deferral for correctable conditions.

Selection board interview

A structured interview assessing motivation, role knowledge, and behavioural competencies, where candidates are commonly asked to explain role specifics and the service commitment.

Conditional offer

An offer of entry contingent on passing all remaining stages; failure at any stage ends or pauses the application, and reapplication waiting periods are often specified.

Document verification

The scheduled production of identity, education certificates, and medical records for checking against the application; missing documents are a common cause of delay.

Basic and specialist training

Training following enlistment: initial basic training for all entrants, then specialist and leadership training for aircrew, with pilot candidates completing flight screening before type streaming.