NEW DELHI: National carrier Air India has made psychometric tests a mandatory part of its induction process for pilots and cabin crew. The airline, which faces a shortage of both pilots and cabin crew, started conducting these tests late December while starting a process to hire cabin crew.
“We were to hire 350 cabin crew to begin with. We got written tests conducted by the Indian Institute of Psychometry (IIP). A large number of applicants failed these tests. These tests check their psyche and evaluates how would they react and act in various situations,” said a senior AI official.
AI has been asking the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) since last year to make these tests mandatory for airlines. “From Friday, we started the process of hiring co-pilots. We took the help of an Indian Air Force psychologist for this. In future, all pilots that will be hired by us will have to undergo IIP tests,” said the official.
The aviation ministry is now planning to call a meeting of all stakeholders to consider making psychometric tests must for flight crew. Some airlines do it without waiting for DGCA to issue orders in this regard. Jet Airways, for instance, said that it conducts these tests for all new pilot cadets. “”These tests are a part of our screening process and reviewed by trained professionals,” a Jet official said. IndiGo said that it conducts these tests.
An IndiGo official said: “we do a detailed psychological assessment of all commercial pilot licence holders or cadets joining us. This is through the use of the “Crew Assessment and Selection System” psychological assessment tool, which gives us a 12-13 page report on each pilot’s personality and psychological makeup, his/her ability to be an effective pilot of a technologically advanced aircraft, and his fit into our culture. This report is a part of the pilot’s records during his tenure with IndiGo. Additionally, we require these pilots to also undergo a drug test before final selection.”
Clarify norms for pilots: Union to DGCA
At a time when pilots’ psyche has become a major safety concern globally, one of India’s oldest pilot unions has raised several crucial questions for the directorate general of civil aviation. The Indian Commercial Pilots’ Association, union of pilots of erstwhile Indian Airlines and now Air India (domestic), has asked the regulator to clarify what is the minimum time before schedule departure time that they must report for flying at airports. The DGCA recently issued showcause notices to several pilots for reporting late to work. An AI pilot was issued the notice for reporting a minute late. The union says all Indian airlines have different reporting times for pilots, that start from half an hour before departure time.
