Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, and Other Characteristics for Military Pilot Selection: A Review of the Literature

Nine studies were reviewed concerned with identifying the knowledge, skills, abilities, and other traits KSAOs that are required for success as a military pilot. The report begins with a review of taxonomies used to identify the required KSAOs and notes issues associated with their use. Definitional problems of three attributes commonly associated with pilot success Mechanical Aptitude, Timesharing, and Situational Awareness are discussed. Next, the studies that identified the required KSAOs are reviewed. Limited conclusions can be drawn about the required KSAOs from this review. Few investigators examined categories of knowledge as indicators of success. Similarly, the skills required for success were rarely identified because investigators assumed they would be trained. Problems with definitions of abilities and other methodological issues limited the identification of required abilities and restricted cross-study comparisons. Nevertheless, several abilities, particularly Perceptual Speed and Spatial Orientation, were closely associated with success as a military pilot. Identification of other traits required for success was hampered by the lack of strong theories of personality to guide investigators. The report concludes with recommendations for the development of a new taxonomy and for research focused on several attributes that may be critical for success as a military pilot.