Cleared To Flight Levels

Singapore Airlines

By Aloysius

  1. Online Application – Submitted through SIA’s careers portal
  2. Aptitude Testing – Computer-based assessments on coordination, memory, logic, and multi-tasking.
  3. Interviews – Multiple rounds including HR, technical, and senior pilot panels
  4. Medical Examination – To ensure you meet Class 1 Medical standards
  5. Bond Agreement – The training is bonded, typically for 7 years after becoming a first officer

Training

If selected, cadets face their first obstacle. Ground School. 14 Airline Transport Pilot Licence(ATPL) theoretical papers, completing them in 6 months.

These papers are not to be taken lightly. They are content heavy and require a lot of studying. This is especially true for someone who has no prior aviation experience.

Once past ground school, cadets are then sent overseas — to Singapore Flying College (SFC) in Australia. Cadets may be offered 2 routes, a Commercial Pilot License Route, or the Multi Crew Pilot License (MPL) route. More info on that here.

After basic training, you’ll return to Singapore for multi-crew, type rating and jet training at SIA’s training facilities.

Eventually, you’ll start flying as a Second Officer. You will complete line training, IOE 1, and IOE 2. Then, you will promote officially to first officer.

Tips :

Application & Online assessment

  • Having some aviation background or flying experience can make a real difference. There’s a big gap between simply saying “I’ve always wanted to be a pilot” and actually doing something about it. Interviewers hear the dream all the time — what they’re really looking for is action. Have you taken any steps to pursue that dream?

  • Even if full flight training is out of reach financially, there are other ways to show genuine interest. Invest in a basic flight simulator, learn how aircraft behave, understand the instruments, control surfaces, and how lift is produced. These may seem like small steps, but they show initiative — and in a competitive selection process, that alone can put you one step ahead of the rest.

  • Be prepared for Aptitude tests. The aptitude tests is your first real challenge so do it well. If it is your first time and you don’t know what to expect, there are online test preparation subscriptions. I personally use Pilotassessment.com as they have aptitude tests for Scoot & SQ. Not only that, they have interview prep, theory questions for you to practice, ensuring you are well prepared.

  • Read up on aviation and company news, form opinions of them

Interview

SQ interviews are known to be tricky. There are 2 rounds of interview, first being the panel interview. The panel consists of chief pilots of the various fleets, HR and a psychologist. The panel will apply pressure on you.

There is an unlimited amount of things they can ask you. Do your best to prepare but there will be a point where your knowledge can’t keep up. Exude confidence but do not come of as brash and arrogant. If you do not know the answer to a question, have the humility to say “I’m not sure about this, but I will look this up and get back to you” rather than trying to BS your way through. And actually get back to them. They have been doing interviews for years. Do you think they don’t know when you are BS-ing?

The second interview is called the tea party. But unlike an actual tea party, it is basically a group discussion where interviewees get to dialog with the panelists. They are then judged on how they converse, how they behave. Do not shoot yourself in the foot by asking stupid questions!!!

Bottom line: stay cool, calm, and collected.

They are looking for people that can perform and make good decisions under pressure, are self motivated enough to trust with studying, and can articulate their thoughts into words well.

editor@clearedtoflightlevels.com