German Aerospace Center Tips and

Aviation and Space Psychology

Hamburg, Germany Tricks

Dear Candidate,
The German Aerospace Center (DLR) provides you with free training software and
information to assist you during your preparation for a DLR assessment. It is important that
you make extensive use of this opportunity. Do not attend a DLR assessment if you have not
had at least ten days time to thoroughly practise with all training tools and read all
information texts.
Our CBTs will not enhance your ability for spatial orientation, perception, concentration,
etc. . No software is able to do this since these abilities are – like talents – genetically and
somatically determined to a large extend. However the CBTs will familiarize you with the test
principles and increase your test specific skills. Doing so has several advantages:
ƒ Being well trained will help you to really achieve your own individual maximum
performance in the actual test.
ƒ Having a comprehensive idea of what to expect in the actual assessment will help you to
overcome excitement and fear prior to the assessment.
ƒ Furthermore our CBTs and information texts are meant to put into perspective some of
the rumours and legends you might hear and read from people with ‘DLR experience’ or
other ‘experts’. Although there are generally no objections against sharing impressions
about the DLR with others there are still risks to be considered when asking others ‘what
DLR is looking for’ or for their recommendations on ‘how to pass the DLR’: As an
applicant it is very hard to judge the benchmarks and all the details of one’s own
assessment process. What had worked for one person might not work for others,
because their strengths and weaknesses might be in totally different domains! Therefore
do not rely on well-intentioned hints and recommendations from other sources than
those authorized by the DLR. Extra caution is advisable if somebody offers you
information or ‘DLR Training’ for money.

The Competence Chain

Operating an aircraft involves various tasks and challenges and pilots need to have certain
physical, mental and social qualities to meet these challenges. The physical qualities can be
checked by an Aviation Medical Examiner while the mental and social qualities require a
psychological examination like the one the DLR Aviation Psychologists conduct.
We differentiate between abilities, personality traits, skills, and attitudes. Acceptable
perception, concentration, memory function, spatial orientation, motor coordination,
multitasking capacity, and logical reasoning are among the most important abilities. A
beneficial personality structure (regarding for example rigidity, introversion, stress resistance,
etc.) is another important aspect of a pilot’s competence. Abilities and personality are rather
stable and hard to change because they are genetically and somatically determined to a large
extend. Skills (e.g. geographical knowledge, English language or CRM skills) and attitudes
(e.g. the preference of certain techniques or the degree of a person’s customer orientation)
on the other hand are more easily influenced by training and experience.
Just as the strength of a chain is determined by its weakest link the overall competence of a
pilot is determined by his/her most drastic deficiency. Example: How reliable would you

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consider a pilot who has impressive skills, a favourable personality, and good attitudes, but
due to a deficiency in spatial orientation (an aptitude) tends to mix up left and right or has
difficulties identifying another aircraft’s position in reference to his/her own? Take a second
example: Let us assume a person has no deficiency in his/her abilities, plus sufficient skills and
attitudes. However, due to a substandard stress resistance he/she performs well only under
normal conditions. In abnormal situations the performance of this person is drastically
reduced because the limit of mental capacity is reached and situational awareness impaired.
Therefore the overall pilot-competence of this candidate has to be considered as rather poor.
Although the DLR recommendation policy does not tolerate any significant deficiencies, the
good news is, you do not have to be superman or superwoman either! Performing average
in all, aptitudes, personality, attitudes, skills, stress resistance etc., is totally sufficient to
receive the DLR’s approval.

General remarks on psychometric testing

Be prepared for different kinds of tests. Some have a ‘multiple choice’ design where you
decide which answer out of the offered ones is the correct one. In this case there is exactly
one correct answer, not more - not less. For all multiple choice tests it is a good strategy to
quickly do a first run and work only on questions that you immediately understand. Do not
loose time agonising about a difficult question while there is still a chance of easier ones to
come up! If after the first run you have time left, start a second run with the leftover
questions and skip again the most difficult ones. In these sorts of tests you do not get extra
credit if you finish before the time allowance has run out. Therefore, if you have time left use
it to check your answers. In the DLR assessment the multiple choice tests are: English, maths
and physics.
Other tests are more dynamic. Some tests have increasing difficulty levels while in others the
difficulty level remains stable. Some tests are computer paced, while in others you determine
how fast you go. Some include auditory information via headphones, others contain only
visual material. As a general rule for all tests (unless stated otherwise): always work as fast
and at the same time as accurately as possible! I. e. if you find a task rather easy, try to do it
faster. If you realise you have become so fast you started making mistakes or omissions,
consider reducing your working pace in order to raise the accuracy. In other words: find a
good balance between quality and quantity!
Then there are the questionnaires aiming at personality and/or attitudes. These
questionnaires are not tests that you pass or fail, they are meant to give the DLR a first
impression on who you are as an individual. Your very own personal opinion is needed!
Therefore these questionnaires have no strict time allowance – everybody has to answer all
questions. However, going through it as spontaneous as possible usually leads to the most
accurate picture. So do not think about each and every question as if it were a test, give the
first answer that comes to your mind without wasting time fantasizing ‘what’s behind’ it.
When training with our CBTs, do not expect the real tests to be 100% identical. Small
features may differ. Therefore, even after intensively training with the CBTs, please, carefully
read the instructions and pay close attention to all demonstration items of the real test in
your DLR assessment.
Expect most tests to be computer assisted with a touch screen for your inputs, so proficiency
in typing on a keyboard or using a computer mouse is not of a benefit. However, we cannot
exclude that some tests are in paper/pencil format.

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Training for the Basic Abilities – Tests
Carry out each CBT as many times as you need to come to the impression that you are fully
familiar with the testing principles and your results have not significantly increased during the
last couple of runs. Normally, between five and ten runs are minimum to get to this point.
The progress usually resembles the prototypical learning curve shown below (Figure 1) with
significant gains in the beginning and an asymptotic convergence to your own individual
maximum. Use the DLR Training Record to keep record of your individual results in each run
(see chapter below).

100
Percentage of Individual Maximum

0
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Number of Run
Figure 1: Prototypical learning curve of a fictitious person in a fictitious CBT. Note that in this
case the individual maximum is practically achieved in run number 6. Further runs
do not increase the individual results significantly. Attention! Please take into
account that you might need to perform more than just six runs to achieve your
own individual maximum!

It is not recommendable to run a specific CBT more than once per day. The training effect of,
say, one run per day for five days is higher and more stable compared to doing five runs on
one single day.
Regarding the psychomotor test MIC (Monitoring and Instrument Coordination), please note,
that in this case it leads to optimum results if you do the joystick training during the extensive
exercise period in the actual test. More than 80% of the total time in the MIC is (not scored)
training time in order to accomplish the full learning curve under realistic and standardized
conditions. Trying to prepare for the MIC with the help of flight simulator programmes or
other commercial software involves the risk of getting used to differing dynamics and loosing
your flexibility to react adequately to the actual characteristics of the real test. Keep in mind,
the MIC is not a flight simulator! It is a test aiming at your eye-hand-coordination and your
flexibility to adapt to and control an unfamiliar and highly dynamic environment. Mentally
prepare for this test by thoroughly going through the respective PDF document we provide.
All tests aiming at basic abilities are designed to make it nearly impossible to achieve 100%
correctly solved items in the given time. The reason for this is not the motivation to frustrate
candidates but a scientific requirement: certain statistical operations need a normal
(‘Gaussian’) distribution of the raw score. If – due to a low level of difficulty – many persons
achieve the maximum raw score the resulting frequency distribution of this raw score is not
normal but has a ‘ceiling effect’ instead and makes the test useless for differentiation.
The benchmarks in these tests are set by a specific norm group: As long as you do not score
significantly below the average of your relevant norm group you pass. Since this average
varies depending on certain factors (e.g. culture) it is not possible for us to inform you about
a predefined benchmark for each CBT that you would have to achieve in order to have
something like a guarantee of passing the real test.

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Unless specified differently during the introductory part of each CBT, ‘one run’ is defined as a
complete execution of a CBT or the thorough and complete reading of a PDF-text.

The Importance of Basic Knowledge

Everybody engaging in pilot training encounters phenomena and aspects that have a
scientific background. Especially physics and mathematics but also a good share of
geography, chemistry and biology are therefore the basis for a full comprehension of all
principles in aerodynamics, navigation, weather, aircraft systems, weight and balance,
physiology, etc. If you have not had these subjects in school or if this was long time ago you
better brush up your skills before attending the DLR assessment - but even more important:
before you enter flight school!
The examination of these subjects touches another aspect of your overall potential:
Additionally to the unsurprising fact that you have to have some basic knowledge (in terms
of skills) in order to understand the more detailed and specific information taught to you
during flight training, type rating, etc., we have indications for your interests, motivations
and ambitions (as aspects of your personality). If you have not been into natural science until
today, please ask yourself seriously whether working as a pilot really suites your character,
your talents and your interests most! Good pilots have a sceptical and inquisitive mind, they
are open for new information and continuously interested in broadening their horizons. They
will not settle with ‘black box explanations’ for unknown systems but search for (scientific)
background information. This sort of interest and motivation will help you through the hard
periods of the training / job and provide you with the necessary energy. This is the second
reason why the DLR sets a high value on basic knowledge.
There is a third reason for applying basic knowledge tests: Solving all sorts of problems or
answering questions is a recurrent task in a pilot’s professional life. Identifying the nature of
the problem, separating relevant from irrelevant information, seeing parallels to familiar
facts, and transferring knowledge to this new problem, all needs a certain amount of logical
reasoning. And this is what the applied tests also aim at.
From a licence holder, too, we expect a profound knowledge and understanding not only of
the aeronautical basics acquired in flight school but also of the underlying scientific laws and
phenomena – regardless of the time period since your High School days or your flight
training.
English is the language in commercial aviation all over the world. Therefore your English
language skills (reading, speaking, and writing) have to be rather good. Apart from the fact
that you will need acceptable English communication skills during flight training and at work,
you will also encounter instructions and explanations in English language in the DLR tests.
Although a test itself might be language free – you will have to work through an instruction
text in order to understand the test principle. Furthermore the interview will be held in
English language.

Training Basic Knowledge

For each knowledge domain, mathematics, physics, English language, and aeronautics we
have outlined requirements and training recommendations in a respective PDF document.
Brushing up your scientific knowledge or English language skills (or aeronautical knowledge
for licence holders) might need much longer than just ten days, because this depends on the
level you start from. If you have significant gaps here, take all time necessary to study books,
attend courses, and practice thoroughly with written and oral tasks before you attend the
DLR assessment.

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Preparing for the interview
The interview, just as the whole assessment process is your opportunity to present yourself to
your future employer. You might also use this conversation to check whether this is actually
the kind of job that suits your interests and talents best.
The interview is designed to find out indications for your long term motivation to do a pilot’s
job in a specific company. Additionally your personality, your strengths and weaknesses will
be discussed in order to find out how to develop your potential and whether you will fit
smoothly into the already existing workforce. Knowing yourself rather well in this respect will
not only assist in making the interview as short and effective as possible, it is also one
qualification we expect from a (future) pilot.
Other aspects highlighted during the interview are working style, problem solving behaviour
and stress resistance. For this purpose sometimes little problems will be presented to you
although you might already have had similar tasks during the computerized testing. These
little problems usually have a mathematical or mechanical background, some refer to
common knowledge (basics or current topics in geography, biology, history, the daily news,
etc.), and some are simple logical exercises. Make sure you listen carefully to all details of the
problem. Take the time necessary; do not rush into the (wrong) answer.
There is no such thing as the ideal and solely successful way through the interview, because
it all depends on your individual situation and on your personality. So, do not bother acting
as somebody else. Try to relax and be as open and informative as possible. Remember, your
future employer is looking for personnel and happy that you have applied! You can be sure
that all persons in the interview board have every interest in seeing you pass. The task of the
DLR psychologists is to assist you in presenting all aspects of your full potential.

Other aspects of preparation

Take paperwork seriously - it is a sample of your work style! Furthermore, the papers you
hand in during your application process leave a first impression on your future employer, and
– of course – you want this first impression to be as good as possible! So, treat these papers
as important documents, avoid bending and smearing. Carefully read all forms and texts, do
not omit any questions, write precise answers, and give accurate information to the best of
your knowledge. If you find a question not applicable indicate this accordingly (for example
with a dash).
Make sure you lead a healthy life during your preparation period. Get enough sleep! Do not
implement major changes in your nutrition during the last couple of days before your
assessment; the adjustment process of your body might impair your performance! This refers
especially to your regular consumption of coffee, tea and cigarettes. Do not experiment with
any kind of drugs or medication even if they are non-prescription! If you are very anxious
about your DLR assessment, refer to the chapter ‘Coping with Anxiety’ below.
It is in your own interest to give your future employer the chance to see your real potential.
In other words: undergo the DLR assessment only if you are mentally and physically in normal
condition! If you feel impaired by any circumstance, be it physical, mental, emotional, family-
related, job-related etc., then you are advised not to take the test or attend the interview on
your scheduled date. Instead you should call the company you are applying at for a later
appointment. Doing so does not negatively affect the evaluation of your future test results or
performance. Equally, if you have received the preparation material later than ten days prior
to your scheduled assessment or if you have not had the chance to study the material
thoroughly, call for a delay of your assessment.
Any impairment that is expressed after the assessment will not favourably affect the
evaluation of your performance.

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Training Record
Follow up on your training progression
by keeping record of the dates you
conducted specific CBTs or worked
through certain information PDFs. This
will help you to optimize your
preparation. Use the blank Training
Record we offer together with the
other preparation material.
Bring the completed document along
with you to your own assessment and
hand it to the DLR test instructor.
To give you an impression of how to
use this training record, please refer to
the sample on the right (Figure 2).
Depending on your personal situation
your own training record might look
very different from this one!
Instead of just putting in a simple
cross you might also use the available
space to write down your specific
results for an optimum monitoring of
your training progress. Doing so
enables you to draw your own
learning curve similar to figure 1.
Should you need more than one page,
simply print another blank training
record and continue your entries on
the new one (page 2). Bring both
along to your assessment. Figure 2: Completed Training Record of a fictitious person.

Coping with Anxiety/Excitement/Stress - How to soothe your exam nerves

First of all do not worry if you are excited or anxious before and/or during your DLR
assessment, this is very common and quite normal. It is an inevitable aspect of your
undoubtedly high motivation to pass this important step towards a rewarding career. Up to a
certain degree excitement is even beneficial! It will raise your alertness and thus help you to
maximize your performance. However, it is also a common observation that a very high
degree of excitement impairs your performance. For many tasks the relation between stress
and performance resembles an ‘inverted U’ (Figure 3). Mechanisms that explain why people
perform poorly under great stress include ‘hyper vigilance’ (excessive alertness to a stressful
situation developing into a panic) and ‘premature closure’ (quickly choosing a solution to end
a stressful situation, e. g. rushing through a test or interview question).

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 Figure 3: Inverted U – relationship
between Stress (Excitement,
Anxiety) and Performance.

So, what can you do to stay at the ‘Optimum Arousal Level’? Here are a couple of
suggestions. Some of them work to reduce long term stress (a dangerous threat to your
health); some are intended to cope with direct, short-term stressors.

ƒ Prepare well: Calm yourself with the notion that you are ready for the challenge. You
have carefully read all information documents, you have thoroughly brushed up your
basic knowledge, and you have trained with the CBTs up to your individual performance
maximum. You have done everything possible, so what should you worry about?!
ƒ Have an attractive ‘Plan B’: Failing the DLR assessment just as any other assessment would
not be the end of the world! Inform yourself about appealing professional alternatives –
inside and/or outside aviation.
ƒ Reframe problems: See your DLR assessment not as a threat but as an opportunity. As a
result of positive thinking, you will be able to handle whatever is causing your stress.
Challenge negative thoughts and try to see the glass as half full rather than half empty.
ƒ Connect with others: Develop a support system and share your feelings. Talking with
someone else can help clear your mind of confusion so that you can focus on problem
solving. Express your feelings instead of bottling them up. Learn to openly deal with your
anxiety and other emotions. A good cry during periods of stress, or sharing your concerns
with someone you trust can be healthy ways to bring relief.
ƒ Do not try to control events or other people: Many circumstances in life are beyond your
control, particularly the behaviour of others. Learn to accept situations you cannot
change.
ƒ Manage your time: Plan ahead. Make a reasonable ‘DLR preparation schedule’ for
yourself. Include time for stress reduction (breaks, sports, meals, etc.) as a regular part of
your schedule. Plan to do the most unpleasant tasks first instead of procrastinating. If you
realize that the time left before the DLR assessment is just too short to allow for a proper
preparation, decide to do the assessment later and convince your potential employer to
comply.
ƒ Arrive early enough at the location of assessment to avoid time pressure. If it is not near
your home, make sure you know exactly when and where to be. Take into consideration
that you might need an extra half day or so to get used to the unaccustomed location,
especially when travelling abroad.

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ƒ Exercise regularly: Physical activity plays a key role in reducing and preventing the effects
of stress. Besides sports (adequate to your age) try to implement physical activity into your
daily routine, e. g. walk instead of using the car, take the stairs instead of the
escalator/elevator, do little exercises during coffee breaks or even while sitting at the
desk, etc.
ƒ Get enough sleep: Adequate sleep fuels your mind, as well as your body. Feeling tired will
impair your performance and increase your stress. If you have difficulties falling asleep try
one of these well developed relaxation techniques: Autogenic Training, Yoga, Tai Chi,
Deep Breathing, Progressive Muscle Relaxation, etc.
ƒ Watch your diet: Eating several balanced, nutritious meals throughout the day will give
you the energy to think and act rationally and clearly. Well nourished bodies are better
prepared to cope with stress than malnourished. Do not tantalize yourself with food that
you detest just because it is considered ‘healthy’. There is nothing wrong with eating
food that you like as long as you consume moderate amounts.
ƒ Do not self-medicate with alcohol or drugs: While consuming alcohol or drugs may
appear to alleviate stress, it is only temporary. When sober, the problems that caused
your stress will still be there. During the actual assessment drugs or alcohol are especially
counterproductive because they impair your mental capacity. Apart from that, the regular
or immoderate consummation of alcohol and drugs is incompatible with the pilot
profession!
ƒ Do something for yourself every day: Too much ‘DLR training’ just as too much of any
work is actually inefficient and can lead to burnout. Allow yourself some reasonable
breaks; if possible take the weekends completely off. When things feel especially difficult,
take a walk or change your scenery. During leisure time have fun. Do things that make
you happy.
ƒ During Computer Assisted Testing (CAT): Mentally leave behind any test that you have
already finished – you cannot change your result anyway. Do not engage in figuring how
many errors or omissions you made or where you expect the benchmark to be; it is
extremely hard for you to judge whether you have passed or failed. Furthermore, many
tests are designed to make it practically impossible to solve 100% of all items. Just give
your individual maximum and then concentrate on the next test.
ƒ Make the best out of your breaks during CAT: Have a stretch, take a short stroll outside,
do some light exercises, etc. Drink water even if you are not particularly thirsty. If you
need a snack, instead of eating products with lots of dextrose (synonyms: grape sugar,
glucose) eat an apple or a banana. Dextrose raises your blood sugar rapidly thus causing a
heavy insulin release pushing down your blood sugar level again below the origin. A low
blood sugar level however causes drowsiness which is the last thing you want to
experience during testing! Unlike dextrose fruit sugar gets into your blood much slower
and therefore provokes a less drastic insulin release.
As already stated earlier, there is no such thing as the ideal and solely successful way through
a DLR assessment. As long as you give your personal best and stay yourself you have a good
chance of passing. Remember, your future employer is looking for personnel and grateful for
your application, and it is the DLR’s job to identify your potential. So, everyone dealing with
the assessment process has a high interest in seeing you pass!

We hope these recommendations were of use for you.

We wish you every success!

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