German Aerospace Center Aviation Knowledge

Aviation and Space Psychology

Hamburg, Germany - General Remarks -

This document addresses both, licence holders as well as non-licence holders!

Introduction
From a licence holder your future employers just as the DLR expect you to have the
knowledge and comprehension that are adequate for the respective licence. Regardless of
the type of flight school, regardless of the time that has passed since you have acquired your
licence - there are basics a pilot has to be proficient in. So, make sure you are up to your
licence level - be it PPL, CPL, IR or ATPL. Do not expect your future employer to teach you
things you should know already!
Additionally to the unsurprising expectation that a pilot has to have a pilot’s knowledge,
aeronautical competence also touches the aspect of vocational motivation. Airlines as well as
the DLR are looking for individuals with a genuine interest and thus long term motivation in
aviation. These persons will have no problem facing the life long learning process and the
prospect of being continuously under assessment (checks) that are typical for a professional
pilot’s career. A genuine interest however is not something you just have to repeatedly claim,
it is something you have to prove.

Preparation for licence holders (‘ready entries’)

Having fully understood the basic aeronautical principles will help you to quickly refresh all
details. Furthermore, only if you understand the basics of aviation you will be able to quickly
transfer your knowledge to aeronautical problems that are yet unfamiliar to you. So, make
sure you know more than just question-answer combinations from preparing the written
exams for the authority.
Going through your books from flight school is always a good idea. Additionally consider
discussing aeronautical issues with your fellows. Ask them to challenge your knowledge,
train to articulately explain what you know. Another approach is to teach an interested
layperson some basic aeronautical facts. From his or her feedback you will learn whether you
are able to logically present your knowledge.

Preparation for non-licence holders (‘ab initios’)

The above mentioned ‘vocational motivation’ is also an aspect of the Ab Initio selection
process. You claim to be interested in aviation? Prove it! Acquire an idea of the subject, read
books and magazines about aviation, search the internet, try to meet pilots for a chat about
their daily duties and experience. Do you know what kind of job you are applying for? Do
you know the advantages, but also the disadvantages?

QMH-DLR-ME-HH- DLR - Aviation Knowledge - General.doc 23.10.2007 (Rh)