Fluid intellingence and spatial reasoning as predictors of pilot training performance in the South African Air Force (SAAF)
Date
2009-04
Authors
De Kock, Francois
Schlechter, Anton
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
AOSIS OpenJournals
Abstract
Pilot selection is a form of high-stakes selection due to the massive costs of training, high trainee
ability requirements and costly repercussions of poor selection decisions. This criterion-related
validation study investigated the predictive ability of fluid intelligence and spatial reasoning in
predicting three criteria of pilot training performance, using an accumulated sample of South
African Air Force pilots (N = 108). Hierarchical multiple regression analyses with training grade
achieved as criterion were performed for each of the phases of training, namely practical flight
training, ground school training, and officers’ formative training. Multiple correlations of 0.35 (p <
0.01), 0.20 (p > 0.05) and 0.23 (p > 0.05) were obtained for flight, ground school and formative training
results, respectively. Spatial ability had incremental validity over fluid intelligence for predicting
flight training performance.
Description
The original publication is available at http://www.sajip.co.za
Keywords
South Africa. South African Air Force -- Officials and employees -- Selection and appointment -- South Africa, Air pilots, Military -- Selection and appointment -- South Africa, Air pilots, Military -- Training of -- South Africa
Citation
De Kock, F. & Schlechter, A. 2009. Fluid intellingence and spatial reasoning as predictors of pilot training performance in the South African Air Force (SAAF). SA Journal of Industrial Psychology, 35(1):31-38, doi: 10.4102/sajip.v35i1.753