Ask Captain Lim ~ All about Aviation - What are the criteria to be selected as an Airline pilot?

I am really interested to be a pilot. Hence, I have submitted my application to Singapore Airlines. Anyway, I am currently working (just started). I wish to know, from your experience will they put candidate who is working into their consideration?

Would you mind sharing with me what's the criteria when they come to select suitable candidates? Is there any age limit to applicants?

Hope to hear from you. Keep in touch and thanks a lot for your information. I appreciate it a lot.

Thanks.

Regards,

David

Hi David,

I am sure you have seen the requirements for Cadet Pilots recruitment with Singapore Airlines. If not, below are details that I have extracted from the SIA Career page:-

CADET PILOT

This is an entry-level position for candidates with no commercial flying experience, but have a keen interest in taking up a life-long challenge with SIA as an airline pilot. To start as a trainee you should have completed your studies and ideally be in your twenties or early thirties.

Requirements:

Singapore Citizens, Singapore Permanent Residents or Malaysian Citizens.
Minimum 5 credits in the General Certificate in Education (GCE) Ordinary Level Examination or its equivalent e.g. SPM. These must include credits in English, Mathematics and a Pure Science subject, preferably Physics, taken at one sitting. In addition, applicants must possess one of the following:

(a) minimum 2 'A's and 2 'O's, including General Paper, in the GCE 'A' Level Examination (or its equivalent); or
(b) minimum 2 Principal Passes (excluding the languages; Mathematics and Science subjects preferred) and 2 Subsidiary Passes in the STPM (or its equivalent); or
(c) a Polytechnic Diploma; or
(d) a Degree. - You must be medically fit and have visual acuity of at least 6/60 without optical aids, correctable to 6/6.

I will be adding an email from Ariff who is one of the visitor in my website that has been successfully accepted by SIA. He has been kind enough to share his interview experience with all aspiring pilots. As regards to age limit, SIA states 'early thirties'. So if you have the pilot's material and in the early thirties, you would be considered even though you may be working at the moment.