Ryanair Pilot Aptitude Test: A Guide to Aon and cut-e

The online aptitude test comes before the simulator assessment.

Direct entry

Direct entry is for pilots who already hold the required licence and flying hours for the vacancy. You apply through Ryanair's careers website. If you're shortlisted, you'll need to complete the online aptitude test before you can be invited to the simulator assessment.

Recent vacancies have listed test fees of €55 or €60. Check the specific advert to see whether the fee is refunded if you join the training course. Buzz uses a captain assessment for experienced applicants, which includes one online task followed by a simulator check and an interview.

The online test forms the first phase of the psychological assessment required under EASA rules before a pilot starts line flying. It assesses areas such as cognitive ability, personality, operational competence and crew resource management. The second phase takes place as part of the simulator assessment day, and you progress to it only if you meet the required standard in phase one.

The assessment day includes a simulator session, an HR interview and a technical interview. Candidates are generally told the outcome within a week. If you're offered a position, the training date and base are confirmed as part of the offer.

Vacancies often list the number of tasks without naming each one, and the exact selection process can change between recruitment campaigns. The best preparation is to get comfortable following instructions, working accurately under time pressure and moving on quickly when a task changes.

For a broader overview of Aon assessments used in pilot recruitment, see our Aon pilot test guide.

Future Flyer Academy

The Future Flyer Academy offers another route into Ryanair, with training delivered through approved partner flight schools. The application process and aptitude test depend on the programme you're applying for.

There are several entry routes:

• Gateway 0: An integrated ab initio programme for candidates with no previous flying experience. The course can take 16 months or longer.
• Gateway 1: A modular route for applicants who hold a PPL, have at least 100 hours as pilot in command, and have passed the EASA ATPL theory exams.
• Gateway 2: An APS MCC route for pilots who already hold a frozen ATPL, a CPL and a multi-engine instrument rating. The selection process also covers Gateway 3.

For Gateway 0 and Gateway 1, the process starts with a psychometric and aptitude test completed at home through the partner school. Candidates who pass are invited to the school for further assessments, which can include mathematics, physics, English for non-native speakers, a group exercise and an interview.

Gateway 2 and Gateway 3 applicants take the airline's own online psychometric test.

Atlantic Flight Training Academy (AFTA), one of the approved partner schools, uses a cut-e assessment for its home test. Its published assessment covers work-related behaviour, situational judgement, deductive and inductive reasoning, spatial orientation, reaction speed, monitoring, multitasking and complex control. The fee is listed as €60–€79, depending on the programme.

Candidates who pass the online stage are invited to AFTA for a short simulator exercise and an interview.

Training takes place at the partner school and follows Ryanair procedures. For the ab initio and Gateway 1 routes, the programme includes a Boeing 737 type rating, subject to the applicable training costs agreement and successful completion of Ryanair's final assessment. Ryanair publishes a 98% pass rate for that final cadet assessment.

How to prepare for the Aon aptitude test

Aon assessments often involve short, timed tasks. You need to understand the instructions quickly, work accurately and manage your time. Practising beforehand can help you become familiar with the format, so you're not trying to learn the rules while the clock is running.

The examples below are practice tasks from our own platform. Their timings and formats describe our exercises, not necessarily the official Ryanair test.

• Monitoring Ability: Count the moving balls inside a circle and press the matching number. Correct answers lead to more difficult rounds. Our exercise lasts two minutes.
• Symbol Match: Compare two symbols and respond as quickly as possible when they match.
• Inductive Reasoning: Look for a hidden rule in two grids, then select the other grids that follow the same rule.
• Spatial Orientation: Read the gyro and radio bearing indicator, then select the correct sector.
• Situational Judgement: Read a workplace scenario and choose the most and least effective responses.

You can try several exercises through our free Aon practice, including Symbol Match, Monitoring Ability, Motion Challenge, Ability to Concentrate and Inductive Reasoning.

The full Aon preparation package includes additional exercises such as Spatial Recall, Grid Deduction, Spatial Orientation, Listening Comprehension and Situational Judgement. The exercises are timed and scored, giving you a way to practise and review your performance.

Frequently asked questions

Check the instructions in your invitation and the requirements for your specific role before the assessment.