Selection process · tests · interview · simulator check
American Airlines pilot assessment
Updated October 2026 · SET STANDARD
American Airlines Assessment GuideLeave your email and we send you one message the day it is released.
Notify meAmerican Airlines is still hiring FAA-certificated pilots in 2026 (about 1,500 planned) through its regional flow-through and direct-hire routes, but a fuel-driven slowdown for 2027 and early contract talks with the APA make class dates less predictable.
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American Airlines is one of the world's largest airlines, with more than 1,000 mainline aircraft and a large regional network under the American Eagle brand. Headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas, it runs a hub-and-spoke network centred on Dallas/Fort Worth and Charlotte, and is a founding member of oneworld with joint businesses across the Atlantic and Pacific. Its 100-year history, from a 1926 airmail flight to the 2013 merger with US Airways, shows an airline shaped by consolidation, innovation and scale: first DC-3 service, first transcontinental jet flights and a pioneering loyalty programme.
Key facts
| Fleet | 1,022 mainline (1Q26): 132 A319, 48 A320, 218 A321, 84 A321neo, 10 A321XLR (Sept 2026), 303 737-800, 98 737 MAX 8, 47 777-200ER, 20 777-300ER, 37 787-8, 33 787-9; plus 572 regional jets |
|---|---|
| Orders | About 378 on order (A321neo/XLR, 737 MAX 8/10, 787-9, E175); widebody RFP issued June 2026, order of roughly 50-70 aircraft reported as imminent |
| Bases | 10 pilot domiciles: BOS, CLT, DCA, DFW, LAX, LGA (New York), MIA, ORD, PHL, PHX; hubs incl. JFK |
| Pilots | About 16,000 mainline pilots represented by the Allied Pilots Association (APA) |
| Hiring 2026 | About 1,500 pilots planned (stated Jan 2026); classes subject to capacity, which is being trimmed for Q4 2026 and 2027 |
| Entry routes | Cadet Academy (ab initio), regional flow-through (Envoy, Piedmont, PSA), direct-hire FO with FAA ATP; no DE captain |
Entry routes and requirements
American Airlines Cadet Academy (ab initio)
People with no flying experience who want a structured path to American via a wholly owned regional
- No licence required
- Legally eligible to work in the U.S.
- High school diploma or GED
- Able to obtain an FAA First Class Medical
Regional flow-through (Envoy, Piedmont, PSA) incl. regional cadet programmes
Pilots building time toward a regional job (e.g. CFIs) or current regional pilots
- Envoy cadet: FAA CPL with ME and IR, First Class Medical (no limitations except corrective lenses), IFR current, FCC licence, U.S. work authorisation
- Regional hiring (Envoy, Jan 2026): 1,500 h total, 25 h multi-engine, 100 h in last 6 months, ATP written, age 21 (R-ATP rules apply)
Direct hire First Officer (mainline)
Pilots from other carriers, military, corporate
- Unrestricted FAA ATP certificate (R-ATP not accepted for mainline)
- Min 1,500 h total (2,500 h competitive per ATP)
- Min 25 h multi-engine (50 h competitive)
- Age 23 to 65
The selection process, step by step
- Applicationonline (Cadet Academy portal / American pilot jobs portal)
Cadets complete an application and online assessment (official). Direct-hire candidates apply online with logbook data, certificates and background.
- Online assessment (Pilot Skills Test for direct hire)online
Cadets complete an online assessment (official). Direct-hire candidates report an online Pilot Skills Test (reported Aon/cut-e, about nine short sub-tests) plus a personality questionnaire, sent hours to about three weeks after records review.
- Virtual interview(s)video
Cadet Academy uses a series of virtual and in-person interviews in a single 'one-and-done' process (official). Some direct-hire candidates report a short virtual screen.
- In-person interview dayin person
Reported: document verification, a short corporate video, then a conversational panel with two American line pilots, mostly behavioural and scenario-based, interview block capped near one hour. Cadets also complete an Admissions Flight.
- Simulator evaluation (direct hire, reported)simulator
Reported for most direct-hire candidates, emphasising CRM, communication and decision-making rather than pure handling.
- Conditional offer, background and medicaladministrative
Conditional Job Offer followed by background check, FAA records checks and medical clearance before a class date. Cadets receive a Conditional Offer of Employment from a wholly owned regional.
Aptitude and psychometric tests
- numerical
- spatial
- multitasking
- reaction / psychomotor
- personality
Aon / cut-e (reported, not official)
The interview
Behavioural / scenario panel (reported: two line pilots), conversational; Cadet Academy: series of virtual and in-person interviews
- Why American
- CRM and teamwork
- Judgement in operational scenarios
- Professional conduct and safety
Typical questions to prepare
- Why American Airlines?
- Why not Delta or United?
- Tell us about yourself.
- Tell me about a time you disagreed with a captain.
- Describe a time you had to adapt to a new procedure.
- Tell me about a mistake you made in flying.
The simulator assessment
| Device | Reported B737-800 or A320-family simulator (level not published) |
|---|---|
| Where | American Airlines Flight Academy, Fort Worth, Texas (reported) |
| Typical profile | Reported short evaluation focused on CRM and decision-making; not officially published. |
Language and after selection
English proficiency required (FAA certificates require ICAO English; cadets must demonstrate reading, writing and speaking proficiency).
Direct hire: new-hire indoctrination and type training at American's Flight Academy (Fort Worth) as First Officer; domicile and fleet by seniority bid across BOS, CLT, DCA, DFW, LAX, LGA, MIA, ORD, PHL, PHX. Cadets: training at partner school, CFI time-building to 1,500 h, regional new-hire training, then contractual flow to American.
Common reasons candidates fail
- Inconsistencies between the application, logbook and FAA/PRIA records
- Unprepared or vague STAR stories; answers that lack a clear outcome or lesson
- Not owning a past checkride failure or incident
- Weak 'Why American?' that could apply to any airline, or criticising competitors
- Poor CRM in the simulator: silent flying, no briefing, ignoring the other pilot
Get the complete American Airlines Assessment Guide
201 pages: company history and culture, every stage of the selection, model interview answers, technical refresher, Boeing 737 / Airbus A320 family systems and simulator assessment preparation. Updated for 2026.
Look inside the guideStatus: Preview · current to October 2026 · not on sale yet · join the waiting list
About this guide
- Format
- PDF (bookmarked, iPad-optimised)
- Language
- English
- Edition
- Ed 2026 · Revision 1.0
- Current to
- October 2026
- Pages
- 201
- Status
- Preview · not on sale yet
- Licence
- Personal, single user · see licence terms
- Updates
- Update policy to be announced before sales open
- Simulator stage
- Covered as reported by candidates and public sources
Independent publication. Facts in this overview are labelled “reported” when they come from candidate reports rather than official sources — see the editorial standards. Notify me about this guide · See it in the catalogue
Practice questions: company knowledge
Interview practice drawn from public sources; the answers are not an FAQ about the guide.
Where is American Airlines headquartered?
Fort Worth, Texas, at the Skyview campus near DFW
Who is American's CEO?
Robert Isom, CEO since March 2022
What is American's largest hub?
Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW)
How many pilot domiciles does American have?
Ten: BOS, CLT, DCA, DFW, LAX, LGA, MIA, ORD, PHL, PHX
Which union represents American's pilots?
The Allied Pilots Association (APA), about 16,000 pilots
When does the 2023 pilot contract become amendable?
1 August 2027 (talks opened early in August 2026)
Preparation guides
Other airline assessments
Main sources
https://news.aa.com/news/news-details/2024/American-offers-clear-path-to-pilot-career-with-enhanced-Cadet-Academy-STEM-07/default.aspx
https://atpflightschool.com/airlines/american-airlines-cadet-academy.html
https://atpflightschool.com/airlines/american-airlines-career-track/
https://atpflightschool.com/airlines/envoy-air-cadet-program.html
https://aopa.org/news-and-media/all-news/2018/april/25/american-airlines-launches-cadet-academy
SET STANDARD is an independent training publisher, not affiliated with American Airlines. Information compiled from public sources and candidate reports; always confirm with the airline’s official careers page.