Selection process · tests · interview · simulator check

Etihad Airways pilot assessment

Updated October 2026 · SET STANDARD

Etihad came through the 2026 Gulf airspace crisis without halting pilot recruitment: it is still growing by about 20 aircraft a year towards a 2030 fleet of 200+, running pilot roadshows in Europe and Asia, and expects to break even in 2026.

Etihad Airways is the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, based in Abu Dhabi and owned through Etihad Aviation Group by the sovereign fund ADQ. It runs a full-service hub-and-spoke network from Zayed International Airport. Its fleet combines Airbus narrowbodies with Boeing 787, 777, A350 and A380 widebodies, and in 2025 it posted its best results ever before the 2026 regional war tested the model.

Key facts

Entry routes and requirements

The selection process, step by step

1. Online application / roadshowonline (careers.etihad.com) or in-person roadshow

   Apply to a specific vacancy on careers.etihad.com (SmartRecruiters) or register interest; Etihad runs international roadshows (2026: Madrid, Barcelona, Rome, Milan, London Gatwick, Luton, Istanbul in summer; Munich, Frankfurt, Athens, Barcelona, Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur and a virtual event in Oct-Nov). Partners and family welcome.

2. Video interview / online screeningvideo, asynchronous (cadets: self-recorded video + pre-employment medical questionnaire)

   Cadets submit a self-recorded video interview and medical questionnaire (official). Direct-entry candidates report a pre-recorded video interview with HR and technical questions; Etihad states interviews may be face-to-face, video or telephone.

3. Online assessment / aptitudeonline

   Cadets complete an online assessment (official). Direct-entry candidates report a remote COMPASS aptitude test.

4. Assessment centre in Abu Dhabiin person, Etihad Training Academy, Khalifa City A, Abu Dhabi

   Cadets: Day 1 maths, physics and aptitude tests; Day 2 (if successful) cognitive and psychometric evaluations, COMPASS, group exercises and competency-based panel interview. Direct entry (reported): briefing and document check, then rotation through a timed ATPL-style written test (reported 50-100 questions; type-specific questions for rated pilots), a group exercise, HR plus technical interview and an FFS assessment; GCAA medical usually the next day.

5. GCAA medical, document verification and offerin person / administrative

   GCAA medical and document verification; conditional offer subject to verification.

Aptitude and psychometric tests

• maths and physics (cadets)
• English
• aptitude / psychomotor
• cognitive
• psychometric / personality
• technical knowledge (direct entry, reported)

COMPASS (Symbiotics) - officially stated for the cadet programme; reported for direct entry

Group exercise

Officially part of the cadet assessment day (group exercises assessing teamwork); also reported for direct-entry assessment days.

The interview

Competency-based panel interview (official for cadets); HR plus fleet/technical interviews reported for direct entry

• Why Etihad and Abu Dhabi
• Teamwork, CRM and handling difficult situations
• Adaptability to life in the Gulf

Typical questions to prepare

• Why Etihad?
• Why move to Abu Dhabi, and how will your family adapt?
• What do you know about Etihad's current situation?
• Describe Etihad's fleet and where you fit.
• Tell us about a time you disagreed with a captain.
• Describe a mistake you made in flight.

The simulator assessment

Language and after selection

ICAO English Level 4 or better (written and verbal) for direct entry; cadets IELTS 5.5 Academic / TOEFL 510 / EmSAT 1250.

Base Abu Dhabi; relocation support (shipping allowance, settling-in support, family travel), housing allowance, education allowance. Non-type-rated pilots receive type training.

Common reasons candidates fail

• Weak raw-data or manual handling in the sim, especially an unstable ILS or messy go-around
• Thin ATPL theory in the written test (charts, ICAO procedures, performance), especially for candidates many years past their exams
• Superficial knowledge of their own type's systems and protections in the technical interview
• Dominating or disappearing in the group exercise
• Unstructured, generic interview answers with no clear STAR example

Get the complete Etihad Airways Assessment Guide

215 pages: company history and culture, every stage of the selection, model interview answers, technical refresher, Boeing 787 / Airbus A350 systems and simulator assessment preparation. Updated for 2026.

Look inside the guide

Status: Preview · current to October 2026 · not on sale yet · join the waiting list

Practice questions: company knowledge

Interview practice drawn from public sources; the answers are not an FAQ about the guide.

Preparation guides

Other airline assessments

Main sources

https://careers.etihad.com/job/Abu-Dhabi-First-Officer-A320-Non-type-Rated/733027022
https://careers.etihad.com/job/Abu-Dhabi-Captain-A320-Non-type-Rated/733026922
https://careers.etihad.com/job/Abu-Dhabi-Captain-Airbus-Wide-body/732905922
https://careers.etihad.com/content/Cadet-Pilot-Programme-Etihad/
https://careers.etihad.com/content/working/

SET STANDARD is an independent training publisher, not affiliated with Etihad Airways. Information compiled from public sources and candidate reports; always confirm with the airline’s official careers page.