Background: U.S. Air Force (USAF) pilot selection and training procedures h
ave changed substantially in the last several years. Pilot selection proced
ures were augmented with the introduction of computer-based testing to asse
ss pilot aptitude. Training procedures have changed in an effort to moderni
ze the training fleet and provide better, more specialized training earlier
in the training process. Results: Despite several studies showing the util
ity of USAF pilot aptitude tests for pre dieting training performance, resu
lts of a recent policy capturing study suggest that this information is oft
en ignored by pilot candidate selection boards. The two largest sources of
USAF pilot trainees relied heavily on measures of officership when making s
election decisions. Cumulative research findings suggest that USAF pilot se
lection decisions could be improved by making better use of currently avail
able personnel attribute data. Further improvements could be expected from
the addition of a structured selection interview and measures of personalit
y.