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Full Form of PABT, Pilot Aptitude Battery Test, PABT And CPSS

authorImageGirijesh Singh18 Oct, 2023
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PABT

The full form of PABT is the Pilot Aptitude Battery Test. It is a combination of written and machine tests. It is organized to enroll candidates to the armed forces as pilots in the air wing. 

Consequently, it makes the PABT aptitude test one of the hardest tests in the country. Additionally, it is the toughest exam within the armed forces process of various segregation and selection tests. 

The Pilot Aptitude Battery Test incorporates Instrument Comprehension tests. They are conducted via certain manual objective written tests and PC machine tests on an elementary level. 

As a matter of fact, the CPSS or Computerised Pilot Selection Test has replaced Pilot Aptitude Battery Test (PABT). It is essentially conducted for the same purpose. 

What is PABT? 

PABT is the acronym for the Pilot Aptitude Battery Test. This test is a combination of several machines and written tests. It is conducted to select competent pilots (air warriors). 

Significantly, these air warriors or active pilots are deployed in the air wing of the armed forces. It falls within their duty to fly air jets, air crafts, and fighter planes as needed during wars. 

Consequently, immense thought processing led to the formulation of this test called the Pilot Aptitude Battery Test. It is a test to comprehensively test the candidates for their ability to become pilots of the India Air Force (IAF). 

Notably, SSB conducts the Pilot Aptitude Battery Test, commonly called the PABT, during the SSB (Service Selection Board) Interview of the students. 

Moreover, the SSB conducts this examination on passed students of the written test organized for selection to the armed forces. 

Generally, a common test such as NDA (National Defence Academy), CDS (Combined Defence Services) and AFCAT (Air Force Common Admission Test) is conducted for all branches of the army. These include the Indian Naval Forces, Indian Armed Forces, and Indian Air Force. 

During the SSB interview, the SSB board conducts the Pilot Aptitude Battery Test to select prospective candidates to serve as pilots in the Indian Air Force (IAF). It shall be noted that the SSB board conducts the PABT test only once in the SSB interview. 

Furthermore, several countries organize a Pilot Aptitude Battery Test (PABT) all over the world. It is for the selection of competent pilots who could be deployed into the air wing of the army. Evidently, the test varies in procedure and conduct from country to country. 

In our country, i.e. India, the Pilot Aptitude Battery Test (PABT) has been designed by the DRDO (Defence Research and Development Organisation). Selected candidates get deployed at the Air Force Selection Board (AFSB) located in Varanasi (Banaras), Dehradun, and Mysore

Also Check - How to become a fighter pilot in the Indian Air Force

What is the aim of the PABT test?

The PABT or Pilot Aptitude Battery Test aims to select perfectly fit, healthy, responsive, and active candidates to serve as pilots in the Indian Air Force. 

For this purpose, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) scientists have designed a comprehensive test PABT. Notably, it is a combination of various written tests and machine tests. 

The Pilot Aptitude Battery Test checks a candidate’s presence of mind, abilities, control on his/her limbs (hands and legs), control on his/her nerves, responsiveness, and power to judge, etc. 

SSB conducts the PABT test, especially for candidates of the pilot branch, as it is believed that only such candidates who possess the right qualities, as mentioned above, can be trained as successful pilots. 

As a result, SSB conducts a comprehensive test of a candidate well before selecting the candidates. Further, it sends the selected candidates to the Air Force Academics for training. 

What is CPSS? 

The full form of CPSS is Computerized Pilot Selection System. It is the newly developed comprehensive test that has replaced the pre-existing Pilot Aptitude Battery Test (PABT).  

Notably, the Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE) and the Defence Institute of Psychological Research (DIPR) developed the CPSS exam. 

Significantly, the CPSS test involves checking the candidate’s flying aptitude through Psychomotor and Cognitive systems to involve the candidate in multiple tasks at once. 

Furthermore, these tasks are such that they occur concurrently. 

[wp-faq-schema title=" Full Form of PABT FAQs" accordion=1]

Who conducts PABT?

The  Service Selection Board (SSB) conducts the Pilot Aptitude Battery Test during the SSB interview. 

Is PABT compulsory?

Yes, students who want to become pilots in the Indian Air Force have to take the PABT test mandatorily. 

What happens in PABT?

In the PABT test, the SSB organizes certain manual objective-type written tests and various PC machine tests. These tests check the instincts, personality, and mindset of the candidate.  For example, there are tests to check a candidate’s responsiveness, his/her control on his/her limbs, and control on nerves, etc.

How many times can I attempt PABT?

A candidate can attempt the PABT or the Pilot Aptitude Battery Test only once, after which if he qualifies, the candidate is sent to the Air Force Academics for training.  On the contrary, the SSB board considers failed or unselected candidates ineligible to serve as pilots in the air wing of the armed forces. SSB conducts this test during the SSB interview and each candidate can attempt it only once. 

Is the pilot aptitude test hard?

Yes, Pilot Aptitude Tests are inherently harder than other tests and exams. The reason is the psychometric nature of these aptitude tests. These tests aim to challenge candidates while performing tasks.  For selection as pilots in the Indian Air Force (IAF), SSB organizes pilot aptitude tests such as PABT (Pilot Aptitude Battery Test) and CPSS (Computerised Pilot Selection System). 
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