In ground school pilot training, mastering the skies isn’t just about technical know-how—it’s about embracing a mindset of continuous growth and skill refinement. Enter the realm of Knowledge, Skills, and Attitude (KSA) training—a dynamic approach, now a regulatory part of the ATPL training syllabus that revolutionises the way aspiring pilots prepare for their careers.
Understanding KSA: More Than Meets the Sky!
ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization) defines pilot competency as a combination of knowledge, skills, and attitude (KSA). This principle underscores the importance of not only mastering the technical aspects of flying but also developing essential soft skills and the right mindset. As such, KSA principles are integrated into the earliest stages of pilot training, including ground school, and are now formally assessed as part of the theoretical knowledge training syllabus.
Embarking on the Flight Path: Why KSA Matters for Student Pilots
As any reputable TK Instructor will verify, for student pilots, KSA training isn’t just another box to check—it is a gateway for success in the competitive world of aviation. Inside the cockpit, KSA equips pilots with essential soft skills like teamwork, adaptability, and resilience—qualities that are essential for navigating the complexities of modern aviation operations.
The KSA Course Element: Inside the KSA Experience at Leading Edge Aviation
At Leading Edge Aviation, KSA training is woven into every aspect of ground school training, regardless of your chosen training pathway. Our KSA course is designed to help students develop the necessary skills to become future Captains and industry leaders. At LEAL we have developed a range of activities to appeal to different strengths amongst the competencies and which can be assessed against the Learning Objectives. The range of activities include scenario-based team exercises, knowledge-based challenges such as planning an IFR flight, paired presentations, practical tasks such as operating the A320 sim, flying a DA40, mental maths practice and tests.
The Assessment Process: Adhering to UK and EU Standards
The assessment process is aligned with the ICAO and EASA recommended format and follows the published CAA/EASA Learning Objectives and Observable Behaviours used widely in the industry. Grading is divided in to 5 levels, 1 being the lowest and 5 the highest. Our Assessor team work cohesively together to share relevant observations and make useful recommendations for each student objectively, based on a common standard.
“For my own personal view as a new Assessor, I think that the KSA allows the students to improve on their soft skills, which will help them immensely during their flying, both during the training stage and their future airline careers. By focusing on Leading Edge’s pilot competencies and developing their teamwork and leadership skills, the students have a chance to demonstrate that they’d be perfectly suited for working in the multi-crew environment.”
– Shujaa Imran, KSA Assessor
“In terms of my view as an instructor. It is so rewarding observing the students applying their subjects in the challenging tasks whilst continually developing their pilot competencies; so proud of them and their achievements!”
– Jacqui Suren, Instructor
“KSA has been a very good experience in ground school as it gave me the opportunity to learn new teamwork skills whilst working on industry-specific tasks which we will face every day as commercial pilots. The best part was definitely the flying itself to get a real feel of the aircraft and a taste of what’s to come after ground school! The instructors make sure to prepare you well for it which makes it a lot easier when it comes to assessed exercises! Leading Edge provides a very good course overall.”
– Will Labbe, Student
