Turkish Airlines
PACE Test
2026
Turkish Airlines Pilot Interview & PACE Test Guide 2026
March 2026
8 min read
FlightDeckIQ
Turkish Airlines is in the middle of the most aggressive expansion in its history. For pilots, that means unprecedented opportunity — but also a selection process unlike anything else in the industry. At the centre of it is PACE, a proprietary psychometric test that has replaced the DLR and fundamentally changed how Turkish Airlines evaluates candidates.
This guide covers everything you need to know about the Turkish Airlines pilot selection process in 2026: the PACE test structure, scoring system, retest rules, and each stage from application to medical. Whether you are applying as a narrowbody first officer or a widebody captain, the core process is the same.
Turkish Airlines is the fastest-growing major airline globally, and the numbers behind its expansion are staggering. The airline currently operates a fleet of approximately 516 aircraft and employs around 5,700 pilots — but those figures are about to change dramatically.
The airline has 445+ new aircraft on order, including 75 Boeing 787 Dreamliners, 150 Boeing 737 MAX, 150 Airbus A321neo, and 70 Airbus A350 widebodies. The fleet target is 800+ aircraft by 2033 and 1,000 by 2036. To crew those aircraft, Turkish Airlines needs pilots at a pace never seen before in the airline's history.
As a Star Alliance member operating from Istanbul Airport (IST) — a hub that connects Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Middle East — Turkish Airlines already serves 340+ destinations across more countries than any other airline in the world. That network is only getting larger. For pilots, this means more routes, more fleet types, and more career progression opportunities than almost any other airline can offer right now.
PACE stands for Pilot Assessment Competency Evaluation. It is a next-generation psychometric testing platform developed jointly by Turkish Technology and Istanbul University, purpose-built to replace the DLR test that Turkish Airlines previously used for pilot selection.
Since its introduction, PACE has assessed over 11,000 candidates. It won the Gold Award at the Brandon Hall Group Excellence Awards in 2025 for innovation in talent assessment — and for good reason. Unlike legacy aptitude batteries, PACE uses AI-generated unique test sets for every candidate. No two people sit the same test, which effectively eliminates the possibility of memorising questions from previous candidates.
The test consists of 9 modules spread across 4 sections and takes approximately 5–6 hours to complete. It measures everything from sustained attention and spatial reasoning to physics knowledge and psychomotor coordination. It is, by any measure, one of the most comprehensive pilot aptitude assessments in commercial aviation.
PACE is divided into four sections, each targeting a different domain of pilot aptitude. Here is the complete breakdown of all nine modules.
Understanding how PACE is scored — and what happens if you fail — is critical for managing your preparation strategy and expectations.
PACE does not produce a single pass/fail number. Each module generates a score, and paired modules (D1+D2, B1+B2, U1+U2) are evaluated together. The scoring system places significant weight on the speed-accuracy balance — rushing through questions to answer more will not help if your accuracy drops. Conversely, being too cautious and leaving questions unanswered is equally penalised. The system is looking for candidates who can work quickly and correctly under pressure.
Raw memorisation is not what PACE rewards. The AI-generated test sets mean that specific questions cannot be predicted. What matters is the underlying cognitive ability and how consistently it manifests across paired modules.
The retest policy is strict and clearly defined:
The PACE test is the centrepiece, but it is only one stage in a multi-day selection process. Here is the complete pipeline for direct entry candidates. Turkish Airlines typically covers travel and accommodation for the 3–5 day assessment period.
Submit your application via careers.turkishairlines.com. Your qualifications, type ratings, and flight hours are screened against current requirements. Minimum hours vary by position: NB FO requires 1,500+ total hours and 500+ on type; WB Captain requires 7,000+ total hours, 3,000+ PIC, and 1,000+ on type.
An ICAO-standard English language proficiency assessment. You need to demonstrate operational-level English — this is a hard gate early in the process.
The 5–6 hour, 9-module aptitude battery described above. This is where the majority of candidates are eliminated. Only 2–3 out of 10 pass this stage.
A group assessment conducted with a psychologist. You will participate in role-play scenarios designed to evaluate teamwork, leadership, communication, and how you interact with other candidates under structured conditions.
A B737-type FNPT (Flight Navigation Procedures Trainer) assessment. Typical exercises include a visual approach, one-engine-out procedures, and a raw data ILS approach to LTAI (Antalya). This evaluates your flying fundamentals, workload management, and CRM.
30 ATPL-level technical questions in the ACE book format. Topics span aerodynamics, meteorology, navigation, performance, systems, and flight planning. This is a genuine technical knowledge check — not a formality.
A structured interview focused on motivation, cultural fit, career aspirations, and your understanding of Turkish Airlines' values. Expect questions about why you want to fly for TK specifically, how you handle cultural diversity, and your long-term career plans.
A Class 1 aviation medical. Turkish Airlines requires a BMI between 20 and 30. Standard medical requirements apply, and the examination is thorough.
Several factors set Turkish Airlines apart from other major carriers, and understanding these will serve you well in both the HR interview and your decision-making process.
The PACE test is proprietary and AI-driven. No other airline uses this system. Every candidate receives a unique, AI-generated test set, making it impossible to prepare by memorising previous questions. You must develop the underlying abilities, not just learn patterns.
Istanbul connects three continents. The IST hub is one of the most strategically positioned airports in the world, connecting Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and Africa. This geographic advantage is the foundation of Turkish Airlines' 340+ destination network — the largest by country count of any airline globally.
Turkish hospitality is embedded in the culture. The concept of misafirperverlik — deep, genuine hospitality — is not just a marketing slogan at Turkish Airlines. It shapes how crews interact with passengers and with each other. In your HR interview, demonstrating an understanding of and appreciation for this cultural value will resonate with assessors.
The group is larger than the mainline. Turkish Airlines' subsidiaries include AJet (which carried 23.4 million passengers) and Turkish Cargo, which serves more countries than any other cargo carrier. The group's scale creates career pathways and operational diversity that few airline groups can match.
Preparing for the Turkish Airlines selection process requires a multi-pronged approach. The PACE test alone demands specific cognitive training, but the simulator, technical interview, and group exercise each require their own preparation.
Your preparation checklist
PACE (Pilot Assessment Competency Evaluation) is a proprietary psychometric testing platform developed by Turkish Technology in collaboration with Istanbul University. It replaced the DLR test and has assessed over 11,000 candidates. The test consists of 9 modules across 4 sections, takes 5–6 hours, and covers sustained attention, audio-visual memory, 3D spatial perception, physics, mathematics, cognitive agility, verbal memory, spatial orientation, and psychomotor coordination. Every test is AI-generated, meaning no two candidates receive the same questions.
PACE has 9 modules organised into 4 sections. Section 1 (Cognitive Baseline) includes Sustained Attention, Audio-Visual Memory, and 3D Spatial Perception. Section 2 (Knowledge) covers Physics and Mathematics. Section 3 (Advanced Cognitive) includes Cognitive Agility, Verbal Memory, and Spatial Orientation. Section 4 (Psychomotor) is a single joystick-based coordination and multitasking module.
The PACE test is highly competitive. Typically only 2–3 out of every 10 candidates pass the psychometric stage. Approximately 35% of candidates struggle significantly with the psychomotor module. The retest policy is strict: a knowledge-only failure allows retake after 3 months, an ability module failure requires a 6-month wait and full retake, and failing the same stage twice results in permanent disqualification.
The full selection process for direct entry pilots typically takes 3–5 days once you are invited for assessment. Turkish Airlines covers travel and accommodation costs. The stages include PACE testing, a group exercise with a psychologist, simulator assessment on a B737-type FNPT, a 30-question ATPL technical interview, an HR interview, and a Class 1 medical examination.
"Turkish Airlines is building something unprecedented in scale and speed. For pilots who prepare properly, the opportunity is enormous — but the PACE test demands genuine cognitive ability, not just study. Train the skills, not the answers."
FlightDeckIQ's aptitude modules cover the cognitive skills PACE measures — spatial reasoning, memory, multitasking, and mathematics. Combined with CBI coaching and technical interview preparation.
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